298 EEPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE. — 1916. 



bones, probably belonging to mammals the size of a rat, were found in 

 great abundance, and they were met with from the very surface of 

 this layer down to a depth of 3 feet; with them a few avian remains 

 were also found. Both these and the foregoing, however, will have 

 to be sent for identification, together with some other doubtful speci- 

 mens, to the specialists of the British Museum, who are always so kind 

 as to offer us their valuable aid. 



The inorganic remains consisted of a fine flint knife (fig. 8a), which 

 was found at the same level with the human bones ; potsherds were 

 also met with until about the middle of this layer, where two sling 

 stones were also found. The sherds were of various textures, some 

 being rough; others, on the contrary, rather fine, and having a fine 

 gjlip; some had even ornaments engraved upon them, and these, 

 according to Professor Zammit, who is our most competent authority 

 on the subject, belong to the bronze age. 



At a depth of nearly two feet from the surface of this layer a 

 stalagmitic incrustation varying in thickness from a half to one-eighth 

 of an inch projected circularly from the sides of the large stalagmite 

 to a distance varying from two to four feet. Stag bones were found 

 beneath it, and these were of a peculiarly dark colour; the earth here 

 was also blackish, but it continued so from the very surface of the 

 cave floor. This might be due to the excrement of bats, which con- 

 gregate in gi-eat numbers between the large stalagmites just above. 



A little more than one foot further down than this incrustation 

 another one similar to it, but somewhat thicker and extending to a 

 greater length, was found broken for the greater part; this is very 

 probably due to the fall of the two large broken stalactites. 



Just beneath this stalagmitic foi-mation came the next, or fourth, 

 layer; this was composed of red earth, having only a few stones 

 sparingly scattered through it. The animal remains met with in it 

 were stag bones, the. most abundant parts of which consisted of frag- 

 ments of antlers, belonging to animals ranging from the fawn to full- 

 grown individuals ; so abundant, in fact, were these antlers that it is 

 difficult to explain why the number of other bones found together with 

 them is so comparatively small. 



The bones found close to the rock from which the large stalagmite 

 rises are of a black colour, the majority being very heavy, and almost 

 of the consistency of pebbles. A foot from the bottom of this layer 

 a third stalagmitic formation projects out of the rock towards the 

 right side of the cave ; this had to be broken away, and beneath it the 

 bones met with were of a charcoal-black colour, and still heavier than 

 those met with just above. A few bits of these bones were of a reddish- 

 brown colour, and their consistency was almost like that of flint. The 

 majority of these bones were broken and rounded, showin? evident signs 

 of their having been rolled considerably. Close to the rock on the right 

 side, at a level with this last incrustation, a part of an elephant's molar 

 (E. mnaidrensis) was found. This, too, is very much worn by rolling; 

 its colour, however, is not dark. 



The fifth layer consisted of flat angular stones larger than any yet 

 met with, excepting those in the superficial layer. Many nieces of 



