288 PROCEEDINGS OP THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [May 22, 



extension of the cavern inwards and outwards were then walled up 

 to complete the cementing of its sides, so as to enable it to retain 

 water. 



In removing the loose soil and clay from the part of the cavern 

 thus broken into (for it was full to the roof with yellow and grey 

 sandy clay, without any stalactites, or stalagmitic floor, such as existed 

 in the Hippopotamus-cavern of Maghlak), a quantity of fragments 

 of bones and teeth of at least two species of Elephas (one of ordinary 

 size, but the more abundant being of a remarkable pigmy species), 

 and other bones of extinct animals were found mingled with sub- 

 angular and not waterworn fragments of the parent calcareous 

 sandstone rock in which this fissure-like cavern ran, the bones and 

 fragments being generally found lying upon the natural floor of 

 the cavern. These had been thrown out confusedly together into 

 an accumulated heap of soil and fragments near the mouth of the 

 tank, and remained undisturbed at my visit. 



As on examining this heap of cave soil I procured a considerable 

 number of fragments of the same Pigmy Elephant as I had seen in 

 the Library Museum, and which had been presented a short time pre- 

 viously by Signer Buttegieg, the proprietor of the garden,! was anxious 

 to complete the exploration of the parts of the cavern that had been 

 walled up ; and by the kind permission of the proprietor, and the as- 

 sistance of his son. Padre Pietro, I had the cavern reopened on each 

 side of the tank, and finally traced it inwards to a distance of 

 about 75 feet. It was then traced for about 15 feet on the other 

 side of the tank, to its original mouth opening out into the side of 

 tlie valley, but which now lies completely under the soil and roots of 

 the fruit-trees growing upon the lower terrace of the garden at 

 about five or six feet only above the level of the rocky torrent-bed 

 that meanders through the vaUey. The cavern, I found, ran nearly 

 horizontally from the ravine, having one short branch, terminating 

 in a small chamber as seen in the plan, and varied in height from 

 4| to 5| feet, with a breadth varying from 1^ to 2^ feet, until it 

 became contracted to a few inches only. 



The results of this exploration, and a subsequent resifting of the 

 heap of soil when dry, some months after, by the express desire of 

 the late Dr. Palconer, yielded not only many bones of the Pigmy 

 Elephant, but also a complete set of the tusks and teeth of this 

 singular extinct species, in every stage of growth, mingled with 

 which were fragments of ivory, that had evidently formed part of 

 the tusk of a much larger but ordinary-sized elephant ; yet none of 

 the teeth of the latter were found. 



All these fragments bore evidence, more or less marked, of fierce 

 gnawing by some carnivorous animal, apparently not larger than a 

 jackal. But it became apparent to me during the examination of 

 these fragments that thej^ differed entirely from the large mamma- 

 lian remains from Crendi cavern, and that it in fact contained no 

 remains of Hippopotamus. 



The necessity of keeping this point in view, and the importance 

 of identifying its relics, as being distinct from those of the Crendi 



