1862.] 



DAWKINS HT.ENA-DEN. 



115 



author has observed broken flints ; and even at the SciUy Isles such 

 flints are found. At Croyde Bay, about half-way between Middle- 

 Borough and Baggy Point, at the mouth of a small transverse valley, 

 Mr. ^^tley found them in considerable number, collecting about 

 200 specimens. About 25 per cent, of the splintered flints at this 

 place have more or less of an arrow-head form, but they pass by 

 insensible gradations from what appear to be perfect arrow-heads 

 of human manufacture to such rough splinters as are evidently the 

 result of natural causes. Hence the author suggested that great 

 caution should be used in judging what flints have been naturally, 

 and what have been artificially shaped. 



3. Oji a IIy^k-a-de:n at Wooket-Hole, near Wells. 



By W. Boyd Dawkins, Esq., B.A., F.G.S., Burdett-Coutts Geological 



Scholar in the University of Oxford. 



Of all the ossiferous caverns of this country which have from time 

 to time been explored since 1821, there are none, perhaps, which 

 form so exact a parallel to the Hysena-den at Kirkdale as that which 

 I bring before your notice this evening. 



Pig. 1. — Diagrammatic Section of tlie Hycena-clen at WooTcey-Hole, 

 near Wells. Length of the excavation 34 feet ; maximum height, 

 9 feet ; width of cave at the entrance, 36 ft. 





1. Canal for the Kiver Axe. 



2. Exeavated portion of the cave. 



3. Lateral branch to the left. 



4. Upward branch. 



5, 5. Undisturbed debris (cave-earth 



and bones). 



6, 6. Dolomitic conglomerate. 



. It is situated at "Wookey-Hole, a village on the southern flanks of 

 the Mendips, and about two miles to the north-west of Wells. The 

 ravine in which it was discovered is one of the many which pierce 

 the dolomitic conglomerate, or petrified sea-beach of the Permian (?) 

 age. stiU underlying its ancient sea-clifl's of Mountain-limestone, and 



I 2 



