Examination and Survey of MitcheWs Cave. 23 
evidently fallen from above at some former period of time; and 
along the northen wall, was to be seen an elevation of from three 
to four feet above the general level of the floor, upon which was 
deposited a stratum of sand and mud, covered by a thin crust of 
calcarious stalagmite; immediately upon this was also another 
deposit of sand, corresponding in every respect with the former, 
and which, likewise, in many places supported a partial covering 
of stalagmite. These alternations of mud and stalagmite, being 
considered the true position for relics of the animals which were 
the object of our research, we commenced our investigations by 
fairly upturning every portion of the floor, but without success, 
not the slightest vestige of an organised being did we anywhere 
behold, with the exception of a partially decomposed carcase of 
a recent species of bat, which are well known to resort to these 
subterranean recesses in the greatest abundance. 
As one of our party, w-hom we had been anxiously expecting 
from the west, had at length arrived, and being also properly 
clad for the occasion, we came to the conclusion, that it was most 
expedient to proceed and explore the remainder of the cave. 
After trimming our lights, we again descended in a perpendicular 
direction nineteen feet, through an aperture in the floor, at the 
eastern extremity of the room, sufficiently large only to admit a 
middleing sized man; this we accomplished by seating ourselves 
upon the floor, w-ith our feet dangling in the orifice, and then, by 
twisting our bodies in a spiral manner, from one projecting angle 
of the rock to the other, for about one half the distance, the re- 
mainder, by firmly bracing with our hands and feet against the 
perpendicular walls, that were separated about four feet asunder. 
This brought us to an angular projection, which is considered the 
eastern termination of the roof of the second, or larger apartment. 
After a few moments respite, we descended some distance, by 
again bracing with our hands and feet, as before, to a large quan- 
tity of angular fragments which lie piled up against the south 
wall of the room, from whence they evidently once had an origin. 
This led us, by a gradually sloping descent, over a rugged path- 
way to the centre of the floor. This chamber is in length, from 
