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remains of the skeleton lay. The locality given by Mr. Scrope 
in his sketch appears to be higher up the hill. Sir C. Lyell 
was also conducted to a place “ not far from the summit of the 
volcano,” but the well of the Hermitage is a long way from the 
summit of Mont Denise. We went from the museum to Denise, 
and again from Denise to the museum, on two separate occa- 
sions, and I convinced my companions as well as myself that 
the human bones were never enveloped in breccia, nor was the 
matrix of the mass in which they lie in the least like the breccia 
of the well of the Hermitage. I have already mentioned that 
some of the bones lie in a matrix which looks as if it was 
derived from a wash of volcanic materials, intermingled with 
lime, forming a kind of stalagmite ; and as I dislike throwing 
entire discredit upon the word of the peasant who found them, I 
would suggest for future explorers the examination of the site 
for some distance above the well. It is not improbable that 
these human bones were washed into a crack or fissure, through 
which the water percolates downwards to the well of the Her- 
mitage. The geology of Mont Denise beyond the “ Croix de 
Paille ” is of high interest. “ The Chimney ” section shows the 
older breccias, or stratified volcanic mud (peperino), blown away, 
and a great vent filled with red and black cinders. This last 
explosion of Denise was not apparently attended by any outflows 
of lava, but by violent discharges of volcanic cinders, dust, and 
bombs. The vent is well marked, the stratified older peperino 
presenting a wall-like line where the beds in the vent were 
blown away by explosive forces from below. While examining 
this remarkable section in detail we were struck by some 
yellowish-looking beds, which are seen resting in a hollow a 
little to the west of “the Chimney.” These are, I believe, 
alluvial breccias or drifts of the same age and character as 
those near Polignac, and on the north-east flank of Denise. 
Another point also struck us, viz., that the explosions through 
“ the Chimney ” appear to be of later date than those drifts, 
for the black and red cinders are seen to overlie them higher 
up the hill. 
(To be continued.') 
