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POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
stone.” It is marked with a central circle, having a radius of one inch, 
round which, with the same centre, are inscribed three other circles at an 
average distance of three-quarters of an inch. The space between the first 
and second circles is marked with four characters dividing it into quad- 
rants ; in the space between the third and fourth circles there are twelve 
characters at equal distances apart. As to the signification of these characters, 
Dr. Farquharson is quite in the dark; some of them have a rude re- 
semblance to animals, and one is interpreted as representing cross-bones sur- 
mounted by a flame, but unaccompanied by the skull which is always 
associated with them in Maya sculptures. The Doctor suggests a zodiacal 
interpretation of this design, but does not seem to place much faith in it 
himself. 
One side of the larger tablet presents us with a “ sacrificial or cremation- 
scene,” showing a number of human figures with their hands joined as form- 
iDg part of a great ring round a fire, with several human bodies lying on the 
ground as if ready to be consigned to the flames. This is in accordance with 
the account long since given by La Hontan, who says: — “ The savages on 
the Long River (Mississippi) burn their dead, reserving the bodies until 
there are a sufficient number to burn together, which is performed out of the 
village, in a place set apart for the purpose.” Above the cremation-scene 
are three segments of large circles, forming a rainbow-like arch stretch- 
ing from side to side of the stone ; the space below this arch, which may be 
taken to represent the sky, is thickly studded with small points, and bears 
two circular figures one on each side, the whole no doubt intended to re- 
present stars, sun, and moon. The spaces between the curved lines, and the 
space above them, are entirely covered with engraved characters, of which 
no one has yet discovered the nature. In all, there are ninety-eight 
characters, but twenty-four of these are repetitions, so that there are seventy- 
four distinct figures. As a whole, or even generally, they resemble no 
known alphabet, although, of course, it is not difficult to trace a similarity 
between some of the characters and those of certain alphabets. 
The engraving on the other side of the large tablet is explained as a 
“Hunting Scene.” Thirty animals are rudely represented upon it, and 
among them are some which Dr. Farquharson interprets as mastodons, and it 
must be admitted that they have a very elephantine outline, although 
neither the trunk nor the tusks are shown. This picture is not accompanied 
by any characters. It is evident that if the genuineness of these articles 
can be fully established their discovery opens up an entirely new view of the 
condition of man in America, where, hitherto, he is supposed, at any rate in 
primitive times, not to have advanced beyond the art of picture-writing. 
— {Proceedings of the Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences , vol. ii., part i.) 
A Prehistoric Foundry at Bologna. — M. E. Desor has read to the Society 
of Natural Sciences of Neuchatel, an interesting memoir upon some discoveries 
of prehistoric remains lately made in and near Bologna. He says the evidences 
of prehistoric Italian civilization lately obtained from diggings in that district 
(at Villanova, Bonzano, Arnoaldi, Benacci, and Luca), notwithstanding a re- 
semblance to the true Etruscan type, have, in many respects, a definite special 
character (“ type of Villanova”). As it was impossible not to see what a 
near relationship unites the art-products found about the banks of the Reno 
