The Har Dalam Cavern, Malta, and its Contents. 277 



Hippopotamus, but no Deer. The fissures in the rock itself also con- 

 tained remains of Hippopotamus firmly wedged and cemented into 

 them. 



Trench IY, also in the centre of the cave, exhibited a series of 

 deposits similar to those in Nos. I and III. 



Layers A, B, and C, in descending order, contained no organic 

 remains, but in layer D (indurated brick-red earth), which appears 

 to be the basal layer of C, composed of its heavier materials, sorted 

 by water, are remains of Hippopotamus and Cervus intermixed in pell- 

 mell confusion. Amongst these remains Mr. Arthur Smith Wood- 

 ward has determined the third metacarpal of Man. It was found at 

 depth of 3 ft. 6 in. from the surface, and underlying a layer contain- 

 ing pottery. It is probably of great antiquity, being extracted from 

 one of the earliest layers in the cavern. The layer beneath contains 

 bones of Cervidse and Hippopotami, but much broken. 



Trench V was in a rocky fissure on the left-hand and furthest from 

 the entrance of any of the trenches. It was excavated to a depth of 

 8 ft., but few organic remains were met with in it ; there were many 

 limestone boulders, some fragments of pottery, and several pieces of 

 bones of Hippopotamus. 



Trench VI, made on the left hand, 50 ft. from the entrance, is 

 interesting because, in layer E, consisting of light gray clay and 

 loam, with a few antlers, teeth, and bones of Cervus, was found the 

 first Carnivore yet met with in Malta; represented by a jaw and 

 several canines of Ursus. 



In the layer beneath were numerous bones and teeth of the small 

 Hippopotamus. 



Although Admiral Spratt and Dr. Leith- Adams refer to the prob- 

 able presence of Carnivora (from the gnawed condition of the bones 

 in the Zebbng gorge), these are the first remains ever met with. 



Trench VII was cut in a small branch cavern, running about 15 ft. 

 into the rock at right angles to the main gallery, about 20 ft. from 

 the main entrance. 



Here, beneath a mass of boulders, was a layer of dry black earth, 

 intermixed with grass, and fragments of pottery. 



The layer beneath contained large blocks of limestone embedded in 

 light friable marl, with great quantities of shells of Helices, jaws and 

 bones of Sheep, &c. 



Trench VIII, made within a walled enclosure 30 ft. from the 

 entrance, was not rich in organic remains ; but antlers and limb- 

 bones of Deer and remains of Hippopotamus marked the corresponding 

 layers met with in the other trenches. 



The author concludes that the Har Dalam Valley is identical in its 

 characteristics with the other valleys and gorges of Malta and Grozo, 

 and that they all owe their origin to analogous causes : chiefly, he 



