R. PENNINGTON ON THE CASTLETON BONE-CAVES. 245 



(into which it flows), the Ingleton beck in Yorkshire, and other 

 streams do. The working of the quarry back from the river-bed 

 exposed a fissure. 



The rocks are here tilted up at an angle of about 70° ; this fissure, 

 therefore, is about parallel with the dip. It was in this fissure that 

 the mammoth-remains referred to were found ; and for some time 

 after the discovery it remained without being further worked into. 

 However, shortly before 1873 the rock near to it was quarried 

 away, and more of its contents brought to light. 



The fissure is one extending from the surface downwards for an 

 unknown depth. It is about 6 feet wide, and filled with the ordinary 

 loam, containing angular fragments of limestone. There are present 

 also a number of quartz pebbles. To the north the Yoredale sand- 

 stones, Millstone Grit, and Coal-measures rise to a considerable 

 height ; from these the pebbles have probably been derived. 



The fissure was, as mentioned above, 6 feet wide, and it appeared 

 to me that it would narrow and close up not far from the face of 

 the rock there exposed. A depth of 20 feet was open to view ; and 

 the bison-bones were about 17 feet below the surface, i. e. about 3 

 feet, as nearly as I can ascertain, above the horizon in which the 

 mammoth-remains were. 



There is, I think, no doubt that this bison, together with the 

 mammoths, had fallen into the fissure when making for the Hamps 

 for the purpose of drinking, just as sheep and cattle fall into similar 

 pits now-a-days. And it seemed that a horse had shared the same 

 fate ; for some of the bones of that animal were also turned out. 

 Prom what I saw I feel sure that the whole of the bones of the 

 bison were present, and nearly in their proper relative position, 

 which would not, of course, have been the case had the bones been 

 washed in at various times. 



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