iv. 1893-94, p. 52. The half-dozen papers, 1-6, that have been published by the Belfast Committee are on purely folk-lore subjects. This energetic club also studies local archæology, which is also, within limits, a branch of ethnography. Since the Committee has been formed the following papers have been published :-Gray, W., paper on 'Worked Flints: Ancient and Modern' (vol. iii. pp. 548-569, 3 figs., pls. i.-viii.); Dickson, J. M., 'Relative Antiquity of Rath, Cromleac, and Burial Tumulus, as evidenced by some Ancient Remains near Dromore, Co. Down' (vol. iv. pp. 55-70, 1 fig.); Bigger, F. J., 'Prehistoric and Historic Forts and Raths in the City and Vicinity of Belfast' (iv. pp. 71-81, 4 plans). Mr. R. Welch, a member of the Committee, is making a most valuable series of photographs illustrative of the ethnography of Ireland, especially of Ulster. The Lake Village at Glastonbury.-Report of the Committee consisting of Dr. R. MUNRO (Chairman), Mr. A. BULLEID (Secretary), Professor W. BOYD DAWKINS, General PITT-RIVERS, and Sir JOHN EVANS. (Drawn up by the Secretary.) THE work at the British lake village near Glastonbury has been much retarded by the flood-water that accumulated during the winter, and by the heavy rains during the spring. Digging had to be abandoned last autumn a fortnight after the Association meeting at Nottingham, and it was not until the early part of May this year that the water had fallen low enough to allow a recommencement of the investigations; even up to the date of writing, July 10, it is still necessary to keep the pumps in daily use. During the seasons of 1892 and 1893 the time was chiefly taken up with the examination of fifteen dwelling mounds, and of the causeway and other stone and timber structures in the peat outside the village margin. This year, so far, has been occupied with tracing the village border to the extent of 550 feet, or about one-third of its total circumference; and the investigations have not only brought to light much valuable information relating to the size and shape of the village, but have established the following facts: (a) That the village was originally surrounded by the water of a shallow mere. (b) That five feet of peat accumulated during its occupation. (c) That a strong palisading of posts and piles protected the village. (d) That the groundwork of the village, so far at least as its margin is concerned, is artificial for the depth of five feet. The palisading at the edge of the village is formed of piles three to nine inches in diameter, and from five to eleven feet in length, kept together by more or less coarse hurdle-work. Although in many places the piles are much displaced and decayed, yet they form a fairly perfect and continuous though irregular line-at some parts they are placed so 1 Bigger, F. J., Local Folk-lore,' Belfast Nat. Field Club, Ann. Rep. and Proc. [2], vol. iii. 1892-93, pp. 545-548. 2 Mollan, Lily S., Pishogues from Tipperary,' Ibid., pp. 571–573. 3 Patterson, W. H., 'Irish Fairies,' Ibid., pp. 573–583. Blair (Mrs.), ' Items of Folk-lore, principally from Co. Down,' Ibid., pp. 583-586. 5 Patterson, Clara M., A Few Children's Games,' Ibid., vol. iv. 1892-94, pp. 48-52. Gray, W., 'Our Holy Wells: A Folk-lore Chapter,' Ibid., pp. 86–95. closely together that from fifty to seventy have been counted in the space of ten feet. The majority slope outwards, having the appearance of chevaux de frise, at angles varying with the state of preservation of the border; but a large proportion of them were undoubtedly driven in vertically, and have been either broken off or gradually forced out into their present position. Some piles barely reach the true peat, whilst others pierce it for several feet; occasionally a few vertical piles are still seen among the slanting: these probably show repairs to the border. The border of the village has a very irregular outline, the piles being arranged in varying curves: this unevenness has been proved in some places to be due to extension of the village. The surface of the border immediately inside the piles is formed of trunks of trees and large pieces of timber placed side by side parallel to the margin, and reaching eight to twelve feet inwards; underneath these more timber is found, alternating with layers of clay and brushwood, with which are intermingled patches of stone, peat, rush, and bracken to the depth of five feet. Numerous and important objects have been unearthed this season from the peat outside the village at all depths down to seven feet three inches, and as far as eighty feet from the village border. Pottery-hand and wheel made-clay pellets (so-called sling-stones), baked and unbaked, and bones of animals are still met with at all points in great quantities. Recently a decorated wheel-made bowl of black ware has been found in perfect preservation and highly finished, four inches high, and five inches across the rim, besides numerous other pieces of pottery elaborately marked with designs of circles, curved and flowing lines, and triangles. Many of these fragments are doubtless capable of reconstruction. Flint. Besides several scrapers, one good arrow-head. Bronze. The find of greatest importance in this metal has been a well-preserved bowl measuring 4 inches across the rim. It is made of two pieces riveted together: the outside decoration consists of the row of rivet-heads or bosses almost an inch below the rim, and two fine lines of punched work near the edge; the under surface is semicircular, and a hole in it had been evidently made good by riveting on a small piece. Amongst the other objects of bronze are two more spiral finger-rings and a penannular ring brooch. Iron. Of this metal there is a reaping hook, together with its wooden handle, sixteen inches in length, and a primitive sickle with riveted wood handle complete, in length ten inches. Lead. A spindle whorl decorated with three parallel lines, and a flattened disc or weight of about one and a quarter inch in diameter. Bones. More human remains have been met with this year than previously, including a complete skull showing several sword or axe-marks: no other bones belonging to the body were discovered near it. Professor Boyd Dawkins has examined the sample of animal bones forwarded to him, and among them he has found the following mammals and birds represented : Domestic Mammals Bos longifrons Capra hircus Ovis aries Equus caballus Domestic Birds Gallus domesticus Wild Mammals Wild Birds Felis catus ferus Cervus elaphus Cervus capreolus Arvicola amphibia Crane abundant Swan abundant Diver, species? Many very interesting objects have been found this year made of cut wood, amongst them being seventeen pieces of a mortised framework, probably part of a second loom, another having been found last summer. The Portions of a small stave-made bucket with decorated side. greater part of a solid cut tub in fragments, six inches high, and about twelve inches in diameter, the outside decoration being of a very bold and beautiful description. Part of the axle of a wheel, with bases of two spokes in situ. The length of the axle is fourteen inches, its diameter six inches, and the length of a spoke being twelve inches. The whole is of light construction and of perfect workmanship, and was probably a potter's wheel. A large font-shaped block of timber, three feet high and two feet in diameter. The top is flat, showing complete impressions of the sharp edge of the axe with which it was cut. Unbaked clay pellets, or so-called sling-stones, have been found in hundreds, and among the other things dug out of the peat are spindle whorls, quern stones, wattle, and crevice-marked clay, and portions of loom weights. The bones of animals have been met with in such quantities in some places that a wheel-barrow full has been obtained from a square yard of peat. The botanical specimens have been submitted to Mr. J. G. Baker, F.R.S., of Kew, who has kindly given the following report, and further specimens are to be forwarded to him. Report on the peat from the British village at Glastonbury : 'Leaves.-It contained abundant leaves of Salix cinerea, a species everywhere abundant in Britain at the present time, not restricted to damp places. On some of the leaves were found Rhytisma Salicinum, a minute fungus. There were a few leaves of Myrica Gale. 'Twigs.-Probably these belong to Salix cinerea. 'Seeds. The abundant seeds represent three genera-Ranunculus, Potamogeton, and Carex. All these are large genera, and it is impossible to say which species they represent. Potamogeton indicates a lake or pool. Altogether the peat contains nothing whatever that might not be found living in the surrounding district at the present time.' Very careful and accurate notes are taken of everything that is found, and all piles, posts, large pieces of timber, and stone are marked on the plans; the depth at which important objects are found is also noted, and photographs are taken and drawings made. There still remain two-thirds of the village border to be traced, and nearly fifty dwelling mounds and about five-sixths of the entire village area to be examined. 1894. FF All the objects that it has been possible to move to the Glastonbury Museum have already been placed and arranged there in the cases; but the finest specimens of cut woodwork are of too perishable a nature to be kept in the museum, and are at present kept in zinc troughs at Mr. Bulleid's house. Physical and Mental Deviations from the Normal among Children in Public Elementary and other Schools.-Report of the Committee, consisting of Sir DOUGLAS GALTON (Chairman), Dr. FRANCIS WARNER (Secretary), Mr. E. W. BRABROOK, Dr. GARSON, Mr. G. W. BLOXAM, and Dr. WILBERFORCE SMITH. (Report drawn up by the Secretary.) APPENDIX I. Certificate as to a Child requiring Special Educational Training. THE Committee, acting in conjunction with a Committee appointed for the same purpose by the International Congress of Hygiene and Demography, are now able to report on 50,000 children seen individually in sixty-three schools by Dr. Francis Warner, 1892–94. The methods of examination employed, and the points observed, were described fully in our last report. A complete actuarial investigation of the 8,941 children deviating from the normal in some respect, of whom notes were taken, is in hand. Some portions of the statistical results are appended. The general conclusions arrived at, and recommendations founded on the observations, are now given. It is quite possible to report on any group of children, or group of schools, as to the physical and mental conditions most prevalent among them, and to compare these with an established average. Groups of children, arranged according to their physical condition, may be traced through the educational standards of the school, thus showing that unconsciously those of defective body and brain condition remain mostly in the lower standards, and are frequently over age for the standard in which they are found. The ages at which the children present certain physical and nerveirregularities can be traced, thus affording a basis for the determination of the age-prevalence of defective conditions, and the most frequent ages at which they appear and disappear. The general results of detailed study of the conditions of school children show that There is a large group of children who appear to need special care and training, including the crippled, maimed, deformed, and paralysed; children mentally deficient or presenting some deficiency; and epileptics:-Boys, 157; Girls, 147. To these may be added children constitutionally weak and dull, making altogether about sixteen per 1,000 of the child population. As to methods of reporting and certifying these cases, see last paragraph of this report. Defects in development indicate inherited and congenital tendency to delicacy, both of body and in brain action; they are extremely frequent in all classes of society, not least so among the upper social grades. It appears probable that, to a great extent, such defects may be rendered less numerous among the population by hygienic care with regard to buildings, light and air, &c. As to children presenting irregularities of the nerve-system, their careful training may do much to prevent them from growing up permanently nervous or mentally dull. Many children unconsciously imitate habits of listlessness, inattention, carelessness, and even the appearances of fatigue and hysteria from one another, or from their teachers. The knowledge gained renders it possible to indicate the kind of training adapted to any case described. This particularly applies to the nerve-signs, or irregularities in nerve-action recorded. After pointing out to the teacher the irregularities present in the child, so that their increase or decrease can be watched during class work, indications may be given as to the best modes of removing these special nervous and mental defects. That such explanations may be understood by the teachers it is very desirable that they should receive some special instruction. Economy in the labour of teachers might thus be effected, and better educational results obtained. School organisation by the teachers is mainly founded upon their experience of the child's mental ability and work in school. This takes time, and frequently a new pupil is not placed in a suitable standard till some weeks of experience show the child's mental capacity. A knowledge of the points observed in this inquiry might facilitate the responsible work of classification for educational purposes. Two standards frequently, though not always, met with in a school call for special remark. In Standard 0, or Primers, the children are collected who, being over age for the infant school, are still too backward for Standard I. In Standard Ex. VII. we find the children who have passed through the ordinary classes of the school. The experience of hospital physicians and many philanthropic societies shows that neglect of feeble-minded children of all grades leads to much social evil. The blind and the deaf are happily now cared for under the provisions of the Elementary Education Act, 1893, and teachers are specially trained for this work; but the children of the various grades of feebleness short of imbecility, children who present a deficiency, are in many schools unwelcome, and no encouragement is given to school authorities to collect and care for them; they are an incumbrance if not properly provided for, and untrained they tend to social failure, pauperism, and criminality. Mere accumulations of dull children in a certain class, whether a class of Primers, or in a lower section of Standard III. for older children, may make the other classrooms brighter, but, when children below average power are accumulated, there arises a greater responsibility for their individual care, which must be met by the provision of a sufficient staff of specially trained teachers. Scientific advice as to the management of deficient children is useful, but teachers must carry out the details of special training. Nurses for the sick are now highly trained and well paid; they take an intelligent interest in the patients; the more difficult the case, and the more attention it requires, the greater are their interest and desire for success. Training of teachers for the care of the more difficult children, and honour for the hard work of improving feeble children, may cultivate a higher professional interest among a body of skilled teachers trained to the charge of feeble children. Considerable success has been achieved in training the blind and the deaf, and a large proportion of the feeble children are improvable. |