340 Analysis of Scientific Books. 



been supplied by the individuals whose other bones are mixed 

 with them. From the comminuted and apparently gnawed con- 

 dition of the bones, Mr. Buckland remarks, that this cave was 

 probably, during a long succession of years, inhabited as a den by 

 hysenas, and that they dragged into its recesses the other animal 

 bodies whose remains are found mixed with their own, a conjec- 

 ture much strengthened by the discovery of the solid calcareous 

 excrement of an animal that had fed on bones, which the keeper 

 of Exeter 'Change at once recognised as resembling the recent 

 faeces of the Cape hyaena. IVIr. Buckland proceeds to verify this 

 evidence, already very conclusive, by an inquiry into the habits 

 of modern hysenas, of which three species only are known, and 

 all smaller than the fossil one; they inhabit hot climates exclu- 

 sively, and prowl about at night, clearing away the carcasses and 

 skeletons left by vultures, in preference to attacking living crea- 

 tures. They arc so greedy of putrid flesh and bones, that they 

 follow armies, and dig up bodies from the grave. They inhabit 

 holes and chasms, are strong, fierce and voracious, and their eyes, 

 like those of the rat and mouse, are adapted for nocturnal vision. 

 To such animals the Kirkdale cave would certainly aflford a con- 

 venient habitation, and the circumstances we find developed in it 

 are consistent with these habits. 



We must infer from the circumstance of the bones of the hyaena 

 being as much broken up as those of the animals that formed their 

 prey, tiiat the carcasses of the hysenas themselves were eaten up by 

 the survivors ; and it is stated by Mr. Brown in his Journey to 

 Darfu, that when a hyaena is wounded, his companions instantly 

 tear him to pieces and devour him. But modern hyaenas not only 

 devour their own species, but upon a pinch they actually eat up 

 parts of themselves. An old hyaena in the Jardin du Roi at 

 Paris nibbled off his own hind feet, and the keeper of Mr. Womb- 

 well's collection told Mr. Buckland that he had an hyaena some 

 years ago which ate off his own fore paws. We, therefore, can 

 want no further proof of the voracity of these animals. We insert 

 the following passages as showing the minuteness and accuracy of 

 Mr. Buckla)id's talent for investigation of this sort, and as bearing 

 upon some important collateral parts of his inquiry. 



I have already stated, that the greatest number of teeth (those of the 

 hyaena excepted) belong to the ruminating animals ; from which it is to be 

 inferred, tliat they formed the ordinary prey of the hyaenas. I have, also, 

 to add, that very few of the teeth of these animals bear marks of age; they 

 seem to have perished by a violent death in the vigour of life. With 

 respect to the horns of deer, that appear to have fallen off by necrosis, it is 

 probable that the hysonas found them thus shed, and dragged them home 

 for the purpose of gnawing them in their den; and, to animals so fond of 

 hones, the spongy mterior of horns of this kind would not be unacceptable. 

 I found a fragment of stag's horn in so small a recess of the cave, that it 

 never could have beer introduced, unless singly, and after separation from 

 the head : and near it was the molar tooth of an elephant. I nave secnjno 

 remains of the horns of oxen, and perliaps there are none ; for the bony por- 

 tion of their interior, being of a porous spongy nature, would probably have 

 ueen eaten by the hya;nas, — whilst the outer case, being of a similar compo- 

 sition to hair and hoofs, would not long have escaped total decomposition. 



