41 
at that point a small fissure was seen leading in the direction of the 
cave. It was partially filled with gravel. Some labourers were set to work 
in order to enlarge the opening, when it was soon found to expand, and after 
a passage of 20 feet to lead to another cavern, which is the one now so 
celebrated for the enormous quantity of bones which have been found there- 
in. At the top of the cave were two short vertical apertures choked with 
loose stones. The bottom of the cavern was filled with gravel for a consider- 
able depth, which contained the bones. The most numerous were those of the 
ox and the deer. Besides these, though less numerous, were those of the 
wolf, bear, fox, mouse and bat. They consisted of more or less perfect 
skulls, teeth and antlers. Some of the bones, especially of the bear, were 
of very large size. Many of the horns of the ox were over 12 inches in 
circumference and 14 inches in length. The antlers of the deer, too, were 
of immense size. 
In the summer of 1826, as some men were quarrying near Uphill 
Church, they broke open a fissure also containing many bones. The 
cavern extended for about 40 feet north and south, and varied from 16 to 
14 feet in width. The floor was covered with loam, mud and sand, the 
latter being principally at the entrance. The oldest bones were in the 
upper part and firmly embedded. It doubtless was formerly the den of a 
hysena, for nearly all the bone? were knawed and fractured. On exami- 
nation they were ascertained to be those of the elephant, rhinoceros, ox, 
horse, bear, hog, hysena, fox, polecat, water rat, mouse, and birds. It is 
probable that the cavern afterwards became the retreat of foxes, for the 
mud at the entrance is filled with the bones of birds, principally of the 
gull family. 
The other cavern, worthy of note for its contents, was also discovered 
at Uphill, near the village of Hutton, at an elevation of 300 or 400 feet 
above the level of the sea. Very many years ago quarrying was carried 
on for the ochre which filled the fissures of the rock. In opening these 
pits the workmen came to a fissure in the limestone rock filled with ochre. 
After excavating this to the depth of 24 feet, they came to a cavern 20 feet 
square and 4 feet high, the floor of which was covered with yellow loam, in 
and on which were multitudes of bleached bones. In this chamber was a 
fine stalactite hanging from the centre of the roof, and nearly touching a 
like mass of stalagmite, which rose from the floor to meet it. In one of the 
sides was an aperture 3 feet wide, opening through a passage 54 feet long 
into another cavern, 30 feet long and 15 feet wide. About 12 feet below the 
entrance of the latter was another lateral passage which continued for 54 
