ON KENT^S CAVERN, DEVONSHIRE. 189 



feet, no water would be found in ordinary Coal-measure strata, and offers a 

 recommendation in the following terms : — 



" After much consideration, the plan which we venture to recommend, in 

 case of experiments being imdertaken by the British Association, or any 

 other scieutiiic society', would be, not to commence at the surface, but at 

 the bottom of a coal-mine, of not less depth than 600 yards. 



" There are several collieries, particularly in Lancashire and Cheshire, 

 sufl&cientl}' deep for the purpose. It would be an easy matter to excavate a 

 chamber in the coal and its roof, where the borings might be carried on. The 

 chamber ought to be a short distance from the bottom of one of the shafts, 

 and out of the way of mining-operations. As the process of boring pro- 

 gressed, observations should be taken at every 10 yards, and at every change 

 of strata, from sandstone to shale or coal. The boring might be carried 

 down at least to a total depth of 1000 yards from the surface, and having 

 been completed under proper supervision, could not fail to give results of 

 value to science. It is also probable that a proprietor of some colliery of 

 the required depth would willingly afford the facilities for caiTying on the 

 experiment, for the sake of the information he would derive regarding the 

 minerals underlying the coal-seam then being worked." 



With respect to this recommendation, I may say, in the name of the Com- 

 mittee, that they consider it very valuable, and would gladly avaU them- 

 selves of any opportunity of carrying it out, so far as the funds at their 

 disposal permit. 



Fifth Report of the Committee for Exploring Kent's Cavern, Devonshire. 

 The Committee consistinc/ of Sir Charles Lyell, Bart., F.R.S., 

 Professor Phillips, F.R.S., Sir John Lubbock, Bart., F.R.S., 

 John Evans, F.R.S., E. Vivian, George Busk, F.R.S., William 

 Boyd Dawkins, F.R.S., and William Pengelly, F.R.S. {Reporter). 



Before commencing the Eeport of their researches during the last twelve 

 months, the Committee beg to call attention to a few facts connected with 

 branches of the Cavern explored in previous years. 



In their Third Keport, presented to the Association at Dundee in 1867, 

 they stated that in a part of that branch of the Cavern termed the " Vesti- 

 bule," there was beneath the Stalagmitic Ploor, and generally in direct con- 

 tact with its nether surface, a layer of black soil, known as the " Black Band," 

 which varied from 2 to 6 inches in thickness, covered an area of about 100 

 square feet, and at its nearest approach was 32 feet from the northern en- 

 trance of the Cavern. They also stated that this Black Band contained a large 

 amoiint of charcoal, and that in it had been found 366 Hint implements, 

 flakes, cores, and chips ; a bone harpoon or lish-spear, and a bone awl ; and 

 numerous bones and teeth of extinct and recent animals, some of which were 

 partially charred. Thej further remarked that were they to speculate re- 

 specting the probable interpretation of the Black Band — bearing in mind its 

 very limited area, its position near one of the entrances of the Cavern and 

 within the influence of the light entering thereby, its numerous bits of char- 

 coal and of burnt bones, its bone tools and its very abundant, keen-edged, 

 unworn, and brittle chips and flakes of whitened flint, — they might be tempted 

 to conclude that they had not only identified the Cavern as the home of an 



