OSSIFEROUS CAVES OF GOWER. 499 



explored several that were previously unknown ; and the 

 very extensive collections of fossil bones which he has 

 amassed, together with his notes and observations, have been 

 placed most unreservedly at my disposal. Therefore, al- 

 though this memoir has devolved upon me, I am desirous 

 that it should be regarded as embodying our joint labours, 

 and that my friend's long-continued, disinterested, and meri- 

 torious exertions in the cause of science should be fully 

 recognized. 



3. Geological Sketch op the Gower Peninsula. 



The peninsula of Gower forms a broad headland, which 

 projects into the Bristol Channel, bounded on the E. by 

 Swansea Bay, and on the W. by the Bay of Carmarthen. 

 The fundamental rock is a thick mass of old red sandstone 

 conglomerate, which forms the axis and highland of the 

 promontory, rising into the hills of Llanmadoc and Cefn- 

 Bryn. This conglomerate is flanked N. and S. by strata 

 of carboniferous limestone, and the base of the peninsula, 

 where it joins on to the mainland of Glamorganshire, forms 

 a part of the coal measures of South Wales. The line of 

 southern coast stretches from the ' Mumbles ' on the E. to 

 the ' Worm's Head ' on the W., and with the exception of 

 the indentations, of Port Eynon, Oxwich, and other smaller 

 bays, it presents an iron-bound wall of bold, lofty, and preci- 

 pitous or scarped cliffs, occasionally exhibiting features of 

 the grandest description. The general character of the coast 

 section is well seen at ' Shire Coom ' (Sheer Cwm), near the 

 ' Three Cliffs Bay.' In addition to the well-known raised beach 

 at the ' Mumbles,' Mr. Prestwich detected in Mewslade Bay, 

 at the western end of the section, another example of the 

 same kind boldly defined, and forming a continuous stretch 

 of fully a mile in length. In ' Rhos Sili Bay,' and on the 

 summit of Cefn-Bryn, he ascertained the presence of resi- 

 duary patches of boulder clay. Mr. Prestwich has favoured 

 nie with a memorandum of his observations, which is an- 

 nexed as an appendix (p. 536). 



4. List op Names and Position op the Bone Caves. 



With the exception of ' Spritsail-Tor,' on the west side of 

 the peninsula, all the known ossiferous caverns of Gower 

 occur along the southern coast line between the Mumbles 

 and the Worm's Head ; they are confined to the carboniferous 

 limestone, and within a limited range of variation they are 

 at different heights above the sea : the floor of ' Bacon Hole ' 

 being 30 feet above the highest tides, while the lower story 



K K 2 



