Hill, Brodrick, and Rule — The Mitchehtown Caves. 268 



stone is loose — an indication which leads one to suppose that they are due 

 to a comparatively recent fall. 



The great chambers — the Houses of Commons and Lords — have been 

 enlarged to their present shape by swirling water ; and it is a noticeable 

 fact that each of these chambers, the two largest in the New Cave, occurs at 

 the junction of three passages. 



The Stalactites. 



A complete account of the stalactites and allied formations to be met with 

 in the two caves would of necessity occupy too much space, and would entail 

 much wearisome repetition. For the purposes of description they may be 

 divided into two groups — (1) those which at the present time are in process 

 of active formation ; and (2) those in which this process has ceased either 

 temporarily or permanently. It will be simpler to describe these two groups 

 and their examples in order. 



Group 1. — Stalactites in active formation. — The process of active stalactitic 

 formation can be studied only in the New Cave, and it is unfortunate that 

 even there there are but few examples. In the Old Cave such formation is 

 absent, except on a very minor scale. In two instances in the New Cave 

 careful measurements were taken so that in the future calculations can be 

 made as to the rate of growth of the stalactites. Of these the first example 

 is in Cast's Cave. Here there is a very noticeable stalactite from which 

 water is dripping and spreading over a fine stalagmitic boss. By candle-light 

 this stalactite has a beautiful pure white appearance, very different from that 

 of the stalactites in the more usually visited portions of the cave. In 

 September, 1908, water was falling at a constant rate of one drop every 

 47 seconds; the length of the stalactite, from the highest point at which it 

 joins the roof, was 29^ inches ; its circumference at 1 foot from the roof was 

 21 inches; while the distance from the tip of the stalactite to the highest 

 point of the boss was 25^ inches. 



The second example is also in Eoute II. In the chamber which is entered 

 just before reaching the Eiver to the west of Cust's Cave, there is another 

 formation of great beauty and interest ; this is composed of three convoluted 

 curtains which descend towards a large three-cusped stalagmitic boss. One 

 of these three curtains is now non-active ; the second, which is still active, 

 has recently made a junction with the boss, while in the case of the third 

 there is a gap of f inch. The total height of this group is about 8 feet. 



In the Scotsman's Cave are two exceedingly beautiful pillars, each about 

 1 1 feet in height, flanked by convoluted curtains of stalactite. These forma- 

 tions are still active, a slight percolation of water running over them. 



