100 REPORT — 1859. 



Above this, extending round the cave, was a remarkable layer of shells of the Patella 

 vulgata, varying from 1 to 3 feet deep, all in the finest possible state of preserva- 

 tion, and of a large size, many of them measuring upwards of 2 inches across. 

 This extraordinary deposit of shells contained no admixture of sand or earthy 

 matter, but lay pure and clean, as if heaped together by human agency. A few 

 examples of Turbo littoreus of Linn, were picked up. About 8 feet from the floor 

 we found a stratum of decayed animal matter, about a foot deep, with a layer of 

 bones extending throughout the whole width of the cave. The teeth and bones 

 were discovered in this layer, and, so far as yet observed, they belong chiefly to the 

 Kuminantia, and are very similar to some of those from the Kirkdale cave, repre- 

 sented in the plates to Buckland's ' Keliquise Diluvianre,' especially the deer-horns 

 and teeth figured in plate 9, 2nd edition. The whole of the bones have been 

 shattered, except the joints and other solid parts ; on these we perceived marks, as 

 if they had been gnawed by some animal. The only examples of carnivora yet met 

 with are the head of a wild cat, and the jaws of a fox or wolf, with teeth belonging 

 to animals of a larger species. About a foot from the floor we turned up part of the 

 left parietal bone of a human skull, extremely thin, but compact, firm, and smooth 

 as a piece of ivory. No other part of the human subject had been found, so far as 

 our investigation proceeded. Two small pieces of a pipkin were also picked up, 

 bearing evident marks of antiquity. The floor of the cave dips inward at an angle 

 of about 10 degrees to the horizon, which leads to the supposition that there is a 

 connexion with some other cavern into which the sea has had access by this open- 

 ing, or that another cave had existed between it and the sea, through which the 

 shells might have been carried to their present position. It is not improbable that 

 another cave may be found a little to the west of the present, where the rock is 

 hidden by the debris from above and the soil that has fallen from the upper grounds. 

 Speculation on this subject at present would be idle, but we cannot refrain from 

 alluding to the marked similarity which exists between the remains found in this 

 cave and those found in that of Kirkdale, — the natural inference from which leads 

 us to suppose that this also was a hysena cave, and that remains of this animal may 

 be found on further search being made. 



On Granite. By Dr. Bialloblotzky. 



On Coal at Ambisheg, Isle of Bute. By Dr. Black, F.G.S. 



On the Elephant Remains at Ilford. By A. Brady. 



The tusk of an enormous mammoth was discovered about two years since lying 

 on its side, about 14 feet below the present surface of the soil. It belonged to an 

 animal of the species Elephas primigenins, and is identical with the Siberian mam- 

 moth, and, I believe, with the one found in Behring's Straits. The tusk was 

 decayed at each end, the extremities being gone, but the part preserved was over 

 9 feet long, and of proportionate bulk. Some idea may be formed from this of the 

 huge size of the animal of which it formerly formed a part. It was very much 

 incurved, being so much bent back that the bone was not more than 4 feet 2 or 3 

 inches across in any part. Owing to the nature of the soil, the whole tusk was 

 very friable, most of the gluten of the ivory being decayed, so that great care was 

 required in moving it to prevent it falling to pieces. Nearly a year afterwards 

 a large tibia was obtained, and two molar teeth, probably belonging to the same 

 animal, as they were not a great way from the tusk. One of the latter was very 

 large, weighing about 12 lbs., though, from long use, much worn. About the same 

 time, several bones of a large rhinoceros were found. These, from their more com- 

 pact nature, were less decayed ; and the tibia and one side of the jaw were very 

 perfect, several teeth being in situ. The other half of the jaw was smashed by the 

 workman's pick ; several teeth were saved. Like those of the mammoth, they were 

 very much worn. The species was supposed to be Rh. leptorhimis. Associated 

 with these remains were some of the bones of a large ox, the horns and skull of 

 which were very perfect, with several teeth in situ. There were also turned up, 



