xxxiv Journal of Proceedings.
head from a deep cutting on the west bank of the Mississippi, dug up
in his presence from an excavation for the foundation of an iron fur-
nace, This weapon was "rifled," so to speak; that is, its outline
formed part of a screw, and the spear or arrow to which it was attached
would in its flight produce a rotary motion, and so tend to keep in a
straight line when thrown through the air. Another very remarkable
specimen was a polished Flint Celt, found at Barking Side, Essex, in
1868, in five feet of gravel; this was the only Essex specimen Sir
Antonio possessed. Some of the flint hand daggers exhibited, from
the Peat of Denmark, were highly wrought, and the handles were
ornamented to give a more perfect grip. In the collection shown us
were also other curious and highly-finished flint tools—saws, chisels,
&c, and one implement of very remarkable construction, highly
polished, and so formed as to constitute a very perfect Gouge, with an
edge wrought to form an "ogee" curve, best adapted for cutting into
wood. This specimen was from America.
Sir Antonio entered into detailed particulars as to the nature and
teachings of the specimens exhibited, and recapitulated the results of
Mr. Croll's and Col. Drayson's observations on the causes of the
glacial epochs, which had been so fully stated by him at the meeting
of the Club on May 29th. He was very glad to see his friend Mr.
Wallace present, and hoped that veteran naturalist would give them
the benefit of his opinion, although Sir Antonio feared that Mr. Wallace
differed from him, toto caelo, with regard to this difficult problem.
Mr. Walker congratulated the Club on the success of the meeting,
and said that in his opinion it would be an honour to any society to
enlist the aid and co-operation of the gentlemen whose names had been
announced by the Secretary and of those eminent men of science he
saw around him in that room. They had had so much from him that
he would only make a few remarks on the Stratigraphical conditions of
the district they had visited that afternoon. Mr. Walker then briefly-
discussed the nature and history of the gravel deposits in the London
district, and referred to the possibly marine origin of the older Thames
Valley gravels. In reply to Mr. Wallace, who inquired on what grounds
Mr. Walker founded his conclusion that these deposits were marine,
Mr. Walker stated that no remains of land animals had been found in
them. The speaker made some humorous remarks with respect to
his fondness for the study of the gravels, which were to him a great
institution, and he could lie down any day beside a barrow of flints and
enjoy himself very much. (Laughter.)
Mr. A. R. Wallace, after some prefatory remarks, said that there
were one or two points in the discussion that afternoon about which he
should like to say a few words. First of all he must refer to the inte-
resting and most remarkable specimens of ancient implements and art
which Sir Antonio Brady had been good enough to show them. He