240 The Irish NaiuralisU November, 



size and inimber of the stalactite and stalagmite foimations. There is 

 no evidence of present active water-action, the cave being practically 

 dry, except at two points erroneously called " the River." The explored 

 passages aie estimated at a mile and a quarter in length. 



THK IMARPJ.K ARCH CAVKvS IN CO. FERMANAGH.'' 



BY HAROI^D RROBRTCK, M.A. 



Three streams flow down the northern slope of Cuilcagh and sink into 

 the limestone at three points about a quarter of a mile apart ; the central 

 stream goes by the name of the Monastir. The narrow limestone valley 

 through which it runs is cut off, at its lower end, by a limestone cliff 130 

 feet high. The cave at the base of this has a total length of 40 yards, 

 and ends in a fissure of unknown height. Within 40 yards of the top of 

 the cliff is a pot-hole (Pollbwee) 100 feet deep, with a pool and a narrow 

 passage 60 feet in length at the bottom. Further north is an opening in 

 the moor called Polhiagapple ; this is a pot-hole with a diameter of So 

 feet and a depth of 60 feet. Its floor is composed of jammed boulders, 

 below which the river can be heard ; a high cave with good stalactitic 

 deposits leads from the bottom of this pot. About 150 yards further 

 north is Cradle Hole — a pot-hole So yards in diameter and 120 feet deep ; 

 at the base are two caves in which the stream is met with ; upstream the 

 passage, 15 feet wide and 25 feet high, has been explored for 55 yards, 

 but has not been surveyed. The downstream cave is from to to 25 feet 

 high and 30 feet wide ; it is 104 yards long and ends in a pool within 

 about 20 feet of the upper end of Marble Arch Cave. The roof seems too 

 low to admit of passage. The Marble Arch Cave is entered from lower 

 down the hillside. At the upper end of the stream course is a pool, pro- 

 bably the continuation of the one met with in Cradle Hole. The stream 

 flows for 123 yards along the "Grand Gallery," through boulders and 

 shingle, to the 'Junction." The " Grand Gallery " is from 5 to 20 feet high 

 and about 15 feet wide. At the Junction the roof is at least 50 feet high ; 

 from here the stream turns to the left and then to the right, filling the 

 whole of the passage ; it here forms a lake at least 10 feet deep in the 

 centre. At S4 yards from the Junction a beach is reached and 10 yards 

 further the open air, at the floor of a wide pot-hole 60 feet deep ; from 

 this beach the stream flows under low arches to another lake, from which 

 it emerges into the open just above the Marble Arch itself. A high-level 

 passage leads from above the beach to the shore of this lake, and a 

 second branch leads through boulders to the open at the bottom of a 

 wide pot-hole 30 feet deep, in the floor of which is also another opening, 

 which will be referred to later. 



From the Junction a dry passage runs to the rights and at a distance of 

 45 yards becomes 20 yards wide and about 40 feet high ; the floor rises to 



■• A full account of these caves, with plans, will be published shortly 

 in the Irish Naturalist, 



