264 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



As was explained above, access was gained to the further portions of 

 the Maze after enlarging an already existing opening which had become 

 narrowed by the deposition of stalactite and stalagmite. The opening at the 

 time of our visit was circular and 9 inches in diameter, the narrow portion 

 extending for a length of about 1 foot; on cutting through this obstruction 

 initials and a date (1834) were found inside, thus proving that the opening 

 had narrowed since that date. 



Group 2. — Stalactites in vjhich active formation ha.s ceased temiwrarily or 

 permanently. — The large majority of the formations in both caves come under 

 this heading. In the Xew Cave, in the portions ordinarily visited, the guides 

 have given names (usually more or less fantastic] to the various stalactites, 

 pillars, etc., e.g. Lot^s Wife, the Churn and Churn-staff, the Cat and Kittens, 

 and the Drum. It is unfortunate that the custom of burning parafhn flares 

 for illuminating the larger chambers, such as the House of Lords, has covered 

 all the formations in the " tourist " portions of the cave with a thick coating 

 of greasy soot, thus completely destroying their beauty ; it is now their size 

 alone that can command admiration. 



Descriptions of the pillars and stalactites in the more generally visited 

 portions of the ISTew Cave have been given elsewhere ; but it wiH be as well 

 here to give a short account of a few of the beauties which have not been 

 recorded. Probably the most beautiful part of the cave is to be found in 

 the Labyrinth. This portion of the cave is so complicated that in the map 

 only the more important passages are shown ; there are many other narrow 

 passages, some of which are too small to admit any creature larger than a 

 terrier ; all these tunnels are coated with brilliantly sparkling crystals of 

 calcite, while in the lower portions the floors are composed of numerous sheets 

 of similar crystals, which seem to have been deposited out of solution at different 

 levels, thus giving a result similar to that seen above a slowly running stream 

 in a keen frost when the water level drops from day to day. At one point in 

 the Labyrinth is an exceedingly beautiful group of two pillars and a curtain 

 which form a most striking approach to the beauties beyond. As the word 

 " Port-hole " had been chalked at the entrance to the Victoria Cave by some 

 earlier explorers, we decided to give the name of Labyrinth Port-hole to 

 the group now under discussion (Plate XVIL, fig. 1). The Chapel, which has 

 been referred to by earlier writers, and which is marked on the plan, is of 

 interest in two ways. It consists of a small opening on the left side of the 

 main passage, flanked by a number of very beautiful stalactite curtains, 

 beyond which a glimpse of a miniature fairyland can be obtained. On one 

 of these curtains are a number of names and a date which show that the 

 officers of the Geological Survey penetrated to this point in 1849. The Victoria 



