Geological Society. 297 
doubt Pliny has indicated the two genera Murex and Purpura of the 
moderns by the names Purpura and Buccinum. It is probable that 
Murex trunculus and brandaris, and Purpura hemastoma, were 
employed by the dyers; but it would be difficult to identify the dif- 
ferent species indicated by Pliny. Zoological investigations, aecom- 
panied by experiments which are all simply and easily made, would 
perhaps lead to results more definite than can be obtained by the in- 
terpretation of passages, if one could carry them out on the shores of 
countries formerly famous for their purple—those of Tyre for example. 
GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
June 13, 1860.—L. Horner, Esq., President, in the Chair. 
«On the Ossiferous Caves of the Peninsula of Gower, in Gla- 
morganshire, South Wales.” By H. Falconer, M.D., F.R.S., F.G.S. 
With an Appendix, on a Raised Beach in Mewslade Bay, and on 
the occurrence of the Boulder-clay on Cefn-y-bryn; by J. Prestwich, 
Esq., F.R.S., Treas.G.S. 
The object of this communication was to give a summary of re- 
searches made during the last three years by the author and Lieut.- 
Col. E. R. Wood, F.G.S., the latter of whom has carefully explored 
at his own charge, since 1848, some of the caves previously known, 
as well as several discovered by himself. The known bone-caves of 
Gower (of which Paviland, Spritsail Tor, and Bacon Hole have 
already supplied Dr. Buckland and others to some extent with ma- 
terials for the history of the Cave-period) are in the Carboniferous 
Limestone; and, with the exception of that of Spritsail Tor, which 
_ is on the west coast of the peninsula, they all occur between the 
Mumbles and the Worm’s Head. The most important are “ Bacon 
Hole,” ‘Minchin Hole,’’ ‘ Bosco’s. Den,” “ Bowen’s Parlour,” 
“Crow Hole,” ‘‘ Raven’s Cliff Cavern,” and lastly the well-known 
**Paviland Cave.” Bone-caves formerly existed at the Mumbles, 
in Caswell Bay, and in Oxwich Bay; but the sea has destroyed 
them. One cavern named “Ram Tor” between Caswell Bay and 
the Mumbles, presumed to be ossiferous, remains unexplored. 
Before proceeding to describe the bone-caves and their contents, 
the author briefly noticed a raised beach and talus of breccia, which 
Mr. Prestwich had lately traced for a mile along Mewslade Bay, 
westward of Paviland; and he pointed out their important relation- 
ship to the marine sands and overlying limestone-breccia found in 
several of the Gower Caves. Dr. Falconer also referred to Mr. 
Prestwich’s recent discovery of some patches of Boulder-clay on the 
highland of Gower, and in’ Rhos Sili Bay. 
* Bacon Hole” was first treated of. It has been worked out by 
Colonel Wood, and described by Mr. Starling Benson. On the 
limestone-floor of the cave are :—(1) a few inches of marine sand, 
abounding with Litorina rudis, L. litoralis, and Clausilia nigricans, 
with bones of an Arvicola and Birds ; (2) a thin layer of stalagmite; 
(3) two feet or less of blackish sand, containing a mass of bones of 
Elephas antiquus, with remains of Meles tarus and Putorius (vul- 
Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 3. Vol. vi. 20 
ee 
