lx Journal of Proceedings.
were dwellings alone; and those dwellings had developed from mere
scratches of the surface soil to wondrous caves of really surprising
depth. Similar pits might be traced back to the dimmest prehistoric
times; and there was evidence that during the period they had been in
use the earth in which they were dug had changed in level, and con-
siderable variation in climatic conditions had taken place. He specially
advocated the examination of the holes at Purfleet and East Tilbury,
which were probably older in date than the Hangman's Wood " denes."*
Mr, T. V. Holmes read " Miscellaneous Notes on Deneholes, 1883 "
(Trans. iv. 87), which was also largely illustrated by diagrams and maps.
A long discussion on various points in the two papers was carried on by
the President, Mr. Spurrell, Mr. Holmes, Rev. W. Linton Wilson,
Messrs. Meldola, F. 0. Gould, W. Cole, Fisher Unwin, W. White, and
W. Law Bros, and cordial votes of thanks were accorded to the
authors.
Mr. Meldola read the following letter from Mr. A. B. Wallace,
F.L.S. :—
" Frith Hill, Godalming, Oct. 8th, 1883.
" Dear Mr. Meldola.—In reply to your letter asking for my opinion
as to the advisability of an exploration of the Deneholes at Grays, I
have no hesitation in saying that I consider it most important, and likely
to lead to very interesting results. Having resided at Grays for some
years, and being well acquainted with the general aspect of the
surrounding country, as well as with the position and main features
of the Deneholes themselves, and having read Mr. Holmes' excellent
account of the explorations already made at Grays and elsewhere, it
appears to me in the highest degree probable that these curious
excavations were originally granaries or store-cellars, and that they
indicate the site of ancient villages of some unknown but probably
prehistoric epoch. Their thorough examination may therefore reveal a
hitherto unknown chapter in the history of our island. Looking at
the great number of these very deep and narrow shafts crowded
together in a small space and leading to symmetrically excavated
chambers which do not usually [? never.—Ed.] communicate with each
other, and considering further that chalk and flint are to be obtained
close to the surface within a distance of about a mile, and that all
ancient excavations for the purpose of obtaining these substances differ
radically from Deneholes in all their essential features—the suggestion
that they are mere chalk or flint pits, and that therefore no exploration
is necessary, appears to me to be quite on a par with that celebrated
explanation of the glacial strife, as being mere scratches and ruts
produced by the cart-wheels of the native inhabitants.
" Believe me,
" Yours very faithfully,
" Alfred B. Wallace."
Mr. Law Bros took occasion to say, referring to some passages in Mr.
*We have not yet received the MS. of Mr. Spurrell's paper, and consequently give the
above summary of his remarks as it appeared in the report of the meeting in the ' Essex
Times.'—Ed.