138 Correspondence. 
P.S. I have consulted Conybeare and Phillips’s account of the 
Chalk of Dover and Thanet, Mantell’s account of the Geology of 
Sussex and S. E. of England, and Sir C. Lyell’s ‘ Manual of Geo- 
logy,’ 5th edition and Supplement, 1857, on this subject, and am 
asking for later information. 
[Instead of replying at large to the above queries, the Epiror 
refers to the indicated articles in the GroLocicaL Magazine, and 
will be glad to receive replies from Correspondents. | 
BELGIAN BONE-CAVES. 
To the Editor of the GnotogicaL MAGAZINE. 
Srr,—In a recent number of the ‘ Times’ there is an extract from 
‘Galignani’s Messenger,’ stating that, in a paper addressed to the 
Belgian Academy of Sciences, M. Van Beneden gives an account of 
some human and animal remains discovered by him in a grotto in 
the Valley of the Lesse. The human bones were found together 
with those of bears, oxen, horses, rezndeer, beavers, several beasts of 
prey, birds, fish, &c. 
You would greatly oblige many of your readers if you would give 
them some account of this grotto, and the fossil remains found in it, 
and state your theory with respect to them. Your obedient servant, 
Tuomas Dawson. 
Lonpon: January 18, 1865. 
Note.—Brief notices by M. Van Beneden of this and neighbouring 
bone-caves are given in the ‘Reader’ of Jan. 7th and Feb. 11th. 
The points of special interest appear to be :—1. ‘The discovery of 
another district, besides that of Central and Southern France, where 
the Reindeer (now confined to Arctic regions) existed with Man in 
prehistoric times; 2. The finding of well-preserved bones (especially 
skulls, indicating possibly two races) of the Men of that period; 3. 
The probability of water having flooded the cave since its contents 
were deposited therein; 4. The height of the cave above the Lesse 
(some 40 yards) in the cliffs of Mountain-limestone, without any 
other entrance than in front. 
If the river flooded the cave, a great change of level must have 
been brought about in the valley since Man first inhabited it; but 
without further details, or personal inspection, it is impossible to 
form a definite opinion as to the mode of occupation of these caves, 
and of the imbedding of the bones, &c. Probably, as in the South 
of France and elsewhere, the old people lived by the chase, keeping 
their food and cooking it in the caves, and leaving bones, shells, 
tools, and weapons, broken pottery, &c., mixed up with the rubbish 
and dirt: accident, neglect, and massacre may have left human bones 
in the same refuse-heaps. Such caves were entered by rough-cut 
steps, and natural ledges, with holes for wooden pegs, and perhaps 
ropes of hide or sinew were used: rain and frost, however, have 
removed such surface-marks. These Belgian caves yield pottery, 
which is unknown as yet in the Caves of Dordogne.—Epir. G. M. 
