TUE BONM-OAVE Olt KISSUUE OF DUIiBlIAM DOWN. 



83 



tlio Society, it was recommended to prosecute furtlicr 

 researches, and the suggestion being adopted by the com- 

 mittee, and a small sum of money voted to defray expenses, 

 it was doomed advisable to place the iuvcstigationa uiuler 

 the solo direction of Mr. Stutchbuiy." 



After making some further observations on the general 

 subject, Mr. Stutchbury proceeded to the particular de- 

 scription of the discovery on Durdham Down, and exhibited 

 drawings of the quarry and a small model.* Ho thus de- 

 scribes the fissure : " The cavity is conq)liciited in form, but 

 consists essentially of a perpendicular fissure concurrent with 

 the natural joints of the rock, having a variable length, 

 generally 8 or 10 feet, and traceable to a depth of neai'ly 

 90 feet from tlie surface. The upper part of the fissure has 

 a breadth sufficient to admit animals of moderate size, but 

 at a depth of 12 foot it suddenly contracts to a compara- 

 tively narrow cleft, rendered very irregular by perpendicular 

 sharp projections of the rock, and thereby adapted for the 

 passage of living animals downward to a larger cavity, into 

 which the cleft communicates laterally at a depth of 20 feet, 

 and which constitutes tlie present floor of the quarry ; 

 another perpendicular and parallel fissure opens upon the 

 opposite end of the cavity. The bones were found embedded 

 in a mixture of mud and broken pieces of limestone, and 

 occupying the greater part of the first-named fissure, and 

 the whole of the lateral opening. It has been determined 

 that other cavities exist at lower depths, but their contents, 

 remain unknown. The following animals have been ascer- 

 tained to have furnished the bones : Of the carnivora thei'o 

 are eleven or twelve hymnas and one bear, also two wolves 

 :i,nd s(!verii,I foxes, both of whicli bear evidence of latei' date. 



See p. 36. 



