FOSSILS OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. 123 



circumstance to be noticed presently, that the pro- 

 portion of carnivorous animals greatly exceeded the 

 herbivorous and other creatures here entombed ; 

 for, whilst it v^as difficult to collect the teeth of the 

 ox, horse, and rhinoceros, as many as seven dozens 

 of canine teeth of the hysena, were extracted from 

 the clay in the before-mentioned remnant of the cave. 

 In emptying this small porton which yet remained 

 untouched, we took especial care to notice every 

 substance as it was turned out. This hollow, which 

 constituted one of the irregularities in the general 

 shape of the cavern, took a perpendicular course ; 

 and to such a depth, that, after a short time, we 

 could no longer prosecute our researches. Its area 

 did not exceed 4 feet. On removing the rubble 

 which had tumbled over it, we came to a floor of 

 stalagmite, about three inches in depth, such as 

 occurred in every direction of the cavern ; sealing 

 down the clay and its contents. This substance 

 passes under the name of " callus'' among the work- 

 men. After this we exposed the clay and black 

 mould, containing, at uncertain intervals, bones and 

 teeth of the following animals : — Rhinoceros, horse, 

 ox, hysena, wolf, fox, sheep, rabbit or hare, and 

 polecat, or animal of that size and kind. Imbedded 

 in the soil, some depth from the callus, we found 

 faeces of the wolf or hysena, (technically " grsecum 

 album") and likewise two snail shells, which corres- 

 pond pretty well with the helix nemoralis. Many 

 of the bones have been attacked by disease, the 

 result I think of inflammation. Some of them are 

 those of young animals, and others evidently belonged 

 to individuals of great age. Whilst excavating we 

 occasionally remarked masses like a spongy fibrous 

 clay, which formerly may have been animal matter. 

 The bones of the rat and mouse were at some dis- 

 tance from the other relics, and imbedded in argilaci- 

 ous soil, immediately beneath the callus. 



