ON CAVES. 25 



obviously showing the results of the very long continued action of sub- 

 terranean streams, that one is puzzled as to what has occurred there, and at 

 a loss to connect what is seen with those great bodies of water which may 

 through the weathering of the limestone, have washed everything out. 

 There no boulders are to be seen nothing but the most beautifully fine 

 dolomitic sand and crystallised lead ores, sometimes showing in large masses, 

 like sides of bacon. In the Forest of Dean there are similar openings, 

 where a valuable iron ore is found, the other materials in these caves also 

 being almost entirely dolomitic. I should like to hear from Professor Hughes 

 whether he has observed anything of the kind at Ingleborough. Here let 

 me say that I think one of the most important lessons we have to learn is, 

 the great caution that ought always to be observed in seeing that our obser- 

 vations are made with scientifically systematic precision ; and, in the next 

 place, in only accepting statements that are made as to these matters when 

 they are founded on exact work of this kind, undertaken by experienced 

 persons, well qualified to judge of the mode in which cave-openings have 

 been formed as well as of the mode in which they have been filled. 



Mr. J. STALKART. I should like, in saying a few words on this subject', 

 to know whether the history of the tigers and hyaenas, whose remains are 

 found in the caverns spoken of, is different from that of the tigers and 

 hyenas now existing in different parts of the world 1 Ordinarily, when a 

 tiger or hyaena kills any animal he does not drag it into a cave, but eats it 

 where it has been seized ; it is only when it has young to feed that it drags 

 the carcase to its den . A lion does not carry its prey up a mountain side ; 

 it lies in wait near the track of the animal it kills, and there takes its fill. 

 The hyaena might drag its prey down a hill, but would hardly drag it uphill. 

 We know that in India these animals kill and eat their prey on the spot, 

 only sometimes carrying their prey a short distance. They may quarrel 

 over the remains, and drag pieces hither and thither ; but, for the most 

 part, they eat where they kill ; that which they leave is chiefly the head. 

 Suppose a bullock that has died a natural death is found : the jackals 

 quarrel over it ; a leg is drawn here, and another there, but the greater 

 portion of the carcase is left, and the head, which they cannot gnaw, in- 

 variably remains. Therefore, I am not inclined to believe that these caves 

 were the resort of hyaenas in the manner alleged. I think we ought to in- 

 quire into the fact whether the hyaenas referred to by geologists had habits 

 differing from those of similar animals at the present day. 



Mr. S. E. PATTISON, F.G.S. I take it that the hyaenas spoken of as 

 found in caves were not only inhabitants of those recesses, but made 

 incursions in search of prey. In Somersetshire the existence of the lion is 

 too well attested to admit of any doubt, and the fair inference from the 

 bones found in the caves is that they were dragged there. It is, however, 

 by no means certain that all the hyaena and other bones found in caverns 

 were those of animals dragged in : doubtless many of them are those of 



