400 



Animal remains have been found only in the uppermost bed^ and the 

 author, on the authority of Mr. Clift and Mr. Owen , states that they be- 

 long to the elephant, rhinoceros, horse, ox, sheep, hysena, dog, 

 wolf, fox-, bear, hare, water-rat, and a bird of considerable size. Co- 

 prolites also occur in the same bed. Many of the bones are splin- 

 tered, chipped, and gnawed. Of the elephant only two teeth of a 

 young animal have been preserved, and the remains of the rhinoceros 

 are also rare, being confined to teeth and a doubtful bone, but those 

 of the hyaena, particularly teeth, exceed in quantity all the bones of 

 the other animals. Teeth and bones of the horse and ox are very 

 abundant, but the remains of the bear are confined to teeth. It 

 is however stated by the author that it is impossible now to determine 

 what proportions the animals originally bore to each other. The peb- 

 bles found in the same bed with the bones are apparently derived 

 from the confines of Dartmoor, and differ from those contained in the 

 bed of the Yealm. In one part, where the roof is a little lower than 

 usual, the limestone is beautifully polished, as if by the friction of the 

 animals which inhabited the cave. 



There are many other caverns in the neighbourhood, but the one 

 next in importance to that at Yealm Bridge is in the grounds at 

 Ketley. The floor of this cavern rises but little above the present 

 level of the river, and consists of gravel and pebbles corresponding 

 with those in the bed of the Yealm, It has been ascertained that it 

 does not contain bones, and Capt. Mudge therefore concludes that 

 the caverns of Yealm Bridge and Ketley were exposed to very dif- 

 ferent conditions when the elephant and the hyaena inhabited the 

 southern part of Devonshire. As far as regards space the accommo- 

 dation in Ketley Cavern was much superior to that of Yealm Bridge 

 Cave, and consequently it may be inferred that at the time when the 

 hyaenas inhabited the latter, they were prevented from entering the 

 former either from its having been frequently flooded or permanently 

 under water. 



