i 
ON BRITISH FOSSIL MAMMALIA. 991 
molar of the Rh. Schleiermacheri of Kaup, but a solitary molar tooth is not 
a very satisfactory ground for pronouncing absolutely of the species of Rhi- 
noceros. 
The most completeskeletons of one and the sameindividual have been found, 
as might be expected, in caverns or cavernous fissures, where the carcass of 
the fallen animal has been best protected from external changes and move- 
ments of the soil. 
Dr. Buckland has recorded one of the most remarkable examples of this 
kind which was brought to light in the operation of sinking a shaft through 
solid mountain limestone, in a mining operation for lead-ore near Wirks- 
worth, Derbyshire. A natural cavern was thus laid open, which had become 
filled to the roof with a confused mass of argillaceous earth and fragments 
of stone, and had communicated with the surface by a fissure or opening 
58 feet deep and 6 feet broad, similarly filled to the top, where the outlet 
had been concealed by the vegetation. Near the bottom of this fissure, but 
in the midst of the drift, and raised by many feet of the same material from 
the floor of the cavern, was found nearly the whole skeleton of a Rhinoceros 
with the bones almost in their natural juxtaposition: one part of the skull 
which was recovered showed the rough surface forthe front horn; the back 
part of the skull and one half of the under jaw were detached. All the bones 
were in a state of high preservation. There were no supernumerary bones 
to indicate the presence of a second Rhinoceros, but a few remains of Ru- 
minants, apparently of extinct species. 
A less proportion, but still a considerable one, of the skeleton of a ticho- 
rhine Rhinoceros was discovered by Mr. Whidbey, Engineer of the Ply- 
mouth Breakwater, in one of the cavernous fissures of the limestone quarries 
at Oreston, near Plymouth: the following parts, most of which were determined. 
and have been figured by Mr. Clift, were recovered and preserved :— 
Two molar teeth of the upper jaw. 
Four do. do. lower jaw. 
Portion of the first vertebra, atlas. 
Portions of four dorsal vertebre. 
Portions of two caudal vertebre. 
Portions of four ribs. 
The symphysial end of an os pubis. 
Portions of the right and left scapule. 
Both articular extremities of the left humerus. 
Do. do. right ulna. 
Do. do. left radius. - 
The right os unciforme. 
The middle metacarpal bone of the right fore-foot. 
A phalanx of the same toe. 
Both articular extremities of the right femur. 
Part of both extremities of the left femur. 
The left patella. 
A fragment of the left tibia. 
Two portions of metatarsal bones of the right hind-foot. 
The state of the epiphyses of the long bones indicate that the animal had 
not quite reached maturity ; but in the same cavernous fissure there was found 
part of the right humerus of an older individual of the Rhinoceros tichorhinus. 
The broken bones have suffered from clean fractures; none of them are 
gnawed or waterworn: the cavern containing them was 15 feet wide, 12 feet 
high, 45 feet long ; it was filled with solid clay. 
In similar and adjoining cavernous fissures, detached bones and teeth of 
