Reviews — C. Merk on the Kesslerloch Cave. 163 



mistaken for Scalaria Gastyna, on account of a resemblance to 

 d'Orbigny's figure of that form. I have, however, had an opportu- 

 nity of comparing the actual specimens in d'Orbigny's collection at 

 the Jardin des Plantes, and find that his species is a true Scalaria, 

 and attains considerably larger dimensions than does Rissoina. 



The genus Keilostoma of Deshayes is found in the Cretaceous rocks 

 of India. 



S< IE "\riE "VsT S. 



Excavations at the Kesslerloch near Thayngen, Switzer- 

 land ; A Cave of the Keindeer Period. By Conrad Merk. 

 Translated by John Edward Lee, F.S.A., F.G.S. 8vo., j^P- 76, 

 Frontispiece and 15 Plates. (London : Longmans and Co., 1875.) 



(PLATE Y.) 



THE student of prehistoric archasology in Britain is deeply in- 

 debted to Mr. John Edward Lee for his valuable contributions 

 to our literature in this department. His translation of "Keller's 

 Lake Dwellings of Switzerland " was of the greatest utility here in 

 England, and enabled many to realize the vast store of relics which 

 Keller and his countrymen had brought to light, bearing upon the 

 early condition of these Lacustrine peoples. 



The present work is a translation of Conrad Merk's account of the 

 result of excavations at the Kesslerloch Cave, near Thayngen, Canton 

 Schafi'hausen, and introduces us to a cave of the '' Eeindeer Period " 

 which in its buried relics forcibly reminds us of the Belgian caves. 

 and of the cavern of Bruniquel on the Aveyron, and those of the 

 Vezere described by Messrs. Lartet and Christy in the BelinuicB 

 Aquitanicce,^ so ably edited by Prof. T. Eupert Jones, F.R.S. 



Mr. Merk, the discoverer and explorer of this cave, was for some 

 time the Government teacher of practical science at Thayngen, and 

 has evinced an amount of acumen and research in carrying out this 

 work which deserve the highest credit. The Schaffhausen Natural 

 History Society, under advice of its able President, Dr. Von Man- 

 dach, undertook the whole expense of the exploration. Half the 

 collection gathered was sold by the discoverer to the Museum of 

 Constance, the other half remains in the Museum of Schaffhausen. 



Mr. Lee, who examined the collection at Schaffhausen in company 

 with Mr. A. W. Franks, F.R.S., Keeper of the Ethnological Collec- 

 tions in the British Museum, is al)le to testify to the genuineness 

 and excellence of the relics. With the exception of two incised 

 drawings on bone (found afterwards by a workman in the heap of 

 rubbish left after sifting by Mr. Merk), a doubt even has not been cast 

 upon any of the remains. The series of layers composing the cave 

 deposits occurred in the following order : The Uppermost Bed, 

 varying in thickness from 47 to 55 inches near the mouth of the cave, 

 to 41 inches near the middle, and 3^ inches in the further northern 

 chamber, is composed of angular fragments of White Jura Limestone, 



^ This fine work is just completed (see Geol, Mag., Dec. 1875, p. 610), and may 

 be obtained from the publishers, Williams & Norgate. 



