442 R. S. Tiddeman — Age of Goicer Raised Beaches. 



the point I had particularly in view, viz., the relation of the Gower 

 caves to the Boulder-clay, I am as yet unable to form a decided 

 opinion. I got the Boulder-clay within a mile of the raised beach,, 

 but on opposite sides of the Point of Ehos-sili the subject requires 

 further and more lengthened inquiry." On this Falconer summed 

 up as follows : — 



1. That the Gower caves have probably been filled up with 

 mammalian remains since the deposition of the Boulder-clay. 



2. That there are no mammalian remains found elsewhere in the 

 ossiferous caves of Britain referable to a fauna of a more ancient 

 geological date. 



It is very singular how near these two eminent men were to 

 making a discovery for which they were even looking. To the east 

 of the rich colony of caves between Minchin Hole and Bacon Hole, 

 at which they were specially working, the Drift-beds come on in 

 force, and the succession which they were looking for might have 

 been very well seen. 



It is true that the proper succession was gradually hammered out 

 by explorations in other places by the Victoria Cave Exploration 

 Committee, by the late Dr. Hicks in the caves of North Wales, and 

 at a later day by the Eev. G. C. H. Pollen, but their researches and 

 the facts evolved by them received a long and well-sustained fire 

 of hostile criticism which has not long come to an end. 



The survey of Gower has now established, I think I may say, 

 incontestably — 



1. That the raised beach is Pre- or Interglacial. 



2. That the bone-beds which rest upon it in the caves are 

 continuous with the earlier ' head ' or debris which lies above it 

 along the coast, and which consists of limestone fragments. 



3. That Glacial Drift again lies over this. 



4. This in turn is often covered by a later deposit of ' head.' 

 Frequently, immediately above the raised beach is a deposit of 



sand which is probably blown sand. It contains in places land- 

 snails which are abundant on the blown sands of Glamorganshire. 

 It is of a foxy-red colour, and its lower part is often cemented 

 together into calcareous concretions, containing little nodules of 

 manganese and iron. The sand is interesting in this way, that it is 

 seen in many places where sand could not blow now. The upheaval 

 of the coast implied by the raised beach would necessarily subject 

 a wide fringe of foreshore to the action of the sun and wind, and the 

 blown sand would result. It is just where we might reasonably 

 expect it. 



The section is not always complete. Sometimes the Drift is 

 absent, sometimes it rests on rock, sometimes one member is absent, 

 sometimes another, but this represents the succession in which they 

 always occur when present. Jt is astonishing how very regular 

 they are, considering the steep irregularity of the cliffs and coasts. 



It will of course be suggested that the Drift may have slipped 

 down from the cliffs above on to the 'head.' This hypothesis is 

 fairly negatived by the very strong contrast in material between the 



