FELIS SPELAA. L51 
CHAPTER XVII. 
RanGr oF FELIs LEO, VAR. a, SPELMA. 
CONTENTS. 
§ 1. Distribution in Britain. | § 4. Continental range. 
§ 2. Mammals associated with the Cave Lion § 5. Specific identity with Felis atrox, Leidy, 
in Great Britain. of North America. 
§ 3. Range in time in Britain. 
§ 1. Distribution in Britain —In the previous chapters we have proved that Felis 
spelea is specifically identical with the existing Lion. We have now to show the distri- 
bution of its remains in Great Britain, so that we may approximately arrive at its relative 
numbers in various districts during the Post-glacial period. It is undoubtedly true that 
there is no direct evidence on this point, for the remains that have been found are merely 
those that have survived a series of accidents. ‘Those in the brickearths and gravel-pits 
owe their preservation to the chance, first of all, of the animals being drowned, of their 
bodies having escaped the all-devouring jaws of the Hyzna, of their having been deposited 
in the ancient river-bed, and not having been.swept out seaward, to be devoured by the 
fishes. ‘To these must be added the chance of the gravel-pit or brickfield being formed 
in that precise spot, of their being discovered, and, lastly, of their not being destroyed by 
the ignorant workmen. ‘Those also that have been found in the caves have had to run 
the gauntlet of a similar series of accidents. The absence, therefore, of its remains does 
not prove that the animal did not dwell in any particular district, but merely that it does 
not happen to have been discovered. But, nevertheless, the chances of preservation 
being equal over the whole British area, the relative numbers of the animal that dwelt in 
its various parts can be fairly estimated by the varying numbers of the remains found. 
In undertaking this task we fully recognise the imperfection of the geological record. We 
will begin with North Britain, and work our way southwards. 
The Cave Lion is conspicuous by its absence from the whole of Scotland, Northumber- 
