ON RAINS CAVE, LONGCLIFFE, DERBYSHIRE. 



231 



and " G " were treated in precisely the same manner ; and before 

 the end of January, 1890, the whole of the anterior portion of the 

 cave was planed down to this level, with the exception of a few 

 feet just within the entrance, which were left to continue the 

 inclined way into the interior. 



A second layer, one foot thick throughout, was next removed 

 in strips, as above ; these were distinguished by the prefix '* i." 

 In like manner, the next layer of strips below was distinguished 



Plan of Rains Ca\ k. 



by "2," and so forth. This looks simple enough; in practice 

 however, it was not always possible, or even desirable, to follow, 

 it out. Frequently the floor consisted of a matted mass of stones, 

 with large blocks extending into the neighbouring foot-strips : 

 these could not be broken up and removed with any regard to the 



