112 
EDINBURGH MEETING or tue BRITISH ASSOCIATION. 
ExpLoraTIons IN Kenv’s Cavern.—Mr. Penaeuiy gave in the “ Seventh 
Report on the Explanations in Kent’s Cavern.” 
Since last year, when the committee had reported at Liverpool, they 
had explored in what was called the first reach of Smerdon’s Gallery, and 
also in the second reach; also, from a point where the work was stopped in. 
1865 to the Sloping Chamber, and they were now exploring away in the 
direction of that part of the cavern where the late Mr. M‘Enery had found 
remains. 
With reference to the explorations in Smerdon’s passage, the report 
stated that, besides a large number of bones, portions of bones, and frag- 
ments of antlers, a total of fully 2900 teeth were found in the passage and 
its ramifications, of which 700 were reported at Liverpool. The remaining 
2200, exhumed since the end of August 1870, belonged to different kinds 
of animals, in the following ratios:—Hyena, 335 per thousand; horse, 
295; rhinoceros, 161; Ivish elk, 55; ox, 35; deer, 27; badger, 22 ; elephant, 
20; bear, 18; fox, 12; lion, 6; reindeer, 5; wolf, 4; bat, 2; rabbit, 1; dog, 
(2), less than 1. This list differed from previous lists referring to other parts 
of the cave, in containing neither sheep nor pig, and in the diminished pre- 
valence of rabbits and badgers. In various parts of the passage, considerable 
heaps of small bones, sometimes agglutinated, were found here and there on 
the surface, or but little below it. In one instance, as many as 8400 were 
picked out of 120 cubic inches of material. Twelve flint flakes and chips — 
were found in the second reach of the passage; there were none in the first 
reach, nor in the lateral passages. Compared with the fine specimens met 
with in previous years, in other parts of the cavern, they were perhaps of 
but little value. The excavation of Smerdon’s passage was completed on 
December 31, 1870, after very nearly five months had been expended upon 
it. From its prevalent narrowness, the labour in it had been attended with 
much discomfort; but probably no branch of the cavern had, on the whole, 
yielded a larger number of mammalian remains. The report then proceeded 
to describe the excavations which are being carried on in other parts of the 
cave. 
The CuarrMan conveyed the thanks of the section to the committee, and 
particularly to the Secretary Mr. Pengelly, and said that it was in the con- 
templation of the Association not only to continue the grant to this com- 
mittee, but to make it perpetual, and to extend the operations to other bone 
caverns. 
