538 Short Communications : — 



the want of light, or whether it was, rather, a different speciesj 

 we will not venture to determine. Several of the Polypori 

 were seen on wooden posts which supported part of the roof. 

 Having proceeded about half a mile, we came to the banks 

 of a beautiful stream, clear as crystal, cool, and refreshing ; 

 and, although its banks were not adorned with velvet moss 

 and fragrant flowers, they were far from being unadorned; 

 for there the lichens were spread in pleasing forms, inter- 

 mixed with the oxide of iron oozing from the metallic stra- 

 tum. We were much in need of ablution, alter passing 

 through such a blackened region. We were now to travel 

 up the stream ; but, before entering it, it was thought neces- 

 sary to rest a little, that our bodies might acquire a cooler 

 temperature ; for the sweat was pouring copiously off" us. We 

 supplied our lamps with oil, and trimmed their wicks. The 

 light had a pleasing effect upon the numerous water-drops 

 suspended from the roof: these, mingling with the iron 

 pyrites, had the appearance of diamonds set in gold. When 

 we went into the water, it felt very cold ; but, after wading 

 for a quarter of an hour, we began to be more reconciled to 

 it, and to resume our observations. In some places the 

 water was contracted, and ran with great force ; in other 

 places it was more shallow : it appeared as if it had its floods, 

 like other streams ; for there were large sandbanks in 

 several places, on which could be seen the recent footsteps of 

 the otter (Z/Utra vulgaris Flem.), How otters manage to 

 procure their food in the dark, we know not ; but one thing 

 is certain, there are fish in the stream, particularly the eel 

 (^nguilla vulgaris Flem.). The otter had fled at our ap- 

 proach ; for the noise that we made was tremendous ; our 

 plunging in the water echoed through the gloomy wastes, 

 like the roar of the ocean in a storm. In some parts, the 

 roof rose to the height of 20 ft., and from it hung beautiful 

 stalactites ; in other parts its height was only from 3 ft. to 

 4 ft. ; and, in one place, which was about 60 ft. or 70 ft. long, 

 we had to proceed on all fours, with scarcely room for our 

 head between the water and the roof. Our lights, during 

 our passage through this part, were placed upon our heads, 

 to preserve them from being extinguished. After clearing 

 this narrow passage, we soon arrived at the place where the 

 plant which we were in search of grows. We got it in tufts 

 attached to old wood in the water. After procuring some 

 fine specimens of it, we began to retrace our steps, well 

 pleased with our journey, and hoping, at some future period, 

 to make more extensive researches in these interesting ex- 

 cavations. By the help of the Encydopcedia of Plants, we 



