SKETCH OF WILLIAM PENGELLY. 117 



Thirteen of the thirtj-one beds of lignite which were cut through, 

 and two of the beds of clay, yielded distinguishable plant remains. 

 These were sent to Dr. Oswald Heer, of Switzerland, for examina- 

 tion; and he determined from the collection fifty species, including 

 ferns, conifers, figs, cinnamon trees, an oak, a laurel, vines, an- 

 dromedas, a bilberry, a gardenia, a water lily, and some leguminous 

 plants. Heer referred the group to the Lower Miocene period, but 

 some modification was afterward made in this determination in the 

 light of a fuller knowledge of the Tertiary flora. The deposits and 

 work at Bovey Tracey were the subject of a memoir to the Royal 

 Society by Sir Charles Lyell; and Dr. Heer's account of his work — 

 The Fossil Flora of Bovey Tracey — was published in 1863. 



While this investigation was going on, Lyell was preparing the 

 fifth edition of his Manual of Geology. He invited Pengelly to sug- 

 gest corrections to the text, saying that, besides positive mistakes, he 

 would " be glad of any hints and suggestions made freely, which your 

 knowledge of the manner in which beginners are struck may enable 

 you to send us." The criticisms supplied by Mr. Pengelly were 

 adopted by Lyell except where they had already been made un- 

 necessary. 



On the accidental discovery by workmen, in 1858, of a cavern in 

 AVindmill Hill, overhanging the town of Brixham, Pengelly at once 

 thought of finding what was in it, and what story it might have to 

 tell. He visited the place and applied to the owner for permission 

 to explore it in behalf of the Torquay Natural History Society. But 

 on consultation with Dr. Hugh Falconer it was decided that as that 

 society probably had not means sufficient to bear the expense of the 

 exploration, the Royal and Geographical Societies should be applied 

 to for a grant. This was obtained, and the work was carried on 

 under the superintendence of Professor Prestwich and Mr. Pengelly, 

 on whom, as a resident of the place, the burden substantially fell. 

 The decision to explore the cave was brought about largely by the 

 fact that it was a virgin cave which had been inaccessibly closed 

 during an incalculably long period, the last previous event in its 

 history having been the introduction of a reindeer antler, which was 

 found attached to the upper surface of the stalagmitic floor. It was 

 therefore free from the objection urged against Kent's Cavern that, 

 having been long known and open, it had probably been ransacked 

 again and again. A thorough method of exploration was deter- 

 mined upon, beginning with the examination and removal of the 

 stalagmitic floor; after which the upper bed should be dealt with 

 in a similar manner horizontally throughout the entire length of the 

 cavern, or so far as practicable; then the next lower bed, and so on, 

 till all the deposits had been removed. By this method the general 



