2 ROCHESTER ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. [Oct. 12, 



The Secretary, Mr. Frank C. Baker, read a paper on 



THE CAVES OF YUCATAN. 

 {Abstract.) 



The northern portion of Yucatan is very flat and dry and built 

 up entirely of recent limestone deposited on an early fold of the 

 earth's crust. Throughout this whole region there is no surface water, 

 no running streams, and the only source of water supply for the 

 inhabitants is from aguadas or caves. In the western portion there 

 is a range of hills of about a thousand feet elevation, but aside from 

 this the country is very flat. About the Gulf region there are exten- 

 sive mangrove swamps, but they do not extend for any distance 

 inland. AVe can descend through this limestone formation in any of 

 the caverns and find species of fossil invertebrates identical with those 

 now found living on the shores of Yucatan. 



The first cave visited was nine miles from San Renado, situated 

 in the north-western part of the country. This cave descended to 

 the depth of i8o feet below the surface. There were numerous pas- 

 sages seen branching off in various directions, but only two had been 

 explored and these were not of very great extent. One passage lead- 

 ing in a northerly direction was followed for the length of a quarter 

 of a mile and was found to gradually shelve down to a point, thus 

 preventing further progress. 



The second cave was that of Lantun, situated about fifteen miles 

 from Ticul near the Hacienda of Tabi. This cave descended to a 

 depth of 150 feet, and contained some very beautiful stalactitic col- 

 umns. In one small chamber, about 120 feet below the surface, was 

 found a fountain of clear, cold water contained in a hollow stalag- 

 mite. This fountain was always full but never seemed to run over. 

 One interesting feature of this cave was a passage, said to be ten 

 miles in length, which led in a northerly direction and connected a 

 small village with the cave. This was said to have been a place of 

 refuge for the ancient inhabitants when hard pressed by their enemies. 

 The floor of this passage was covered with ripple-marks, as though 

 water had flowed over it at some distant day. No animal life was 

 found in any of these caves excepting a few shells just beneath the 

 opening, which had fallen in or been washed down by the rains. 



The paper was illustrated by several blackboard diagrams and 

 was discussed by the President, Dr. Moore, Professor Ward and others. 



