ON KPSH CAVES, CO. SLIGO. 



240 



Among these the Arctic Lemming was numerously represented as well as 

 in the next stratum. This is the first instance in which this animal has 

 been identified as a former inhabitant of Ireland. A mandible has been 

 referred to the Irish Stoat, though smaller than that of a Weasel ; and some 

 canine remains have not yet been definitely identified. The depth of the 

 breccia is from 1 foot in the centre increasing to 3 feet at the sides of 

 the cave. 



3. Clay of a brown ochreous colour containing largo blocks of limestone 

 and numerous bones of small mammals (including Lemming), as well as 

 a few of larger ones. At a depth of 6 feet from the surface a large 

 glaciated block of limestone was found. 



Plunkett Cave. 



Owing to the difficulty of removing the numerous limestone blocks 

 we searched for more promising ground and decided to work at a smaller 

 cave, one of the most southern of the series, which opened at a somewhat 

 higher level. We called this the Plunkett Cave. A lofty entrance 

 narrows down to a low mouth, from 5 to 6 feet wide, and inside this 

 the cave becomes much more lofty and widens at a distance of from 

 12 to IG feet from the mouth. It then forms a gallery 6 to 10 

 feet wide which pursues a generally straight course, terminating at 49 

 feet from the mouth. Before this termination is reached, however, a 

 gallery branches off to the right, and this, after running some 20 feet, 

 expands into a lofty hall, the Sloping Chamber, that has another branch to 

 the left, parallel with the Plunkett Cave. We called this latter branch 

 the Water Gallery. 



At the commencement of the operations no part of these galleries was 

 completely choked, but all contained a considerable depth of deposits, 

 chiefly of earths and clays, with blocks apd fragments of limestone. 



The upper or surface stratum, which varied from 6 inches to 2 feet 

 in depth, contained a large amount of calcareous tufa, and as we advanced 

 into the inner galleries this tufa grew more and more free from earthy 

 admixture, being in places as white as mortar. While a variable amount 

 of calcium carbonate occurs in this deposit, its whiteness is in part due to 

 the usual residue of siliceous particles that results from the removal of 

 limestone in solution. Characteristic bipyramidal crystals of quartz are 

 thus found in some parts ; and in the Water Gallery a delicately spicular 

 deposit occurs. A multitude of minute rods, sometimes set with knobs, 

 are seen when the tufa is dissolved away in acetic acid. Dr. G. J. Hinde, 

 F.R.S., who has kindly examined these for us, points out that they are 

 crystalline and soluble in nitric acid. Their true character is still under 

 consideration. In all parts of the cave explored by us this white stratum 

 contained charcoal, sometimes in lumps and occasionally in horizontal 

 layers, which formed distinct seams in our sections. In the most remote 

 part excavated by us, the W^ater Gallery, there was a black layer of char- 

 coal 1 inch deep, which extended from wall to wall, with a bed of white 

 tufa above and beneath it, and at the bottom of the lower tufa there was 

 more charcoal. Some pieces of peat were also found embedded elsewhere, 

 which were probably brought into the cave for fuel. 



In the lower part of the upper stratum a large stone celt was found 

 5 feet inside the cave's mouth, the only evidence of ^.neolithic occupation, 

 and not far from it was a portion of a small iron saw of peculiar make, 



