334 



was erroneous. The latter gentleman, on the inspection* of more distinct 

 specimens, corrected his former report on this subject, and determined 

 them to be the bones of quadrupeds. Further examination afterwards 

 enabled Mr. John Hunter to ascertain that these bones belonged to the 

 family of Ruminants, to the genus Lepus, and to the class of birdsv Some, 

 he also observed, belonged to a small dog or fox. Philos. Trans. 1794, 

 p. 412. 



Major Imrie also remarked, that some of these bones are apparently 

 human, and that these are chiefly vertebrae and bones of the upper and 

 lower extremities. These are scattered among others, of various kinds 

 and sizes, even down to the smallest bones of small birds. He found a 

 complete jaw-bone of a sheep, with its full compliment of teeth, the ena- 

 mel of which was perfect. Two skulls were found, which were supposed 

 to be human ; but these appeared to Mr. Imrie to be too small for the 

 human species, and seemed rather to belong to a species of monkey, 

 of which considerable numbers still inhabit the inaccessible parts of the 

 rock. 



To the indefatigable and justly celebrated Cuvier, we are indebted for 

 still more correct information respecting these remains. The greater 

 number of these bones, he observes, were evidently broken before they 

 became incrusted ; but do not appear to have been bowldered. They 

 are disposed in every direction, in the red stone which encloses them ; 

 and by their not touching each other, we have proof that the concreting 

 matter formed on them as the bones gradually fell in. This matter, he 

 observes, resembles well-burnt brick earth, and has many small cavities, 

 some of which are partly, and others quite filled, with a spathose matter, 

 similar to that found in the cavities of the bones. The bones, he says, 

 are decomposed, and very white : tjiey, however, are not wanting in 

 hardness, and may be even considered as petrified. The enamel of the 

 teeth is unaltered. The impressions of shells are those of land-snails : 

 there are no traces of sea-shells. 



M. Cuvier is satisfied, that among the considerable number which he 

 possesses of these fossil bones, there are none but the bones of a rumi- 



