FOSSILS OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. 121 



other relics might be obtained ; Mr. B. was disap- 

 pointed, although a fact of another kind presented 

 itself — the cavern had an opening into the one just 

 mentioned. A third instance is that which I shall 

 now particularize, having been the first person who 

 has taken a decided and scientific notice of it. It 

 occurs at Yealm Bridge Quarry, eight miles from 

 Plymouth, and one mile from the village of Yealmp- 

 ton. About three years ago^j the men employed in 

 working the rock, exposed a narrow fissure in its 

 substance, which took a nearly horizontal direction ; 

 they had been ordered to blow the rock in the same 

 course as this cavity pursued, and, from the moment 

 it was first opened to the present time, when it is no 

 longer traceable (excepting a small arm of it which 

 passes under a cart-road), bones of various size and 

 shape presented themselves continually to view ; so 

 that from the account which I have received, the 

 quantity contained must have exceeded three cart- 

 loads. These circumstances came to my knowledge, 

 just as a small and the only remaining portion of the 

 cavity was being emptied of its contents. The bones 

 previously removed had been employed as rubbish, 

 and were no longer recoverable, so that the facts 

 which I desired to be possessed of could be drawn 

 only from this remnant. The cavity itself, which 

 was on a gentle slope, with, however, certain excep- 

 tions to this, must have presented a rude square, 

 with an area of about 60 or 80 feet ; the separation 

 between the floor and roof, according to account, 

 varied from 1 to 6 feet, and its depth, from the sur- 

 face of the earth, as it formerly stood, may be esti- 

 mated at 30 feet. The opposed surfaces of this, as 

 in other caverns of lime-rock, were clothed respect- 

 ively with stalactite and stalagmite. Where the cave 

 rises towards the earth's surface, I looked earnestly 

 for, and enquired of the men concerning some exter- 

 nal communication ; but, in their conversations on 

 the subject, it had been a common remark with 



VOL VI. — 1835. Q 



