igiS. Fraeger- Derc-Ferna : The Cave of Dunmore. 155 



the sketch of the " Market Cross " pubHshed therewith. 

 This is the last reference to the cave in scientific hterature. 



The latest scientific explorers of the Cave of Dunmore 

 were Prof. A. C. Haddon, Prof. H. J. Seymour, Mr. J. N. 

 Halbert, and myself. We werTt to Kilkenny on the after- 

 noon of December ist, 1901, and devoted the next day to 

 examining the cavern. The preceding" week had been one 

 of almost incessant rain, and we anticipated a very wet 

 and muddy task. To our great surprise, the cave was 

 exceedingty dry ; and in the few places where water was 

 dripping, the dense deposit of fresh stalagmite showed 

 that the drip was perennial. 



The cave is situated on elevated ground overlooking 

 the Dinin River, between Kilkenny and Castlecomer, on a 

 tongue-shaped inlier of Carboniferous limestone, with Coal- 

 measures all around. As described by previous writers, 

 the entrance is not conspicuous, and though we knew we 

 were within a couple of hundred yards, we found it a saving 

 of time to ask our way. The entrance is highly picturesque. 

 The steep semi-circular slope is tenanted by ancient Elders, 

 beneath which is a wonderfully luxuriant growth of Golden 

 Saxifrage. This half -cone faces a vertical wall of rock 

 which rises above the mouth, adorned with Ivy, Hawthorn 

 and Hazel. The Ivy, trailing down over the mouth in 

 long streamers, forms a green veil of much beauty which, 

 as viewed from above, almost closes the entrance. Around 

 the mouth, the rocks are draped with an exquisite growth 

 of Hart's-tongues, many being multifid and crested, and all 

 having unusually wavy margins, recalling the var. crisp itm. 

 Inside the entrance, a litter of twigs and wool showed that 

 the Jackdaws referred to by previous writers still hold their 

 ground ; but not a bird was seen, and we could not decide 

 whether the Rock Pigeons also are still there. The main 

 cave plunges straight down in a uniform slope to its 

 extremity, the floor being formed of a talus of unknown 

 depth. On the left near the entrance is the wide recess 

 in which are situated the steep and narrow entrances to 

 both the Rabbit Burrow and Market Cross branches. We 

 first explored the Rabbit Burrow branch. A steep ascent 

 through a chimney-like opening led into a long chamber 



