OP THE CAVE AT KIRKDALE. 31 



taincd from my Erst visit to the Cave, and which 1 

 see no reason to exchange for those of another de- 

 scription. I shall not consider the following pages 

 as a controversy, but as ideas offered to the judgment 

 of a candid and enlightened public. The science of 

 geology is but comparatively in its infancy ; works 

 of great merit have lately been written on the sub- 

 ject ; but it still admits of farther investigation ; and 

 if any fresh thoughts should be offered in these pa- 

 ges, which may give a clue to farther research ; or 

 a new path struck out, which may lead to greater 

 certainty, those who are anxious for the improve- 

 ment of the science will exult in its general advance- 

 ment. Talents are various, and a combination of 

 them may produce effects, which could not be rea- 

 Ji/ed by an individual effort. 



May we not suppose that the cave at Kirkdale 

 was inhabited by Hyaenas, after the catastrophe hap- 

 pened which made such havoc on the face of this 

 globe ? that they took possession of it after the 

 deluge, in ages not known to history, in times of 

 which we have no account.* The principal reason 



* Should it be admitted that the Hyaenas took poss- 

 ession of this cavern soon after the deluge, it will make 

 but little difference in the data of the animal remains; 

 nor will it supercede the general system of those gentle- 

 men, who think that the bones found in the fissures of 

 rocks were in general washed in at the deluge, as I con- 

 ceive this was the case in most instances which have oc- 

 cured to the observation of the literary world; Yet I 

 think this cavern is an exception. If the rock was form- 

 ed at the deluge, the cave could not have existed before; 

 and from the circumstance of the faces of the hyaena ha- 

 ving been discovered, and with teeth-marked bones, 

 others polished by rubbing, and the regular disposition 



