110 WRITINGS OP JAMES SMITHSON. 



Between •' the animal remains discovered buried singly 

 in strata of gravel and clay, and those found in multitudi- 

 nous masses in the cavities of rocks," there exist the im- 

 portant difibrences of the former not being in caves, and of 

 the strata in which they occur being fresh-water ones. These 

 remains may consequently be supposed those of animals 

 washed from heights by inundations, and buried in the 

 earthy matter transported with them. 



Nor can the bones of the cave be assimilated to the 

 "shells kneaded into the limestone rock of Portland." 

 For the comparison to hold, the bones must be " kneaded 

 into the limestone rock " as the shells are, and as are the 

 bones in the Stunsfield slate, which have been placed in it 

 by the sea. 



If the stalactites had been produced by the descent of 

 portions of the calcareous pulpy mass yielding to gravity, 

 they would, like the stalactites of lava, formed in this way, 

 have the texture of the rock. The stalactites of limestone 

 strata are clusters of crystals, which have generated from 

 solution in water. 



Induration of the Calcareous Stratum. 



The calcareous paste is supposed by Mr. Penn to have 

 petrified by simple drying; and on this supposition much* 

 of the hypothesis concerning the formation of the Cave 

 reposes. 



Experiments will convince that a paste of calcareous 

 powder and water does not dry to marble, but to whitening. 

 An indurating faculty must not be attributed to time, it has 

 it not. Chalk strata cannot be assigned a less age than the 

 rocks of Yorkshire, and they have not dried to stone, nor 

 seem hastening to become such. 



Each particle of powder is a diminutive pebble, and an 

 intervening cement is required to connect it with the neigh- 

 bouring ones. 



Carbonate of lime dissolved in water by means of an 



