THE 



GEOLOGICAL MAGAZINE 



NEW SERIES. DECADE V. VOL. II. 



No. v. — MAY, 1905. 



OK,IC3-IlsrjLXi .AuiaTIGXiES. 



I. — -Four and a half Months in Ckete in search of 

 Pleistocene Mammalian Kemains. 



By Dorothea M. A. Bate. 

 (PLATES IX AND X.) 



THE geological map of Crete shows that a large portion of the 

 island is composed of ancient limestone, in itself almost 

 a guarantee of the presence of Pleistocene cave deposits. In con- 

 firmation of this, Admiral Spratt in his most valuable work^ mentions 

 finding two such deposits, from one of which he obtained a few 

 mammalian remains. 



I arrived off Khania early one morning in the beginning of 

 March, 1904. From the sea the town is picturesque, being built 

 down to the water's edge and almost encircling its tiny harbour. 

 At some distance inland the Aspro Vouno rise abruptly in places to 

 a height of 8,000 feet ; this massive ridge forms the backbone of the 

 western district, the wildest and most rugged part of mountainous 

 Crete. At this time of year the snow lies for a considerable distance 

 below the topmost summits, and it is not until months later that it 

 disappears, leaving, as on Ida, a few patches on sheltered slopes and 

 in deep crevices, where it remains the whole year round. 



Koughly speaking, Crete may be said to consist of a high and 

 central limestone ridge, at the foot of which is a border of fertile 

 country. In three places this fertile zone extends across the entire 

 width of the island, separating this backbone into four more or less 

 isolated masses. These are the Aspro Vouno and the Mount Ida 

 group, which are more closely connected than the other divisions, the 

 Lassethe Mountains and the hilly plateau of Sitaea. It is curious 

 to note that differences exist, both in language and dress, between 



1 " Travels and Kesearches in Crete," 2 vole. ; London, 1865. 



decade v.— vol. II. — NO. V. 13 



