Rev. W. 8. Symonds — Hymna-den near Ross. 435 



carrying out these investigations, I have to thank Mr. Ward, of Cole- 

 ford, for his superintendence and assistance ; Mr, Scobell, for his 

 careful search for specimens ; and Henry Jones, the Woodman of 

 Dean Forest, and the men employed under him, for their hearty co- 

 operation in my endeavours to arrive at a truthful determination. 



Having carefully examined the remotest corners of the cave during 

 the last two visits in July, I directed several excavations in one 

 recess of the cave where it appeared to us that the debris had been 

 little disturbed. This work had to be carried on by candle light, 

 but the investigations were as careful as possible, and every barrow- 

 full of earth and debris was carefully examined by daylight at the 

 entrance. 



The following is the order of deposition of materials in the cave : 



1st. Fallen debris from the roof which had been shifted, and loose 

 stalactitic matter forming a superficial soil containing pottery, which 

 Mr. John Evans, who has been so good as to examine the human 

 relics from the cave, informs me is probably Eoman ; also human 

 bones in a recent and unfossilized condition. This superficial soil is 

 black and peaty, inconsiderable in thickness, and at the base of it 

 we found, in the inner cave, a thin band of decomposed stalactitic 

 matter, which had probably once formed a thin stalactitic floor. 

 This was the only separation between the debris and an upper cave 

 earth; but I have no doubt this decomposed stalagmite was once 

 hard and solid when more covered by debris. 



2nd. Cave Earth, No. 1. — This accumulation of cave earth is, in 

 the inner cave, about three feet in thickness. It contained, both in 

 the inner cave and in the outer cave, near the entrance, flint flakes 

 and chips, with three human instruments of stone, and of unmistak- 

 able character. These instruments are not of flint. Two are of a 

 black chert, and have evidently been formed from rolled pebbles ; 

 the third is apparently manufactured from a pebble of some lower 

 Silurian rock. The core of chert from which flakes have been 

 struck, and the pale grey instrument, I excavated with my own 

 hands. The core was lying in close approximation to the canine 

 tooth of a Hygena. The second cherty instrument was found by Mr. 

 Scobell close to the molar tooth of a young Mammoth. The remains 

 of the animals found in this upper cave earth consist of the teeth, 

 jaws, and bones of numerous Mammalia, of which several species are 

 altogether extinct, and others which no longer inhabit the continent 

 of Europe. Thus we have, in beautifully perfect condition, the teeth 

 and jaws of the Cave Lion {Felis spelcea), the Cave Bear {TJrsus 

 spelcea), and the Hyeena (Hycena spelcea). With these are remains 

 of the teeth and bones of the Mammoth (Elephas primigenius) , the 

 long-haired Ehinoceros of the Glacial period (Rhinoceros iichorhinus), 

 and numerous remains of the fossil Horse (Equus fossilis). In the 

 inner cave, below the cave earth No. 1, with bear and hy^na remains, 

 and flint flakes, we found a thin stalactitic floor resting on a mass of 

 stratified red sand containing rolled pebbles, which I believe to be an 

 old river deposit. 



3rd. Old Biver Bed. — This deposit consists of stratified red sand 



