PROCEEDINGS OF GEOLOGICAL SOCIETIES. 
289 
Further researches may clear up tlie relation of these faiinse with the 
glacial faunae of the Frith of Clyde aud of Uddewaller, and throw 
perhaps some new light on the analogies between the younger mol- 
luscan fixnuse of Sicily and Eni>land, at first so ingeniously exposed by 
the late Prof. Edward Forbes. 
PROCEEDINGS OF GEOLOGICAL SOCIETIES. 
Geological Society of London. — May ■ilk, 1859. The following communi- 
cations were read : — 
1. " On the Ossiferous Cave, called ' Grottadi Maccagnone,' near Palenno." By 
Dr. II. Falconer, F.R.S., F.G S. 
In a letter, dated Palermo, March 21, 18.59, and addressed to Sir C. Lyell, 
V.P.G.S., Dr. Falconer first states, that from the caves along the coast between 
Palermo and Trapani he has lately obtained remains of Elephas antiques, hippo- 
potamus Penilandi, H. siculus, Siis priscus ( ?), Equus, Bos, Cervus intermedius and 
another species, Felis, I'rsus, and Canis, and coprolites of Hywna; but no remains 
of Rhinoceros, nor of Elephas primigenius. These additions to the previously 
ascertainel faunas of the cave-period in Sicily may aid in putting it in relation 
witli the Newer Tertiary deposits of Italy. 
The author then proceeds to describe the Grotta di Maccagnone, a previously 
undescribed ossiferous cave, in the Hippurite-limestone, westward of the Bay of 
Carini (between Palermo and Trapani). In the breccia below its entrance he met 
with remains of Hippopotamus in abundance, and remains of Elephas antiquus in 
the upper deposit of humus within the cave. But some other fossils were dis- 
covered mider veiy interesting and somewhat anomalous conditions in this cave. 
The interior of the cavern is lined with stalagmite ; and at a spot on the roof, 
where this is'denuded. Dr. Falconer found a large patch of bone-breccia containing 
teeth of Ruminants, bits of carbon, shells of several species of Helix, and a vast 
abundance of flint and honistone knives of human manufticture. At other places, 
and wherever the author had the calcareous coating broken by hammers, he found 
similar remains. At one spot, on breaking the stalagmite, he found against the 
roof of the cave a thick calcareo-ochreous layer containing abundance of the 
coprolites of a large Hi/cena. 
Dr. Falconer draws the followii\g inferences from the study of these facts :— 
(1.) That the Maccagnone Cave was filled up to the roof within the human period, 
so that a thick layer of bone-splinters, teeth, land-shells, and human objects was 
agglutinated to the roof by the infiltration of water holding lime in solution. (2.) 
That the coprohtes of a large Hi/ama were similarly cemented to thereof at the 
same period. (.S.) That subsequently, and within the human period, such a great 
amount of change took place in the physical configination of the district as to 
have caused the cave to be washed out and emptied of its contents, excepting the 
patches of material cemented to the roof and since coated with additional 
stalagmite. 
2. " On the .Jurassic Flora." By Baron Achille de Zigno. Communicated 
by C. Bunbuix Esq., F.G.S. 
In studying the numerous specimens of Jurassic Plants discovered in the Vene- 
tian Alps, Sig. de ZigTio has found it necessary to pass in revision all the known 
species dei ived from the .Jurassic strata in different countries. In preparing his 
