154 GLEANINGS FROM NATURE. 



will continue for thousands of years, until ultimately, 

 by continued accretions, this hill will reach the ceiling 

 and enclose entirely the wondrous pillar with its 

 flirtings and carvings, wrought in ages past by that 

 magic graver water. 



Over the damp stalagmite forming the crest of 

 Capitol Hill numerous specimens of the cave myriapod, 

 Pseudotremia eavernarum Cope, were rapidly crawling. 

 Here also the little red harvestman, first noted in 

 Clifty Cave, was found in numbers, and is probably 

 utilized by the myriapod as one of its articles of food. 



Back of the Pillar of the Constitution is the ' Chair 

 of State" another handsome mass of stalactites and 

 stalagmites that extends from the top of the hill to 

 the ceiling. Behind this on the right is the entrance 

 to "Pluto's Ravine," the roof of which is studded with 

 representations of sprigs, tw T ining tendrils and branch- 

 ing corals, all wrought from calcite and "alabaster" 

 in most exquisite fashion by the hand of nature. 

 Many are broken, being the remains of those removed 

 before 1850, when the cave and its contents were es- 

 teemed but lightly by the owner, and no care was 

 taken to prevent its despoliation by visiting vandals. 

 Beyond this point one can penetrate but a few }^ards 

 in the Old Cave, the roof and floor coming close to- 

 gether, and barring further progress. 



Much diversity of opinion prevails as to the distance 

 between the Pillar of the Constitution and the mouth 

 of the cave. Stelle, in his work published in 1864, 

 says it is "just three miles." Both Collett and Hovey 

 place it at two miles. Flint, in 1833, before it was 

 thought necessary to exaggerate the distance, gives it 



