§ 37. CAVE OF GAYLENREUTH. 175 



a phenomenon not less interesting — the occurrence of im- 

 mense quantities of bones of many species of carnivora in 

 fissures and caverns. In the former discourse I alluded to 

 the chasms which occur in certain limestone rocks, and 

 described the process by which their roofs, floors, and 

 walls become lined with stalactites and stalagmites (p. 78). 

 Some of these hollows have evidently been occasioned by 

 the destruction of the softer portions of the rock, by the 

 erosion of subterranean streams and rivers : others are so 

 extensive, and present such decided marks of angular 

 fracture, as to leave no doubt that they are rents produced 

 by earthquakes. The occurrence of bones of land animals 

 in such chasms might reasonably be expected. 



The caves that admitted of easy access from without, and 

 which contain large quantities of bones of but a few species 

 of carnivora, may for a while have been tenanted by species 

 whose habits lead them to retire into secret recesses ; and 

 if there were open fissures, kids, deer, &c. may have 

 fallen in, and their bones have become enveloped in 

 calcareous incrustations. But the bones and teeth of 

 herbivora and carnivora, that are promiscuously inter- 

 mingled in loam and clay at the bottom of fissures and 

 caves, have evidently been drifted in, while the land was 

 under water. 



37. Cave of Gaylenreuth. — For many centuries, 

 certain caverns in Germany have been celebrated for their 

 osseous treasures, particularly those in Franconia : the 

 most remarkable is that of Gaylenreuth, which lies to the 

 north-west of the village, on the left bank of the river 

 Wiesent.* The entrance (Lign* 28, a), which is about seven 

 feet high, is in the face of a perpendicular rock, and leads to 

 a series of chambers from fifteen to twenty feet high, 



* See Medals of Creation, vol. ii. p. 869, for an interesting account 

 of the present state of some of these caves, by my friend Major 

 Willoughby Montagu. 



