96 A. F. R. Hoernle —On the date of the Bower Manuscript. [No. 2, 1891.] 
convenience of writing, though I cannot suggest any satisfactory one. 
I should note, that the vowels e , o, ai , and au are drawn, both with the 
old and the cursive forms, in every possible variety: entirely side- 
marked, half side and half top-marked, and entirely top-marked. The 
cause of the peculiarity, therefore, cannot well have had any connection 
with the form of the vowels. 
I would suggest that similar statistical enquiries should be made 
with reference to some other leading letters ; e. g., m , sh, the sub-scribed 
y, the super-scribed r; also with regard to the numeral symbols. I have 
little doubt but that from such statistics may result some further useful 
land-marks for the determination of dates of writing. I hope to 
pursue the enquiry myself, so far as leisure from official duties will 
permit me. 
