president’s address. 
287 
up, proving the ingenuity, inventive faculty, and manual 
dexterity of our early ancestors. Until lately no trace of 
polish has been discovered on these remains. In a similar 
settlement on the Pennine Hills, and where, as here, well- 
chipped implements of a very distinctive type are found, a 
complete absence of polish may also be noted. However, 
lately, on the slope of Bock Hill, a beautifully polished 
miniature whetstone has turned up, proving that any theory 
as to their age, founded on their rude character, would 
be erroneous. Mr. Luff has also made some interestiim 
O 
observations on the position of a large obelisk of basalt, and its 
position in relation to a stone circle N.W. of it, at a distance 
of 120 yards. He finds that this stone is situated nearly in a 
line with the point of the horizon where the sun would be 
seen from the circle to rise on the shortest day of the year. 
He has taken great pains to arrive at accurate data on this 
point, the result of which is that the stone lies 6deg. out of 
this direct line. Now since, in consequence of the precession 
of the equinox, the sun 8,000 years ago rose 2deg. nearer the 
south than at present, it would seem that, supposing the 
Neolithic men did at that time place this boulder in its present 
position for some rite connected with sun-worship, an error 
of only 4deg. appears to have been made by them. Mr. 
Lewis, who has made the orientation of out-lying stones in 
connection with stone circles his special study, says that 
absolute accuracy in this matter is very rare, and that the 
position of the Clun Menhir is remarkably correct. His chief 
conclusion is that the custom of placing these outlying stones 
was inherited by the Neoliths, and that they practised it not 
knowing its exact signification. Mr. Luff well remarks, in 
the note which he has been so good as to furnish me with on 
this subject, that we have here a thought full of mystery. Who 
were these original sun-worshippers ? Do we here get a 
glimpse of the religion that affected the minds of men in those 
remote ages ? I cannot pass from this subject without an 
allusion to a note I have had from Mr. Symonds, to whose 
eloquent lectures on geology and many kindred subjects our 
Field Clubs have been so often indebted, and who would have 
been glad to be present on this occasion but for the ill-health 
from which he is suffering. Mr. Symonds wishes me to draw 
particular attention to the evidences of the existence of man, 
which all late discoveries and investigations tend to confirm, 
at the time when the Mammoth was an inhabitant of our 
island, and before the Isle of Wight was separated from the 
mainland, and before Southampton Water and the Solent 
had any existence. He has, he tells me, been again 
