32 The Irish Naturalist. January, 1904. 



not far from wbicli there were two stout iron knife-blades. A strap of 

 bronze, bearing a buckle, was found elsewhere, ornamented with an 

 interlaced pattern in silver plating. In other parts of the Catacombs 

 were chipped flint scrapers, a bone piercer, a tusk of a large boar pierced 

 as if to form an amulet, and a marine shell similarly pierced. Several 

 marine shells occurred, although the sea is mauj- miles away from the 

 site ; also much charcoal, and bones of Horse, Ox, Pig, Sheep or Goat, and 

 Dog- Bones and teeth of Bear and Reindeer were of daily occurrence in 

 excavating the deposits, and in a few cases pieces of the bones and of 

 the antlers of the Great Irish Deer (Irish Elk) were obtained. The large 

 collections of human and animal remains found in the Bdenvale caves 

 are in course of examination, and the further exploration of the Cata- 

 combs is in progress, there being reason to believe that the unexplored 

 portions considerably exceed those that have been examined. 



During June, July, and August, 1903, Mr. Ussher continued the exca- 

 vation of the Catacombs at Bdenvale for nine weeks ; and as the 

 work proceeded fresh galleries were discovered, the entire forming one 

 of the most complex systems of caves known in Ireland. Though the 

 animal remains filled but ten baskets, as against twenty in 1902, the 

 proportion of extinct species was larger. 



The Irish Elk was more numerously represented, its larger bones 

 having had their ends broken off, as if to extract the marrow. Remains 

 of Bear and Reindeer were also of frequent occurrence, and in the upper 

 stratum there were many human bones. The Lemming has also been 

 identified by Dr. Scharff among the smaller bones found in the Alice 

 Cave in 1902, and was also obtained this year in the Catacombs ; in 

 both cases its remains were in the upper stratum. 



Excavations were afterwards commenced in the mouth of a cave at 

 New Hall, near Edenvale ; this contained two foot-bones of Bear, as 

 well as remains of man and domestic animals, sea shells, charcoal, hand- 

 made pottery, delicately-pointed bone piercers, carved canines of dog 

 or wolf, and a bronze pin of the ancient type. This New Hall cave 

 proves to be more extensive than was supposed, and awaits further 

 exploration. 



NEWS GLEANINGS. 



Popular Natural History. 



Professor Gregg Wilson, D.Sc, is giving a course of twelve evening 

 lectures on "Marine Zoology" in Queen's College, Belfast. These lec- 

 tures are open to the public, and Dr. Wilson uses local specimens and 

 examples as much as possible. The working members of the Ulster 

 Fisheries and Biology Association have derived much instruction from 

 these lectures, but the attendance of the public is disappointing. 



The Dublin Museum demonstrations are being held as usual during 

 the months of December, January, and February. A full list of the 

 subjects and speakers will be found on the .second page of our cover. 



