188 
TUE GEOLOGIST. 
found, nor is there any other evidence by which the age of the several de- 
posits can be determined. 
The author did not assign the highest antiquity to any of the skulls ex- 
hibited, as the flint-tools found near them were not of the earliest or drift 
tyre ; these (exhibited) were both polished and chipped. 
Previously to describing the skulls, the author enumerated the most 
marked characteristics of the Orcadian, Scandinavian, Ancient British, 
Homan. and Saxon skulls, comparing the one with the other, at the same 
time admitting the difficulty of an absolute classification, and pointing out 
the wide differences existing among individuals of the same race. Still, 
the causes of modification being fewer and less active amongst ancient 
than amongst modern races, it was easier to arrive at more certainty of 
determination m ancient skulls than of those of our present mixed races. 
The author pointed out that the three skulls exhibited separate and well- 
marked types. That from the west side of the river Lea was comparatively 
small and well-proportioned, and apparently of a young person. 
The second, from the east of the river Lea, \^ as of large size, with im- 
mense posterior development, and was evidently that of a man past middle 
life. The large bony crest of the occipital bone was extremely marked 
by the former attachment of large and powerful muscles. Altogether this 
skull showed great animal development and had marked affinities with 
many of the skulls of the Celtic period. 
The third skull, from East Ham marshes, presented the greatest in- 
terest ; in its vicinity were found the two flint-implements, and it was pro- 
bably the earliest of the three. The frontal development was very low, 
the vertical aspect narrowing rapidly anteriorly, the occipital region pre- 
dominating considerably over the frontal ; the bony ridge of the occiput, 
too, was very marked ; the sutures were neai'ly obliterated, so it was an 
aged skull. The author compared it with a cast of the Eugis skull, and 
believed there were points of resemblance. 
Professor Busk, F.K.S., gave elaborate descriptions of the peculiarities 
of the skull. 
Mr. C. C. Blake pointed out the discrepancies between the observations of 
those crauiologists who had assigned particular crania to particular periods, 
as e.g. between Steenstrup and Wilson, the former having, by his observa- 
tions in Scandinavia, correlated the brachycephalic skulls with the date of 
the earliest known stone deposits in Denmark, whilst Wilson had demon- 
strated the existence of a long-headed (kumbecephalic) race of men from 
cairns at iXether Urquhart in Fifeshire and elsewhere, prior to the brachyce- 
phalic races who have left their remains in the later Stone period at Mont- 
rose. He hoped that some solution might be offered for this apparent 
discrepancy. 
Mr. S. J. Mackie, F.Gr.S., remarked that the geological conditions in 
the present case seemed to have been somewhat overlooked. The sections in 
some places exhibited three beds of peat, and these ought to be carefully 
examined to see whether any vegetation existed in this country at the 
periods of their formation different from that which is now indigenous. 
He did not think attention should be solely given to the form and other 
craniological characters of the exhumed skulls, for crauiologists seemed to 
be by no means certain of the distinctions they had drawn being typical. 
He thought it rather rested with geologists to prove by stratigrapkical 
evidence the antiqiiiti/ of such remains, and thus furnish a stable basis for 
the inferences of the craniologist and ethnologist. 
The following diagram will show the relative positions of the human 
remains and the flint implements: the sections being those given by the 
