INDIAN TERTIARY & POST-TERTIARY VERTEBRATA. 
THE EAUUA OF THE KARNUL CAVES. 
BY R. LYDEKKER, B.A., F.G.S., etc. 
(WITH PLATES VII. TO XI.) 
I. INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS. 
Locality. — The history of the exploration of the caves in the Karnul district 
of Madras is given in three papers by Mr. R. B. Foote , 1 and does not need 
recapitulation on this occasion The most important of these caves are those of 
Billa Surgam, a spot lying on the south of a valley opening on the east of the Yerra 
Konda, a range of hills forming the western side of the Karnul basin, and situated 
three miles to the east-south-east of Betumcherru, in the south-eastern corner of the 
Nandial taluk ; the nearest place of any importance being Banaganpilli. 
The caves — According to Mr. Foote’s description, Billa Surgam consists of three 
deep and short ‘canons,’ joined by natural arches; the various caves opening into 
the canons at different levels, and the canons themselves having once been caves also ; 
in wet weather a stream flows through the canons. The accompanying plan 2 will 
obviate the need of further description ; it being only necessary to mention that the 
four main caves are those named the ‘ Charnel-House,’ ‘ Purgatory,’ the ‘ Cathedral,’ 
and the ‘ Chapter-House.’ 
Sections of cave-deposits. — Two sections of the cave-deposits may be quoted 
from Mr. Foote’s papers. The first is from the Charnel-House, and is as follows. 
Al. Surface bed. 
A. Rubble bed. 
B ) 
Stiff red clay, with sandy partings. 
1 ‘ Rec. Geol. Surv. Ind.’ vol. XVII. pp. 27-34, 200-208 (1884), and vol. XVIII. pp. 227-234 (1885). 
2 The oblique -shading indicates the area of the existing caves. 
G 
