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XI. 



THE MITCHELSTOWN CAVES, CO. TIPPEEAEY. 



By CHAELES A. HILL, M.A., M.D., D.P.H. ; HAEOLD BEODEIOK, 

 M.A., F.G.S. ; and ALEXANDEE EULE, M.Sc, Ph.D., Members 

 of the Yorkshire Eamblers' Chib. 



Plate XIY.-XVII. 



Read May 24. Ordered for Publication May 26. Published August 18, 1909. 



CONTENTS. 



Introduction, . . . . .235 

 Method of Exploration and Survey, 236 



Old Cave — 

 History, 

 Itinerary, 



New Cate — 

 History, 

 Itinerary, 



237 

 240 



244 

 247 



Geology of the Caves — 



Note on the Geological Features, . 257 

 The Stalactites, . . . .263 

 The Cave Pearls, . . . .265 

 The Anemolites, .... 266 

 The Clay, 267 



Appendix — 



Table of levels of various Chambers, 

 and the outside surface at the 

 same points, .... 268 



Inteoduction. 

 The present exploration and survey of the Mitchelstown Caves have been 

 undertaken as the result of a visit paid there in August, 1905, by one of 

 the present party. An account of this visit was published in the "Irish 

 Naturalist."^ 



The two days spent within the New Cave on that occasion showed that 

 the most recent plan was both inaccurate and misleading, and that the cave 

 was of much greater extent and complexity than was previously imagined. 

 Further, absolutely nothing was known of the extent of the Old Cave, which 

 it was impossible to enter on that occasion owing to the absence of proper 

 appliances. 



It was not until three years later, however, that a party experienced 

 enough in cave exploration to undertake the survey could be brought together 

 for that purpose. 



The meeting of the British Association in Dublin in the autumn of 1908 



i Vol. XV., No. 2, 1906, pp. 29-36. 

 R.I.A. PKOO., VOL. XXVII., SECT. B. 



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