1878-1879.] 347 



deep channels or tunnels are cut through the rocks along their 

 courses. Besides the present rivers, it is evident that many more 

 existed in former times ; but their courses are now dried up, and 

 in some cases all that remains of them consists of great caves or 

 irregular chambers approached only by contracted passages, often 

 in the shape of perpendicular shafts or chimneys. When favour- 

 ably situated, these caves are frequently encrusted with a coating 

 of carbonate of lime, assuming every conceivable form, pendant 

 stalactite hanging from the roof, and bosses of stalagmite covering 

 the floor, and the sides festooned with petrified folds of curious 

 drapery, or garnished with mimic cascades like frozen water. It is 

 to the intelligent zeal and enterprize of a local field naturalist — 

 Mr. Thomas Plunkett, of Enniskillen — we owe our knowledge of 

 those caves. Prompted by the discovery of the very earliest evi- 

 dences of man in the ossiferous caverns of England, France, and 

 Germany, Mr. Plunkett undertook the exploration of the caves of 

 Fermanagh, and after recording some discoveries the British Asso- 

 ciation gave a grant of money towards prosecuting the work. The 

 result was reported to the late meeting from which we find that 

 Mr. Plunkett, in addition to the remains and works of man, found 

 a great quantity and variety of animal bones. Objects of interest 

 were found in every one of the fifteen caves explored, indicating in 

 each case that the cave was occupied by man in very early times. 

 But not one of the many extinct animals has yet been found asso- 

 ciated with man in Fermanagh, or any other part of Ireland, either 

 in our caves, cranoges, or gravels. Since Mr. Gray first described 

 the occurrence of flint implements in so many northern localities, 

 the officers of the Geological Survey and others have devoted con- 

 siderable attention to the subject, and published the results of 

 their investigations. Amongst those inquirers, perhaps Mr. Knowles, 

 of Cullybackey, has been the most industrious as a collector, a 

 worker in the field, and a writer. He has brought the subject be- 

 fore the British Association three limes, and very fully described 



