EEPOET OX THE EXPLORATION OF BRIXHAM CAVE. 
497 
“ From this point southwards the roof was more or less covered with stalactitic carbo- 
nate of lime, which is still in the course of formation. 
44 The charcoal-bed, as well as the 4 white angular limestone,’ are described as termi- 
nating somewhat abruptly near a cross joint in the limestone, between 34 or 35 feet 
from the entrance. 
“ Between the place where the charcoal-bed ends and the principal gallery westward 
(the Flint-knife Gallery) commences, the extreme width of the cave from side to side is 
8 feet, and its greatest height from the floor 14 feet; the roof also tapers gradually to 
a pointed ridge, and its height is reduced to 10 feet 6 inches by the formation of stalag- 
mite, which at a short distance from cross section D increases considerably in amount. 
44 Cross section D shows the peculiar form of the passages in the Reindeer, Flint-knife, 
and Pen Galleries. From it, and from cross sections E, F, and G, it will be perceived 
that the limestone has been most eroded, and that the cave assumes a peculiar elliptical 
form and is of the greatest width, at the part which is filled with the bone-bed. 
44 Four feet north of cross section E> the stalagmite covering the bone-bed first makes 
its appearance, and extends with a slightly variable thickness as far as the Flint-knife 
Gallery, along the south side of which it continued for 9 feet, terminating in a minor 
transverse hollow worn into the limestone. 
44 On the north side of the Flint-knife Gallery it extended nearly to the wall of the 
gallery for the same distance as on the south side, without, however, actually coming in 
contact with it. 
44 Hence, onwards, in a southerly direction the passages become much contracted, and 
the space between the walls of the cave was, on its first discovery, almost entirely choked 
by a deposit of stalagmite. On the removal of this, with much labour, the explorations 
were continued for an additional 50 feet southwards ; and small bones of recent date were 
found lying on the surface of the bone-bed, which at this distance falls rapidly and lies 
at a much lower level than it does in either of the passages already described. 
44 Throughout the entire length of the Flint-knife Gallery the rock forming its side 
has been considerably eroded, being worn into shapes somewhat resembling short broad 
stalactites, while the roof is smoothly arched and free from calcareous incrustation. The 
western extremity of the gallery is T21 foot higher than the eastern end, and 7*3 feet 
lower than the present entrance to the cave. 
44 At 36 feet the bone-bed rises to the roof, and for the rest of the distance towards the 
West Chamber it occupies the entire passage. In the West Chamber itself, the bottom 
of the bone-bed fills a depression or hollow in the pebble bed, extending to the floor of 
the cave, on a level with which bones were found and also a flint knife. 
44 The passage named 4 Pen,’ as well as the 4 South Chamber,’ became much contracted 
both in height and width ; and branching off from the latter are minor hollow spaces, 
apparently eroded between the planes of cleavage.” 
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