314 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



XXII. Notes on a Collection of Mammalian and other 

 Fragmentary Bones obtained from Smoo Cave, Durness^ 

 Sntherlandshire. By David HErBURN, M.D., F.K.S.E., 

 Lecturer on Regioncd Anatomy, University of Edinburgh. 



(Read 18th April 1900.) 



The material upon which the following observations have 

 been made was found by the officials of Her Majesty's 

 Geological Survey, and, by the kindness of Mr Peach, F.R.S., 

 it was placed in my hands for examination and report. 



The "find," consisting of numerous fragments of bones, 

 along with a few shells, constituted part of a " kitchen 

 midden " which had accumulated on the floor of Smoo Cave, 

 Durness, Sntherlandshire. 



With the geological characters of the cave and its sur- 

 roundings I am not immediately concerned, although these 

 might throw light upon the presence of certain of the bony 

 remains. 



The material, as submitted to me, consisted of two separate 

 parcels, of which one had been collected by a private 

 individual, while the other and larger package had been 

 gathered by the Survey Collector, who made a careful 

 distinction as regards the level at which different fragments 

 were found, and classified them as from the " Upper Layer " 

 and from the " Lower Layer." In the course of my observa- 

 tions, I shall continue to distinguish between the " Survey 

 Collection " and the " Private Collection." 



I. The Survey Collection. 



A. Ufper Layer. — In this portion of the " find " there 

 were more than sixty fragments of mammalian bones, many 

 of which were mere chips, whose specific identification was 

 impossible. In addition, there were numerous bones of birds 

 and fishes, as well as some shells, of which the majority 

 were apparently oyster-shells. 



Although the total number of mammalian fragments was 

 large, yet only a few genera could be identified. Thus the 



