24 Transactions of the 



borne testimony to the beauty of this cavern, and he compares it 

 with the f^rotto of Antiparos. Elihu Burritt was struck with 

 admiration at its wonders when he visited it on his walk from 

 London to Land's End, and he says it is superior in almost every 

 way even to the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky. 



Curiously enough, we found in a font-like basin lying in one 

 of the inmost recesses of the Stalactite Cavern, a large number of 

 small crustaceans — furnished with the most perfectly developed 

 eyes, although living most of the time in utter darkness.* Of 

 course they may have been introduced in some way, and we only 

 mention the matter for what it is worth, but the fact is, at all 

 events, a curious one. 



We are fortunately able to exhibit this evening a very beautiful 

 stalactite, which came, as we understand, from one of the smaller 

 caverns at Cheddar, though we are not acquainted with the name 

 of the pilferer. A specimen so large as this is, of course, of con- 

 siderable value. Time does not admit of an account of the way 

 in which these beautiful productions of nature are formed, so we 

 must now pass on to speak, as we have promised, of the history 

 and antiquities of Cheddar. 



The Antiquities. — Before entering upon a description of ;he 

 antiquities of Cheddar, it would be well to give some explanation 

 of the name itself. As far as we can judge from traditions ind 

 other sources, the village has borne the various names of Gelre, 

 Cheddre, and Cheddour. The present name, Cheddar, is said to 

 be derived from the Saxon word Ced, meaning ' a lofty height,' 

 and Bur, ' water.' If such be its derivation, it has, witliout 

 doubt, taken its name from the stream of water flowing throagh 

 the valley wherein lies the hamlet, surrounded by lofty clift's, 

 which ' tower majestic to the skies.' 



That the top of the cliffs and the surrounding country, now 

 bare and woodless, was, in a.d. 975, clothed with extensive woods 

 in which wild deer abounded,-f- may be assumed from the follow- 

 ing story, taken from an ancient manuscript in the possession of 

 the Corporation of Axbridge : — 



' Sometimes, for the sake of hunting, the king | spent the 

 summer about the Forest of Mendip, wherein there were at that 

 time numerous stags and several kinds of wild beasts, for, as is 

 read iti the life of St Dunstan, King Edward, who sought retire- 



* The specimens brought home for identification were unfortunately destroyed 

 by an accident. They were of the order AmjyJnpoda. 



t At the same time, it must be borne in mind that the term ' forest ' had a 

 much wider signification in olden times than at present. Any large uncultivated 

 district devoted simply to the chase, received the name of Forest, whether it was 

 overspread with timber or not. 



I Edward the Confessor. 



