44 Mr Wayne on Dr Knox's Observations 



To me it appears, that it was Dr Buckland's intention 

 simply to prove the fact of an universal deluge, not " to fix 

 its era ;" and (having established this fact) to make it a 

 standard whereby to estimate the relative antiquity of the nu- 

 merous organic remains found in diluvial or alluvial forma- 

 tions. 



With respect to Dr Knox's second observation, " That it is 

 of little moment to a geological theory what are the habits 

 of modern hyaenas, since the antediluvian relics belong to a 

 different species, 11 I may be allowed to say, that where the 

 Similarity of their organization is so striking, we may, with 

 some degree of confidence, expect a corresponding resemblance 

 in their habits ; and if, by the assumption of this probable 

 coincidence in habit, Dr Buckland be enabled to account for 

 the curious phenomena of the Kirkdale cave, I conclude 

 such solution of the difficulties there presented a sufficiently 

 strong presumptive proof, that the said similarity of habits 

 did exist. I observe, too, that Dr Hibbert, in pp. 21, 22, ad- 

 duces a similar argument to account for the locality of the re- 

 mains of the Cervus Euryceros. If, however, Dr Knox do 

 not consider this a sufficiently strong presumptive proof of the 

 similarity of habits, still he can hardly maintain, consistently 

 with his own argument, that a difference in the habits of post- 

 diluvian, from those which Dr Buckland has thought proper 

 to attach to his antediluvian hyaenas, can render the " theory 

 ' of the latter 1 absolutely untenable. 11 All the Doctor asks us to 

 grant is, that the hyaenas, after having gorged themselves with the 

 flesh, might (as is the common custom with dogs) secrete the 

 bones. The circumstance which Dr Knox relates of having 

 killed several hyaenas, while engaged in eating the flesh, does 

 not prove that they would not afterwards have conveyed away 

 the bones had there been any. 



But the quotations which Dr Buckland has adduced from 

 Busquebius and Brown, (pp. 22, 23,) appear sufficiently con- 

 clusive with regard to the fact of their taking the bones to 

 their dens. Busquebius, indeed, asserts, that it (speaking in 

 the singular number) bears away the bodies, " portatque ca- 

 davera ad speluncam.'''' And Brown says, " that, acting in 



