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l^eccnt Cabc=SigQiuQ m Snljpstjirr. 



By W. Storrs Fox, M.A., F.Z.S. 



URING the past three or four years three papers have 

 been read before learned societies in London on the 

 subject of cave-exploration in Derbyshire. The 

 discoveries thus recorded are presumably of greater 

 interest to residents in this county than to those outside its 

 borders; and it would, therefore, be unfortunate if there were 

 no means of bringing these facts under the notice of those most 

 likely to appreciate them. 



The caves were situated in the Carboniferous Limestone — the 

 first at Doveholes, near Buxton ; the second at Longcliffe, near 

 Brassington ; and the third in Cales Dale, a branch of Lathkil 

 Dale. Taking them in this order, their respective heights above 

 Ordnance datum were 1,150 feet, 1,090 feet, and 800 feet. In 

 point of time, the Mammalian remains found at Doveholes 

 belong to a much earlier, and those from Cales Dale to a much 

 later, period than the Longcliffe bones. 



The Cales Dale Cave is a natural passage in the rock, 

 probably enlarged to a slight extent by the action of water 

 passing through it. It begins at its innermost extremity with 

 an impassable cleft, widens out to a maximum height of 32ft- 

 and width of 6 ft, and opens into the dale by means of two 

 small exits, each of which is less than 3 feet high and wide. 

 It is quite evident that the bones found in this cave entered 

 it from the dale through one or other of these two openings. 

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