xlvi PROLEGOMENA 



calcareous depositions (sic), clothing the rocks with drapery and 

 hanging from the roof in long translucent stalactites. Six 

 yards from the entrance the fissure swells out into a cave six 

 yards in length, three yards in width, and five yards high. 

 At the further end is a narrow passage five yards in length, 

 terminated by a wall of rock, preventing all progress in that 

 direction. On the lefb side of the passage a hole was discovered, 

 through which Mr. Kuthven squeezed himself into a beautiful 

 circular chamber, the arched roof covered with transparent 

 stalactites, and the floor with stalagmites rising towards the 

 roof in the most fantastic shapes, the whole forming a most 

 beautiful natural grotto. Last week Mr. E. Whitwell and Mr. 

 Euthven visited the cave and commenced a diligent search for 

 bones. They were successful in finding several beautiful speci- 

 mens of the bones, claws, and teeth of extinct animals. Some 

 of the teeth have been sent to Professor Owen for examination.' 1 



It was of this cave that Newman furnished a description, 

 stating, ' in a long gallery, the floor of which is covered with 

 debris, have been found a number of bones. Some of them are 

 pronounced to be those of the hyaena, the wolf, and other 

 animals now extinct in this country.' 2 



I fancy that Newman was wrong about the Hyaena being 

 represented in the Arnside cave. Sir Richard Owen says nothing 

 about that genus in the brief notice which he furnished of this 

 find. ' I have,' says he, ' received remains of a Hog, associated 

 with bones of a Brown Bear (Ursus ardos), and other existing 

 species of Mammalia, which were obtained by Mr. Whitwell of 

 Kendal from a limestone cavern at Arnside Knot, near that 

 town.' 3 



In this connection it should be observed that Mr. Beecham 

 obtained ursine remains at Helsfell, including the basal portion 

 of the cranium of a young Bear, and at least two large bones. 

 Professor Boyd Dawkins has referred these relics to Ursus prisms, 

 but I should think that the species represented at Helsfell is 

 probably identical with that found at Arnside Knot. 



1 Kendal Mercury, August 24, 1844. 



2 Zoologist, 1844, p. 709. 



3 British Fossil Mammalia, p. 429. 



