1886.] Mr H. Gadoiv, On some Caves in Portugal. 385 



bright stars, in the calm balmy air, sung to sleep by the frogs 

 down the ravine and by the melancholy call-note of the little scops- 

 owl and the frog-toad Pelodytes. Bats flitted in and out, not 

 much disturbed after all by our work in the daytime. 



The formation of the hill, in which the caverns are, seems to 

 be Keuper. As said before, there are two of them; their entrances 

 open below the edge of the valley. They are called Gruta de 

 Solestreira (called by the country folk Sol e Estrella, sun and 

 star); the south-eastern cave of the two, although actually by far 

 the smaller, is distinguished as the Gruta major, because of its 

 wide entrance. The accompanying plan will explain the shape of 

 this cave. 



About 25 feet from the entrance is a huge pillar, A. The floor 

 from the entrance onwards to B is nearly horizontal, even and 

 firm, consisting chiefly of red clay, trampled down by the men and 

 goats, who collect there sometimes during the winter for shelter. 

 The long axis of the cave is about 120 ft. long and runs, roughly 

 speaking, from south to north ; the width varies from 12 to 20 ft., 

 the height from 5 to 15. At B the cave turns and narrows 

 suddenly ; then comes an irregular chamber, in the recess of which 

 are the only stalactites and stalagmites worthy of notice, except 

 those at G. In the eastern wall at C there is, about 3 ft. above 

 the general level, a roundish entrance 3 ft. high, 2 broad ; the 

 sides were not rough like all the rest of the cave Avails, but 

 peculiarly smooth, looking as if they bad been worn off and 

 polished by frequently being crept through. This circumstance 

 made me explore this side-chamber first. The hole leads to a 

 roundish chamber, D, 6 to 7 ft. wide and 5 ft. high ; sloping 

 upwards stretches a passage 7 ft. long, 3 ft. high, 2 wide, covered 

 with rubbish and a layer of stalagmite, 2 to 3 inches thick. At E 

 is a sudden turn, gently sloping down towards F ; this passage was 

 likewise 7 ft. long, perhaps 3 ft. high and 2 ft. wide, the floor 

 covered with dry, loose, reddish clay. At F is another turn, the 

 passage sloping down sharply and ending in a roundish chamber, 

 5 ft. wide and 4 ft. high. Its ceiling is formed by a layer one foot 

 thick, with a hole in it, just large enough to squeeze one's head 

 and shoulders through, while standing in the chamber G in an 

 erect position. Your head is then in another chamber, somewhat 

 smaller than that of G, but the greater part filled with beautiful 

 stalactites. We began to dig at D with the following result : 



I. One foot of clayish soil and crumbled pieces fallen from the 

 ceiling. 



II. Hard stalagmitic shell, 2 to 4 inches thick. 



III. Half a foot of dense red clay. 



IV. Several teeth of Deer, well preserved, and a considerable 

 vol. v. PT. vi. 27 



