1825.] Specimens of the Soil of ihe Cavetnof Kuhlocli. 'i87 



extensive range of inhabited caves, in which successive gene- 

 rations of antediluvian bears withdrew themselves from the tur- 

 bulent company of their fellows, as they felt sickness and death 

 approaching ; the habit of domesticated beasts and birds to 

 hide themselves on the approach of death renders it probable 

 that wild and savage animals also do the same. The unusual 

 state of decay of the teeth and bones in this black earth may be 

 attributed to the exposed state of this cavern, arising from its 

 large mouth and proximity to the external atmosphere and to the 

 absence of that protection, which in closer and deeper caves 

 they have received by being secluded from such exposure, or 

 imbedded in more argillaceous earth, or inverted with, and 

 entirely sealed up beneath a crust of stalagmite." — {Buckland's 

 ReliquicE. Diluviatm.) 



Analysis hy M. Chevreul. 



Mr. Buckland transmitted to me through Mr. Underwood 

 two specimens of the soil of the cavern of Kiihloch taken at 

 different depths in order that I might analyse them ; this cavern 

 contains a great number of fossil bones, belonging to carnivo- 

 rous and herbivorous animals, which Mr. Buckland conceives 

 were not transported by water into the situation in which they 

 are now seen, but that the Kiihloch cavern was the haunt of 

 carnivorous animals which died there, and their fossil bones are 

 now found in a state of greater or less decay according to the 

 degree of exposure to the atmosphere that they have undergone. 



The letter A denotes a specimen of the soil taken at the depth 

 of two feet, B one at six feet below the surface. 



Both the specnnens are, in great measure, in a pulverulent 

 state, containing small masses which easily crumble to pieces ; 

 their colour is orange brown, pretty much like that of some bog 

 iron ores {miNcs de fer hydruties limoneuses) ; the colour resides 

 principally in the finest particles, as is evident if we agitate the 

 specimens in water, and decant the fluid before it has become 

 clear ; the pulverulent particles remain suspended, while a gra- 

 nular sandy matter subsides of a yellowish grey colour; when a 

 deposit has formed from the muddy water which had been 

 decanted off, it is found to have a fine orange vellow colour. 

 The specnnen A contains a smaller proportion of pulverulent 

 particles than B, and is also less coloured. 



Previous trials having shown that the matter soluble in water 

 was in part alterable by the action of heat, like organic sub- 

 stances, I submitted both specimens to two series of experiments, 

 to determine first the nature of the substances indestructible by 

 heat, and secondly that of the matter destructible by that agent. 



