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aXIII. Description of a Cavern near Chudleigh in Devon- 

 shire. By Mr. J. Jones, of Pembroke College, Cam- 

 Iridge. Communicated by the Author. 



JL HE Devonshire marbles have been lately much in request 

 tor ornamental purposes; and since it has been found im- 

 possible to obtain the more costly marbles of Italy, the at- 

 tention of our artists has been directed toward the prtiduce 

 of our own soil. The strata of limestone or marble traverse 

 ;he country in various directions, adding considerably to 

 the beauty of the scenery ; for at some places they sink be- 

 neath the surface of the earth, and at others rise with ma- 

 jestic grandeur to a nearly perpendicular height of two or 

 three hundred feet, presenting from their summits views 

 not to be exceeded for extent or picturesque effect by any 

 in the kingdom ; and what adds considerably to their ap- 

 pearance is, that their lops are not barren, but ornamented 

 with mountain plants and a lively verdure, and their sides 

 are rendered shaggy by the shrubs and trees which grow 

 in abundance from their crevices. These hills are particu- 

 larly interesting to the traveller, and may not prove unin- 

 structive to the geologist; for caverns of considerable mag- 

 nitude have been discovered within their bowels, in which 

 a profusion of stalactitical and stalagmitical depositions 

 abounds. The most celebrated of these caverns are Kent's 

 tiole in the vicinity of Tortjuay, and the Piscies'-hole iii 

 Chudleigh rock ni^ar the town of Chudleigh: the first Ihave 

 never seen, but have frequently visited the latter. 



The Pixies' or Piskies' Hole, as it is commonly called, be- 

 ing the supposed habitation of a diminutive race of fairies, 

 is situated in part of the rock which faces the woods of 

 Ugbrook Park, the seat of Lord Clifford : the ascent is rath- 

 er difficult, being nai row and winding ; but after havincr 

 ascended for a short lime, the entrance presents itself al- 

 most concealed by trees and shrubs: the entrance is J0| 

 feet in breadth, and 9 feet in height, and the same dimen- 

 sions are licarly preserved for 67^ feet after you enter the 

 cavern : it then suddenly diminishes into a narrow hole not 

 exceeding 3 feet in height and 7 feet in breadth : before 

 you eiutr this narrow pa-isage you are nccessltaicd to de- 

 scend on your hands and knees, and. light your candles, for 

 uithoui light it is im|)o^^i!)Ie to explo^rc the interit)r of the 

 cavern: this narrow passage is the greatest diflicully to be 

 encountered; but it is not of any considerable length, not 

 exceeding .07 feel: at its extremity you suddenly emerge 



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