188 THE MAMMOTH CAVE. 
“The exploration requires five or six days, 
and an army of guides is always kept for the 
service of travelers.” ; 
Farther on the author states that, “Up to the 
present time 226 avenues have been made out, 
besides 57 domes, 11 lakes, 7 rivers, 8 cataracts, — 
and 32 abysses, some of which are of immense 
depth.” Those readers who have followed us 
closely will recognize that the above estimate is 
considerably magnified, on the principle, we pre- 
sume, that “distance lends enchantment to the 
view; for it does not appear in the record that 
the writer had ever made a personal inspection 
of the things whereof he speaks. 
Dr. Poucher speaks of the human mummies 
and human skeletons found in the Cave; also, 
of the discovery therein of the bones of the bear, 
hyena, and mastodon. We are not aware that 
he obtained this information from any American 
authority. Indeed, he does not cite authorities 
for any of his assertions regarding the Cave. 
Dr. P. mentions the blind fishes of the Cave, and 
gives a tolerably accurate diagram of them. He 
does not refer to the recognized name given them 
by Professor Agassiz (Amblyopsis speleus), but 
calls them Cyprinodonts. He adds that they 
appear to be devoid of eyes. This question, as 
