THE EXPLORATION OF RAYGILL FISSURE. 135 
nearly horizontal; it is sufficiently open for a man to creep along a 
distance of 25 feet, where a mass of fallen limestone prevents further 
progress, but beyond this mass an additional distance could be distin- 
guished of about 12 or 14 feet. The second branch extends in a southerly 
direction, and appears to fall rapidly. It is only accessible for a distance 
of 3 or 4 yards. Where the roof and sides of the fissure are exposed 
they show signs of erosion ; the surfaces are smoothened and the corners 
of the limestone rounded off by running water. There is very little 
appearance of stalagmite having been found. 
The following section will serve to explain the relative position of 
the beds hitherto worked upon. It represents a section across the fissure 
in a north and south direction :— 
' |. Laminated clay. 
2. Sand and sandy clay with boulders, without stratification. 
3. Brown sandy clay, with rounded stones blackened, and numerous 
bones of animals, unstratified (bone-earth). 
4, Stiff yellow clay, with large masses of angular limestone. 
The stiff yellow clay at the lower part of the excavated portion occupied 
a large area in front of the fissure, the bone-earth being behind. Mr. Todd 
states that in the uppermost portion of the fissure, near the surface, there 
was a considerable amount of similar yellow clay. The excavation was 
continued for a short distance into the horizontal branch of the fissure, 
proceeding in an easterly direction. The opening is large, and, as stated, 
contains a quantity of material reaching almost to the roof. A number 
of bones and teeth have been found, similar to those obtained from 
bone-earth at a higher elevation. In this part of the fissure, in addition 
to the remains of elephas, hyena, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, bear, the 
bones of some smaller animal, probably fox, and the bones of a bird, 
there were found teeth of the lion, 
The work had now proceeded so far that it was thought desirable 
to postpone the operations of your Committee, to enable Mr. Spencer to 
quarry the limestone in front of the fissure, and during the past year a 
great mass of limestone has been removed. Whilst quarrying the lime- 
stone above the site of the fissure a branch was found to extend in a south- 
westerly direction almost vertically to the surface, forming with the 
excavated one a Y-shaped junction. It was filled up with clay and sand, 
and a few bones were found. The bones were much decomposed, and 
broke into fragments while the attempt was being made to extricate them. 
Your Committee hope that during the coming winter the proprietor of 
the quarry, Mr. Spencer, will be able to remove all the limestone which 
still impedes the entrance to the fissure and the continuance of the work, 
and that the excavation may be resumed during the early part of next 
spring. 
In conclusion we cannot too heartily express our indebtedness to 
Mr. Spencer and to Mr. Todd for the kind and generous manner in which 
they have assisted in the excavation. 
