378 TRANSLATIONS AND SELECTED ARTICLES. 



may not have access to the original, we copy the paper, omitting the 

 minute discription of the organic remains, of which, however, we 

 give the list.] 



Of all the ossiferous caverns of this country which have from time 

 to time been explored since 1821, there are none, perhaps, which form 

 60 exact a parallel to the Hysena-den at Kirkdale as that which I bring 

 before your notice this evening. 



It is situated at Wookey-Hole, a village on the southern flanks of 

 the Mendips, and about two miles to the north west of Wells. The 

 ravine in which it was discovered is one of the many which pierce 

 the dolomitic conglomerate, or petrified sea-beach of the Permian (?) 

 age, still underlying its ancient sea-clifFs of Mountain -limestone, and 

 overlying the lower slopes of the Mendips. Open to the south, it 

 runs almost horizontally into the mountain side, until closed abruptly 

 northwards by a perpendicular wall of rock, 200 feet or more in 

 height, ivy-covered, and affording a dwelling-place to innumerable 

 jackdaws. Out of a cave at its base, in which Dr. Buckland disco- 

 vered pottery and human teeth, flows the River Axe, in a canal cut 

 in the rock. In cutting this passage, that the water might be con- 

 veyed to a large paper-mill close by, the mouth of the Hyena-den 

 was intersected some ten years ago ; and from that time up to 

 December, 1859, it was undisturbed save by rabbits and badgers; 

 and even they did not penetrate far into the interior, or make deep 

 burrows. Close to the mouth of the cave the workmen (employed 

 in making this canal) found more than 300 Roman coins, among 

 which were those of the usurper AUectus and Commodus. When 

 Mr. Williamson and myself began our exploration in 1859, about 

 12 feet of the entrance of the cave had been cut away, and large 

 quantities of the earth, stones, and animal remains had been used in 

 the formation of an embankment for the stream which runs past 

 the present entrance of the cave. Of the animal remains, some found 

 their way to the British Museum and the Museum of the Somerset 

 Archaeological Society at Taunton ; but the greater portion were 

 either thrown away or scattered among the private collections of the 

 neighbourhood. According to the testimony of the workmen, the 

 bones and teeth formed a layer about 1 2 inches in thickness, which 

 rested immediately on the conglomerate-floor, while they were com- 

 paratively scarce in the overlying mass of stones and red earth. The 

 workmen state also that at the time of the discovery of the cave the 



