OF CARNIVOROUS ANIMALS. 539 



This supposition is moreover confirmed by the animal 

 nature of the earth in which these bones are found *. 



This much is certain, that the establishment of these 

 animals in the caves has taken place at a much later 

 epoch than that at which the great rocky strata have been 

 formed, not only those which compose the mountains in 

 which the caves are situated, but the strata of much 

 newer origin. No permanent inundation has penetrated 

 into the subterranean dens, and formed a regular rocky 

 deposit. The mud arising from the proper decomposi- 

 tion of these animals, and the stalactites that have been 

 filtered through the wall of the caves, are the only mat- 

 ters which cover these remains, and these stalactites in- 

 crease so rapidly, that M. Goldfuss already found a layer 



Such a change could not be produced by any external mechanical in- 

 jury, nor by any slight action of the weather ; but must proceed 

 from a tedious constitutional disease, connected with a total change 

 of the organo-forming plastic activity, and proceeding from a pecu- 

 liar dyscrasia." Hence it is probable, these cave-bears even suffer- 

 ed from gout, scrophula, and other similar diseases. 



* According to Laugier, in 100 parts of the earth in which the 

 bones in the caves of Gaylenreuth are imbedded, he found the fol- 

 lowing proportional quantity of constituent parts; 



1. Lime, with a little magnesia, in the state of carbonate, 32.0 



2. Carbonic acid and moisture, - r ->,;,',*> - 24.0 



3. Phosphate of lime, - , -.r, ,,,. - r r . -| 21 ' 5 



4. Animal matter and water, - ... 10.0 



5. Alumina slightly coloured with manganese, - - 4.0 



6. Silica coloured with iron, - .... 4.0 

 7 Oxide of iron, probably combined with phosphoric acid, 3.5 

 8. Loss, - - 1.0 



100.0 



