Mevieics — Prof. Dr. Ferd. Roemer's Bone Caves of Poland. 171 



line stalagmite on the floor ; they are usually only some inches 

 thick, but in sonie cases the thickness is more than a foot. Numerous 

 root-like stalactites hang down from the roof, but none have been 

 noticed of any peculiar size or beauty. In most of the caves the 

 formation of stalactites and of stalagmites on the floor still continues, 

 as water containing lime is continually dropping from the roof. 



In all the caves yet examined in this district both animal and 

 human bones have been found in large or small quantities. They 

 occur in rubbish at the bottom of the caves at various depths ; some- 

 times they are under a covering of stalagmite, and not unfrequently 

 they are imbedded in it. Most of the bones are completely changed 

 chemically, so that everything which is gelatinous and soluble in 

 water has disappeared, and only the lime of the texture remains. 

 Even this is so porous that, for instance, if water be poured through 

 the broken end of a thigh bone of the Cave-bear, it will immediately 

 run out through any chance opening at the other end. 



The bones and skulls occur separately, and skeletons are never 

 found entire. Thus in excavating, bones and teeth of several 

 hundred individuals of the Cave-bear were discovered, but in no one 

 instance was there a complete skeleton ; there was not even a single 

 case of the lower jaw being united with any of the numerous skulls 

 of this animal. Even the two halves of the under jaws were almost 

 always separated ; they were only united in one single instance. 



The bones and skulls lying in the damp parts of the ground were 

 quite soft and fragile, and great care was required to secure them 

 uninjured. But after exposure to the air thej' became so solid as to 

 require no further attention. Only the teeth, and more especially 

 the canines of the Cave-bear, cracked and flew to pieces on being 

 dried in the air ; they had either to be soaked in lime-water, or 

 dried gradually with the greatest care. 



The human remains and works of art, like the animals found in 

 these caves, seem to be of very varied degrees of antiquity. 



We have thus a silver denarius of the reign of Antoninus Pius 

 (a.d. 140); an Iron lance-head; a Bronze fibula; Hand-made 

 vessels of burnt clay; Polishing stones; Beads of Bone, Amber, and 

 Glass ; Ivory and Bone ornaments and bone needles, and awls ; 

 spindle-whorls and flint flakes and knives. 



The list of animals shows a large proportion of modern forms. 



The following is a list of the animals whose remains have been 

 found in the Bone-Caves of Ojcow. Human remains and works 

 of industry abundant, but of varying date, mostly neolithic — some 

 certainly still later. 



* Marked tlius are the most ancient or extinct forms, 

 t Those marked thus have migrated from this reg-iou to the North or South. 



* Ursus spelmus (Cave-Bear). 



* Felis spelaa (Cave- Lion), 

 t Liinx (the Lynx). 



catus (Wild Cat). 



* Hymna spelma (Cave Hysena). 

 Canis lupus (the Wolf). 

 spdma. 



Canis vulpes (Fox). 



t lagopus (Arctic Fox). 



Meles taxus (Badger). 

 Mustela maries (the Marten). 

 Fatorius fwtidus (Polecat) . 

 Plecotus auritns (Long-eared Bat). 

 Vesperugo pipistrellus (Dwarf -Bat). 



