Prof. Buckland on the Exiiviie of Bears at KilJiloch. 1 1 3 



feet: it also retains so large a proportion of its original aniinal 

 matter, that it is occasionally used by the peasants as an en- 

 riching manure for the adjacent meadows*. 



The exterior of this cavern presents a lofty arch, in a nearly 

 perpendicular cliflj which forms the left flank of the gorge of 

 the Esbach, opposite the Casde of Rabenstein. The depth of 

 the valley below it is less than 30 feet, whilst above it the hill 

 rises rapidly, and sometimes precipitously, to 150 or 200 feet. 

 This narrow valley or gorge is simjily a valley of denudation, 

 by which the waters of the Esbach fall into those of the 

 Weissent. The breadth of the entrance arch is about 30 feet, 

 Its height 20 feet. As we advance inwards the cave increases 

 in height and breadth, and near its inner extremity divides into 

 two large and lofty chambers, both of which terminate in a 

 close round end, or nil dc sac, at the distance of about 100 

 feet from the entrance. It is intersected by no fissures, and 

 has no lateral communications connecting it with any other 

 caverns, except one small hole close to its mouth, and which 

 opens also to the valley. These circumstances ai'e important, 

 as they will assist to explain the peculiarly undisturbed state in 

 which the interior of this cavern has remained, amid the dilu- 

 vial changes that have affected so many others. The inclina- 

 tion of the floor, for about 30 feet nearest the mouth, is very 

 considerable, and but little earth is lodged upon it ; but further 

 in, the interior of the cavern is entirely covered with a mass 

 of dark brown or blackish earth, through which are dissemi- 

 nated in great abundance the bones and teeth of bears and 

 other animals, and a few small fi-agments of limestone, which 

 have probably fallen from the roof; but I could find no rolled 

 pebbles. The upper portion of this earth seems to be mixed 

 up with a ({uantity of calcareous loam, which, before it had 

 been disturbed, by digging, probably formed a bed of diluvial 

 sediment over the animal remains ; but as we sink deeper, the 

 earth gets blacker, and more free from loam, and seems wholly 

 composed of decayed animal matter. There is no appearance 

 of eithei" stalactite or stalacTnite having ever existed within 

 tins cavern. 



In some of the particulars here enumerated, there is an ap- 

 parent inconsistency with the phaniomena of other caverns; but 

 the differences are such as arise from the particular position 



♦ I huvc stated, that the total (|uaiility of animal matter that lies within 

 tiiis cavern cannot he computed at less than r)()00 cubic fct;t. Now allowing 

 two ouhic feet of dust and bones for each individual aninuil, we shall have 

 in this siuj^le vaidt tlie remains of at least S.'jOO bears, a number wliich may 

 have been supplied in the sjiace of 1000 years, by a mortality at the rate 

 of two and a half per ainiuin. 



Vol. G2. No. 304.. All". 1823. V and 



