on Kent's cavern, Devonshire. 23 



may be likened to such as are sometimes left by mosses or lichens on objects 

 on which they have grown. 



A large number of bones, including jaws, teeth, and horns, are scored with 

 teeth-marks, clearly the work of animals of different kinds. Some of the 

 long bones are split longitudinally. Many appear to have been rolled, 

 including most of those which have been gnawed ; and in the case of the 

 latter, it is tolerably obvious that the rolling was subsequent to the gnawing. 

 Some of those found beneath the large masses of fallen limestone are in a 

 crushed condition, and thus apparently attest the fact that the deposit on 

 which they lay, and on which the blocks fell, was of a compact nature, and 

 capable of a firm resistance. 



The minutely comminuted bone already spoken of, is commonly found 

 converted with loam and stones into a firni breccia. Not unfrequently, 

 however, it occupies the hollow cavities of some of the larger bones. 

 "With it there sometimes occurs a cream-coloured substance, which in a few 

 instances has been met also in the form of small detached lumps having a 

 low specific gravity. This, as well as some of the comminuted bone, has 

 been supposed to be of faecal origin. 



In cleaning the bones it is frequently found to be impossible to remove 

 entirely the earthy matter from them. They are at least partially invested 

 with a thin film, which defies the brush and water. On drying, however, 

 this matter commonly scales off, and proves to be a paste or paint composed 

 of loam and carbonate of lime, the latter probably derived from drip from 

 the roof. 



Large portions of the osseous remains occur in the forms of fragments 

 and mere splinters. The identifiable parts are chiefly teeth, which are ex- 

 tremely numerous. Amongst the Mammals represented, there are certainly 

 the Cave-bear, Cave-lion, Cave-hyaena, Fox, Horse (probably more than 

 one species), Ox, several species of Deer, the tichorhine Ehinoceros, and 

 Mammoth. Remains of the Hyaena are probably the most abundant, after 

 which come those of Ehinoceros and Horse. The relics of the Mammoths 

 (both molars and tusks) are those of very young individuals. 



It has already been hinted that " flint implements " occur everywhere in 

 the cave-earth mixed up with the remains of extinct Mammals. Several of 

 them were found in the presence of, and some of them by, the Superin- 

 tendents. Like the bones, they are least abundant in the uppermost 

 foot, and occur in greatest numbers in the lowest zones. Altogether, and 

 without reckoning doubtful specimens and numerous chips, nearly thirty 

 '•implements" have been dug out. Though the designation of "flint" is 

 given to all, some of them are perhaps of chert. Of the flints properly so 

 called, some are of a dark, and others of a light-grey colour, whilst a third 

 kind are almost white, and have a porcellanous aspect. With the exception 

 of three, they are all of the kind known as flakes — flat on one side, and more 

 or less carinated on the other. Some of them are fragments only, others 

 were found broken in the deposit with the parts lying in contact, whilst 

 others again are perfect. Some of the broken specimens of the white variety 

 show that they are not of this colour throughout their entire mass, but have a 

 dark central axis or core. The flakes agree in character with those in the 

 black overlying mould. The excepted three are of chert, and are worked on 

 both sides. They were found in the second, third, and ftrarth levels ; one in 

 each. That from the second foot is about 4| inches long, and, where 

 widest, 2| broad. At one end it tapers to a point, and narrows to no more 

 than | of an inch at the other. In outline it is rudely a segment of a 



