1824.] the Formation of the Kirkdale Cave. 55 



destroy the bones, had reduced the muscular matter to pulp, 

 and the waters had carried it off, and the cave had had no 

 efficient cause. „ . 



If the bodies were deposited entire, every bone ot each 

 must be forth coming, and its complete skeleton admit ot being 



mounted. . , . , 



Between " the animal remains discovered buried singly m 

 strata of gravel and clay, and those found in multitudinous 

 masses in the cavities of rocks," there exist the important 

 differences of the former not being in caves, and ot the strata 

 in which they occur being fresh-water ones. These remains 

 may consequently be supposed those of animals washed irom 

 heights by inundations, and buried in the earthy matter trans- 

 ported with them. , 



Nor can the bones of the cave be assimilated to the 

 ** shells kneaded into the limestone rock of Portland. tor 

 the comparison to hold, the bones must be " kneaded into the 

 limestone rock" as the shells are, and as are the bones m the 

 Stunsfield slate, which have been placed in it by the sea. 



If the stalactites had been produced by the descent ot por- 

 tions of the calcareous pulpy mass yielding to gravity, they 

 would, like the stalactites of lava, formed in this way, have the 

 texture of the rock. The stalactites of limestone strata are 

 clusters of crystals, which have generated from solution m 

 water. 



Induration of the calcareous Stratum. 

 The calcareous paste is supposed by Mr. Penn to have petri- 

 fied by simple drying ; and on this supposition much ot the 

 hypothesis concerning the formation of the Cave reposes. 



Experiments will convince that a paste of calcareous powder 

 and water does not dry to marble, but to whitening. An in- 

 durating faculty must not be attributed to time, it has it not. 

 Chalk strata cannot be assigned a less age than the rocks ot 

 Yorkshire, and they have not dried to stone, nor seem hasten- 

 ing to become such. 



Each particle of powder is a diminutive pebble, and an inter- 

 vening cement is required to connect it with the neighbouring 



ones. 



Carbonate of lime dissolved in water by means ot an excess 

 of acid is the element of agglutination, winch nature has in 

 these cases made use of. The acid solvent exhale* or becomes 

 saturated, and the neutral salt, ceasing to be soluble, crystal- 

 Lizes on the particles of the powder. 



It is thus that the sands of the Calabnan shores are consoli- 

 dated. The sea water loaded with the calcareous sail, earn, 

 it into them. It cannot be by drying Since they are wetted 



