Vol. 51.] OSSIFEROUS FISSURE IN" CRESWELL CRAGS. 237 



20. A new Ossiferous Fissure in Creswell Crags. By W. L. H. 



Duckworth, Esq., and F. E. Swainson, Esq. (Communicated by 



Prof. T. M C K. Hughes, M.A., F.R.S., F.G.S. Read March 6th, 



1895.) 



L Abstract.] 



The fissure explored by the Authors is about 30 feet above the 

 level of the artificial lake at Creswell Crags. At the top occurred 

 a white earth (with human and other remains), passing down into a 

 red sand with remains of fox, badger, roe-deer, and other mammals. 

 Beneath the latter deposit, and separated from it by a fairly sharp 

 line of demarcation, came the cave-earth proper, with Palaeolithic 

 implements and bones of Rhinoceros tichorhinus, Bison priscus, Ursus 

 spelceus, Hycena crocuta var. spelcea, and Gervus tarandus. 



The Authors suppose that this cave-earth is derived from an 

 older deposit and has been transported to. its present place by 

 water, though there is evidence that the transport has been from no 

 great distance. Consequently they followed the fissure inwards, 

 until brought to a stop by a mass of travertine, which they pene- 

 trated with a small hole. They hope to explore the fissure beyond 

 this travertine on a future occasion. 



Discussion. 



Mr. E. T. Newton remarked on the value of the work which the 

 Authors were carrying out, and corroborated the determination of the 

 bones exhibited. At the same time he suggested the desirability of 

 carefully collecting the remains of the smaller vertebrates, both 

 from the cave- earth and the overlying deposits : information as to 

 the period to which some of the Pleistocene animals lingered in this 

 country being much wanted. 



Mr. Clement Reid suggested that in any search for the smaller 

 fossils especial attention should be paid to any associated plant- 

 remains, for plants ought to throw much light on the climatic con- 

 ditions, left uncertain by the mammalia. 



The President and Mr. C. W. Andrews also spoke. 



Mr. "W. L. H. Duckworth, in reply, said that he must admit not 

 having made a detailed study of the remains other than human 

 found in the more superficial layers in the floor of this fissure. The 

 bones were for the most part those of birds. Nor could he give 

 any record of the occurrence of seeds, etc., of plants in the cave-earth 

 proper. With regard to the tooth of a fox smaller than Ganis vulpes, 

 it was found in what the Authors had called the ' middle layer ' 

 (composed of red sand), and so belongs rather to the more superficial 

 strata than to the cave-earth proper. In conclusion, he took this 

 opportunity of thanking those Fellows who had spoken, for their 

 kind suggestions of lines of investigation. 



Q.J.G.S. No. 202. s 



