118 KEPOET ISrO. 



first of that animal found in the cave, together with the human fibula, and 

 hitherto supi3osed to ho B. tichorinus, is now considered by Prof. Busk to be 

 H. leptorhinus. 



Of Deer found this year we have several. One is a base of an antler with 

 brow-tine (Cervus tarandus), but the species is marked as doiibtful; another 

 tine is doubtfully referred to C. elaplius ; another is a fragment of a very 

 large antler, and no species is assigned to it ; also there is a patella of a very 

 large deer, which was near the surface. 



Of Gout several remains have been found; and it would almost seem pos- 

 sible, from the depth to which some of them occur, that this animal may have 

 existed in Britain at an earlier age than has usually been assigned to it ; but 

 we cannot put forward this idea confidently without further confirmation. 

 One humerus of an exceedingly small Goat has cuts upon it which are evi- 

 dently human worknifinship ; but there are circumstances which render it 

 desirable to reserve any further remarks upon it to a future occasion. 



In our last year's report we called attention to the existence in the Victoria 

 Cave of a " fauna which we may confidently assign to a cold climate, separated 

 in some parts, by an accumulation of deposits 12 feet or more in thickness, 

 from an earlier one, which is equally characteristic of high temperatures ; 

 whereas in another part of the cave not far oft', where the material to separate 

 them is wanting, we have animals from icy and tropical countries inter- 

 mingled in a confusion which would be puzzling did we not get the clue hard 

 by." AVe remarked that it was evident that the separation was natural and 

 regular, the mixture abnormal and accidental. "As distinguished from the 

 lower bed, the chief characteristics of the upper were the presence of the llein- 

 deer, and the absence of Elephant, Ehinoccros, Hippopotamus, and Hyaena." 

 Tliese remarks were made solely on the evidence which passed through your 

 present reporter's hands since he undertook to conduct the ex2)loration of the 

 cavern. Prof. W. Boyd Dawkins has kindly written to remind us that Rein- 

 deer was found in the lower cave-earth, below the laminated clay, when he 

 had charge of the explorations, and he has no doubt that it was dragged in 

 by Hyffinas. The Hyaena-bed at that spot, viz. the mouth of the cavern, was 

 at a depth of 16 feet below the laminated clay ; and your reporter had an 

 impression that the Reindeer-remains occurred at some height above the 

 Hyiena-bed. Be that as it may. Prof. Dawkins's ojnnion is entitled to great 

 weight, and is, indeed, the view generally held. At the same time, consider- 

 ing that Hyaena and Reindeer are not uncommonly found together in caves, 

 when, as in this case, we see them mixed together at one or both ends of a 

 section but separated through an interval of 70 feet in length by a thickness 

 of deposits, we may regard the fact as at least an interesting one, and, when 

 found, noteworthy. 



Tlie excavations still throw light upon how the Cave was formed. As far 

 as we have yet worked at the present level, the right wall of tlie cave is seen 

 to have been hollowed out by streams. Several grooves occur, indicating 

 water-levels ; but, except quite at the entrance, we have not got down to the 

 ancient floor. We are ah'cady working in deposits Avhich are probably of 

 greater age than the older Thames gravels. The river is now running 

 900 feet below us. What earlier records wc may disentomb wc cannot tell ; 

 we must work on and wait. 



