259 



the objects found in the cave of Challeux were pieces of fluorine spar, and 

 fossil shells, amongst them Gerithium gir/anteum, imported from the country 

 of Champagne, distant some 40 or 50 miles. The flints, too, which were 

 used for working were brought from the same distance, showing evident 

 knowledge of a rude state of trade or barter. 



It is to be noted that the fossil shells were pierced with small round 

 holes, evidently to suspend them as ornaments." 



Such are Sir 'William Guise's remarks upon these most interesting 

 caverns and their contents. I would only add a few brief notes for the 

 information of those physical geologists who have studied the phenomena 

 of ancient river and cave deposits, and would be interested in our endeavours 

 to correlate those of Belgium with our own here in England. 



The following is the succession of deposits as sketched for me in my 

 notes by Dr. Dupont : — 



MS'^ 



oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo 

 oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo 

 oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo 



1. Angular debris. 2. Stalagmite. 3. "Loess," or stratified sand and clay. 

 i. Pebble beds fcailloux rouUsJ. 



The points that struck me most particularly are as follows : — 

 First. — On ascending the ancient Eoman encampment above the '"Trou 

 de Nutous " with M. Dumont, and Dr. Dupont, they pointed out to me the 

 position of the Drifts that overlie the great platform of carboniferous lime- 

 stone. These drifts contain erratic pebbles and boulders, and occupy a 

 similar position above the bone caves on the Lesse, as do those of the boulder 

 drifts of Gower above the caves on the sea coast, or those of St. Asaph, above 

 the river that runs below those caverns. The rolled pebbles at the base of 

 the cave deposits are like those on the upper limestone platform. 



Secondly. — After the Belgian caverns had been hollowed out in the car- 

 boniferous limestone, and the carbonate of lime removed, probably by springs 

 acting upon longitudinal fissures, it is very evident that either engulfed 

 streams, or the action of waves, affected the interior of the caves precisely as 

 was observed by Sir C. Lyell and myself in the caves of Gower and St. Asaph. 

 Although encrusted with stalactitic matter there were numerous potholes and 

 marks of water action. 



Thirdly.— Along the valley of the Lesse there have been undoubtedly physical 

 changes in the configuration of the district since the deposition of all the 

 stratified deposits within the caves. This is also what we know has occurred 

 in many instances among the subterrauian caverns which contain the bones 

 of the extinct mammalia and the flint instruments, of men in England. 



