mutilation, except in one instance, where the radius of a young 

 wolf is impressed by the incisors and canine teeth of an animal the 

 size of the weasel. 



Such of the bones as were examined appeared to have lost the 

 greater part of their animal matter, and had consequently become 

 brittle ; some of them when immersed in water became black, but 

 recovered their former appearance on drying ; this was especially the 

 case with those of the carnivorous tribes. 



Mr. Clift observes that appearances of disease in fossil bones are 

 of rare occurrence ; among these, however, he found two examples 

 in the metacarpal and metatarsal bones of the bovine animals, show- 

 ing upon their surface the effect of ossific inflammation; there were 

 also marks of disease in the lower jaw of a young wolf. 



It appears from Mr. Clift's detailed enumeration of the bones from 

 these caverns, that they are clearly referable to animals of known 

 and still existing genera ; but he observes that it is a curious cir- 

 cumstance, that with the exception of the very few belonging to the 

 deer, they all appertain to animals differing from those formerly 

 found in the immediate vicinity of the present caverns. 



Mr. Clift concludes this communication with a particular descrip- 

 tion and enumeration of the bones, which are further illustrated by 

 reference to several drawings. 



On the Chinese Year. By J. F. Davis, Esq. F.R.S. Read December 

 19, 1822. [Phil. Trans. 1823, p. 91.] 



After stating his opinion that the Chinese are possessed of no 

 original astronomical knowledge, but that that which they possess 

 is entirely of foreign origin, since in former times they even adopted 

 the errors of European astronomers ; and that the instruments men- 

 tioned by Du Halde as having been found by the missionaries on 

 their first entrance into the country, were constructed by the Ara- 

 bians ; the author proceeds to confirm this opinion by an account of 

 the division of the Chinese year, and a comparison of the Chinese 

 with the European zodiac. The former is divided into twenty-eight 

 constellations, and Mr. Davis has represented these in an annexed 

 drawing, with the number of degrees affixed to each ; from which it 

 appears that they are extremely unequal, the largest consisting of 

 30, and the least of not more than 5. Of these constellations, 

 Kio, which corresponds to a part of Virgo, is considered as the first 

 in order ; which is perhaps a proof, says the author, that in some 

 former period their year commenced at this point. As far, however, 

 as Mr. Davis's information, the Chinese have no solar year, their 

 year, properly considered, being a lunar year, consisting of twelve 

 months, of twenty-nine and thirty days alternately, with the occa- 

 sional addition of a thirteenth month, to make it correspond more 

 nearly with the sun's course. 



