ON CAVES. 101 
“ obviously showing the results of the very long continued action of sub- 
terranean streams, that one is puzzled as to what has occurred there, and at 
a loss to connect what is seen with those great bodies of water which may 
through the weathering of the limestone, have washed everything out. 
There no boulders are to be seen—nothing but the most beautifully fine 
dolomitic sand and crystallised lead ores, sometimes showing in large masses, 
like sides of bacon. In the Forest of Dean there are similar openings, 
where a valuable iron ore is found, the other materials in these caves also 
being almost entirely dolomitic. I should like to hear from Professor Hughes 
whether he has observed anything of the kind at Ingleborough. Here let 
me say that I think one of the mest important lessons we have to learn is, 
the great caution that ought always to be observed in seeing that our obser- 
vations are made with scientifically systematic precision; and, in the next 
place, in only accepting statements that are made as to these matters when 
they are founded on exact work of this kind, undertaken by experienced 
persons, well qualified to judge of the mode in which cave-openings have 
been formed as well as of the mode in which they have been filled. 
Mr. J. StatKkartr.—I should like, in saying a few words on this subject, 
to know whether the history of the tigers and hyzenas, whose remains are 
found in the caverns spoken of, is different from that of the tigers and 
hyzenas now existing in different parts of the world? Ordinarily, when a 
tiger or hyena kills any animal he does not drag it into a cave, but eats it 
where it has been seized ; it is only when it has young to feed that it drags 
the carcass to its den. A lion does not carry its prey up a mountain side ; 
it lies in wait near the track of the animal it kills, and there takes its fill, 
The hyzena might drag its prey down a hill, but would hardly drag it uphill. 
We know that in India these animals kill and eat their prey on the spot, 
only sometimes carrying their prey a short distance. They may quarrel 
over the remains, and drag pieces hither and thither; but, for the most 
part, they eat where they kill ; that which they leave is chiefly the head. 
Suppose a bullock that has died a natural death is found: the jackals 
quarrel over it ; a leg is drawn here, and another there, but the greater 
portion of the carcass is left, and the head, which they cannot gnaw, in- 
variably remains. Therefore, I am not inclined to believe that these caves 
were the resort of hyenas in the manner alleged. I think we ought to in- 
quire into the fact whether the hyznas referred to by geologists had habits 
differing from those of similar animals at the present day. 
Mr. 8. R. Parison, F.G.S.—I take it that the hyenas spoken of as 
found in caves were not only inhabitants of those recesses, but made 
incursions in search of prey. In Somersetshire the existence of the lion is 
too well attested to admit of any doubt, and the fair inference from the 
bones found in the caves is that they were dragged there. It is, however, 
by no means certain that all the hyena and other bones found in caverns 
were those of animals dragged in: doubtless many of them are those of 
VOL. XXI, I 
