172 
probable that such had not been the cage in this instance. The 
following section was laid bare on excavation : — 
ft. in. 
... 0 3 
... 0 9 
... 1 0 
... 0 3 
... 1 0 
... 0 6 
... 1 3 
... 0 6 
Feet — 5 G 
The black carbonaceous layers were of the usual kind found in 
these shelters, a mixture of earth, sand, humus, shells and shell- 
fragments, with an occasional fish or mammalian bone, and a few 
stones. The shells are the commoner species now living on the 
coast, more particularly those of an edible nature. The fire layers, 
of which we dug through four, without reaching the bottom of 
the shelter, consisted of a friable white, or yellowish-white, limey 
deposit, which, if at all dry, is most trying to the eyes when 
digging. The largest tire layer in lateral extent, and at the same 
time the thickest, was almost in the centre of the Shelter. This 
recess had clearly been long used by the Aborigines of the locality 
as a cooking place, and, it may be legitimately inferred, as one of 
residence also, for temporary periods perhaps considering their 
nomadic habits, but periods extending over many years. 
A second Shelter some little distance along the escarpment to 
the west was next examined. This was seventy-four feet in 
length, twelve feet in depth, eight feet in height, with a total 
height from the floor to the top of the shelter rock of twelve 
feet. It was an unusually long and narrow retreat, and contained 
similar fire layers, although not to so great a depth as the first 
described. About nine inches below the surface soil we disinterred 
the partially complete skeleton of a young child, now set up in 
the Ethnological Hall of the Museum. As usual, the body had 
been protected by stone slabs placed more or less all round and 
above, but apparently not below it. The bones missing were 
those of the right hand, the left forearm and hand, the right 
foreleg bones, and both feet. The remainder were in a good 
state of preservation, and such of the teeth as are present are 
sound and very strong. 
Beyond the position of the second Shelter the escarpment trends 
in a slightly north-west direction, and cuts the Manly-Pittwater 
lload. Between these points are a string of large Rock-shelters, 
and as the floors had been dug and explored by others we did not 
1. Thin surface layer of black soil 
2. Yellowish-white fire layer 
3. Black carbonized soil 
4. Second fire layer... 
5. Black soil, as before 
6. Third fire layer ... 
7. Black soil, as before 
8. Fourth fire layer 
9. Black soil, as before 
