Geological Society of London, 275 



breccia contained a great many bones, cliiefly of small animals, but 

 with some of Reindeer, and teeth of 'Rhinoceros tichorliinus, Hy^na, 

 Horse, Water Yole, and numerous flint-flakes and chips, and a few 

 cores. Some of the flakes were of superior workmanship. A few 

 quartzite implements were also found in the breccia. The cave- 

 earth contained a few flint implements, but most of the human relics 

 found in it were of quartzite, and of decidedly Palaeolithic aspect. 

 There was also an implement of clay-ironstone. The animal re- 

 mains chiefly found in the cave-earth were teeth of Horse, BJiino- 

 ceros tichorhinus, and Hysena, and fragments of both jaws of the 

 last-mentioned animal. Bones and teeth of Reindeer and teeth of 

 Cave-Lion and Bear also occurred. The red sand underlying the 

 cave-earth contained but few bones, except in one place, where 

 antlers and bones of Reindeer and bones of Bison and Hysena 

 occurred. At another part a small molar of Eleplias primigenius 

 was found. A large proportion of the bones had been gnawed by 

 Hysenas, to whose agency the author ascribed the presence of 

 most of the animal remains found ; but he remarked that no 

 coprolites of Hyaenas had been met with. The following is a list 

 of the animals whose remains occurred in this cavern : — Felis 

 leo (var. spelcea), JlycEna crocuta (var. spelcea), TJrs-us arctos, U. ferox, 

 Canis familiaris, G. lupus, C. vulpes, ElepJias primi genius, Equus 

 cahallus, Bhinoceros tichorliinus, Bos bison (var. priscus). Bos longi- 

 frons, Capra hircus, Sus scrofa, domesticus and ferox, Cervus mega- 

 ceros, C. tarandus, Arvicola amphibius, and Lepus timidus. 



2. '' On the Mammalia and Traces of Man found in the Robin 

 Hood Cave." By W. Boyd Hawkins, Esq., M.A., F.R.S., F.G.S., 

 F.S.A., Professor of Geology and Palaeontology in Owens College, 

 Manchester. 



The author noticed the various species of animals discovered by 

 Mr. Mello during the researches, the results of which are given in 

 the preceding paper, and drew certain conclusions from their mode 

 of occurrence as to the history of Robin Hood's Cave. He con- 

 sidered that the cave was occupied by Hyasnas during the formation 

 of the lowest and middle deposits, and that the great majority of 

 the other animals whose remains occur in the cave were dragged 

 into it by the Hyaenas. That they served as food for the latter is 

 shown by the condition of many of the bones. During this period 

 the red sand and claj^ of the lowest stratum was deposited by occa- 

 sional floods. The red loam or cave-earth forming the middle 

 stratum was probably introduced during heavy rains. The occupa- 

 tion of the cave by Hyenas still continued, but it was disturbed 

 by the visits of Palgeolithic hunters. The remains found in the 

 breccia indicate that the cave was inhabited by man, and less fre- 

 quently visited by Hyaenas than before. The presence of vertebrae 

 of the Hare in the breccia would imply that the hunters who occu^jied 

 the cave had not the dog as a domestic animal. After a discussion 

 of the relations of the animals forming the fauna of the cave, the 

 author proceeded to describe the traces of man found in it, which 

 consist of fragments of charcoal, and implements made of antler 



