210 
lately been found by my son at places near the tin-bearing valley of the Fal, 
of larger size, rougher form, and may more correctly be termed mortars; 
The late Mr. Bryant, of Trebetherick, near Padstow, collected a con- 
siderable number of such granite mortars ; of these he kindly, some years 
back, sent me a photograph. 
Such bowls, or mortars, might have been used to pound up the coarser 
materials in order to separate the crystals of tin from the matrix ; the smaller 
dishes for washing out the minute particles of tin-ore from the earthy matter 
with which they are mixed ; or perhaps, with a greater degree of certainty, 
to determine by measurement the proportion of tin-ore due as ‘ toll' 
to the landowner. This might be a tenth part or otherwise as agreed on ; 
the agent who collected it was called 4 the Toller ,’ and the agreement would 
have described it as the tenth dish. 
Putting all these circumstances together, I think it is an analogous case to 
that described by Dr. Southall, and tends to support the conclusion to which 
he arrives in his paper — that the stone mortars found in the gravel beds of 
California are the relics of ancient mining operations. 
Nicholas Whitley.” 
Eev. J. M. Mello,F.G.S. — I had hoped that some one would have relieved 
me from the necessity of getting up to address you on this occasion, as I am 
not very well up to the work of extemporary speech ; at the same time I may 
say that I have much pleasure in being present and taking part in the dis- 
cussion of the paper we have had read this evening. I have read the paper 
with some care, but unfortunately I have not been able to obtain access to 
the original documents ; for, really, in order to pronounce a definite opinion 
upon the subject, one ought to be able to say that one has examined all the 
evidence that has been adduced, and I am not able to say that, as I do not 
know what evidence the American geologists have brought forward to show 
that the remains they have found are contemporaneous with these gravels. 
To my mind, however, everything is against that assumption. I agree with 
Dr. Southall and the Duke of Argyll in what they have brought forward, 
and which, I believe, has proved, as far as it can be proved by argument, 
that the remains which have been found are certainly not of the pliocene 
age. We may argue on d priori grounds that it is almost impossible — of 
course, we have no right to say that it is absolutely impossible — but it is 
almost impossible that man could have existed in those days. I most 
thoroughly agree with the arguments of Professor Dawkins, that it is not 
likely, when no genera of mammals exactly similar to those of the present 
day are known to have existed, that man himself could have been in exist- 
ence, and I do not think we have any right to look for man before we find 
these mammals making their appearance on the earth. Another argument, 
which is also an d yriori argument, is that, as far as we can learn, geological 
history in America does not seem to be in such an advanced condition as 
it is in Europe. Professor Dana has made some remarks to this effect, 
showing that we Europeans are in advance of the New World, as well as 
other parts of the Globe — for instance, Australia. Australia has its mar- 
supials at the present day, and, as far as its other fauna are concerned, it is 
said to be still in the tertiary period. In North America we get a grand 
