62 THE MAMMOTH CAVE. 



fin !" We are then informed that we behold 

 the Giant's Coffin. This immense sarcophagus 

 is a huge rock, forty feet long, twenty wide, and 

 eight in depth, and, at the point from which it is 

 viewed, presents a striking resemblance to a 

 coffin. It has been detached from the side of 

 the avenue against which it rests. 



On the ceiling, a little to the left of the Giant's 

 Coffin, and looking into the Deserted Chamber, 

 is the figure of an ant-eater. It is composed 

 of the efflorescence of black gypsum, and rests 

 upon a background of w^hite limestone. Bayard 

 .Taylor, W'hose extensive travels enable him to 

 speak authoritatively, says that the resemblance 

 of the figure to the animal after which it is 

 named is very perfect. 



A short distance beyond the Giant's Coffin, in 

 the Main Cave, after passing w^iat is called the 

 Acute Angle, a group of figures is observed on 

 the ceiling, termed the Giant, Wife, and Child. 

 These, figures are in a sitting posture, and the 

 Giant appears to be in the act of passing the 

 Child to the Giantess. They are also composed 

 of black gypsum, which rests on a white back- 

 ground. 



Still farther on, the figure of a colosfeal mam- 

 moth may be seen on the ceiling. 



