Geological Society. 579 
other round with a double head and a deep intercostal groove ; a cla- 
vicle ; portions of coracoids; a humerus, the articulatory extremities 
of which expand to nearly three times the diameter of the centre of 
the bone ; a humerus 7 inches long, 2 inches broad at the superior 
extremity, and 14 at its inferior ; two femurs, one nearly perfect, 
being 10 inches in length; part of an ischium; a tibia; a fibula; 
metacarpal or metatarsal bones, with penultimate and ungueal pha- 
langes. 
In conclusion the authors state that these remains afford further 
proof of the truth that the more ancient the strata the more the ani- 
mal remains differ from existing types. 
A memoir was afterwards read, “ On the Ossiferous Cavern of 
Yealm Bridge, 6 miles south-east from Plymouth.” By Capt. Mudge, 
Royal Engineers, F.G.S., F.R.S., &e. 
This cavern is situated in a mass of limestone adjoining the village 
of Yealmpton, near Yealm Bridge, and on the south side of the river. 
It has been long known, and though large quantities of the bones 
have been burnt in the limekiln, yet it was not till lately that its con- 
tents attracted the attention of the scientific observer. Mr. Bellamy, 
of Yealmpton, first detected their value, and Capt. Mudge in a visit 
to Devonshire in the autumn of last year collected the information 
detailed in the memoir, ‘‘ There were originally three openings into 
the cave, each about 12 feet above the river Yealm, and a few yards 
distant from each other. Large portions of the rock being removed 
for economical purposes, a considerable part of the cavern has been 
destroyed, and at the time of Capt. Mudge’s visit portions of only the 
eastern and western chambers remained. The former consisted of a 
descending shaft to the depth of 10 feet, which turned at right angles 
and again ascended to the surface, both the descent and the ascent 
being at an angle of 45°. Of the western cavern, a portion remained 
uninjured. From the present opening it takes a northerly direction 
for 43 feet, the height varying from 5 to 6 feet, and the breadth from 
4to 5. It then turns westerly for 25 feet, the height varying from 
5 to 12 feet, and the breadth from 31. to 5. The cave contained five, 
distinct, sedimentary deposits, and where they did not fill it to the 
roof the uppermost bed was covered by a layer of stalagmite. The 
order of the deposits was as follows : 
Top. Loam, containing bones and stones .......- 31 feet. 
Stiff whitish clay .... 22... ee eee eee e ee 24 
PN Sete: 55 cissegings petue pt. ley sou 
Hed tgs on ste Ro naBy pilnieti’ 3+ 
Argillaceous sand .... 2.0. .2-2enn-ee vere 6 to 18. 
Animal remains have been found only in the uppermost bed, and the 
author, on the authority of Mr. Clift and Mr.Owen, states that they be- 
long to the elephant, rhinoceros, horse, ox, sheep, hyena, dog, 
wolf, fox, bear, hare, water-rat, and a bird of considerable size. Co- 
prolites also occur in the same bed. Many of the bones are splin- 
tered, chipped, and gnawed. Of the elephant only two teeth of a 
young animal have been preserved, and the remains of the rhinoceros 
are also rare, being confined to teeth and a doubtful bone, but those 
3L2 
