530 
REPORT OX THE EXPLORATION OF BRIXHAM CAVE. 
angular bone-breccia were also met with, leading to the conclusion that the ground must 
at some time previously have been disturbed. 
The general condition of all the Hyoena remains proves their great antiquity ; and it is 
to be remarked that very few among them exhibit any indication of gnawing, weathering, 
or rolling, and that amongst them are several perfect bones, in all probability belonging 
to one and the same animal. Another point also connected with these remains is the 
circumstance that, whilst amongst thirty-six specimens met with in the Reindeer and 
Flint-knife Galleries there is scarcely an entire bone, except one or two small bones of 
the feet, amongst the twenty-one specimens found in the West Chamber there are several 
perfectly entire long and other bones belonging to at least two or three individuals; and 
amongst these an atlas and two cervical vertebrae, which, together with other bones, 
apparently belonged to the same animal. It would seem, therefore, that this part of the 
cavern, which forms as it were the junction between the two principal galleries, was the 
chief point of refuge during life, or at any rate the chief receptacle of the remains 
shortly after death, of the Hyaenas, the marks of whose teeth are so obvious in the 
numerous gnawed and splintered bones of the Rhinoceros, Elephant, Bear, Ruminants, 
& c. associated with them. 
The bones and teeth clearly indicate several individuals of all ages, or from that at 
which the epiphyses of the femur and tibia were still ununited, up to one at which the 
canine teeth were almost worn away ; but no certain trace of a foetal or very young 
Hyaena is perceptible. All the teeth belong to the permanent series. 
With respect to the species of Hycenci to which these remains belong, all I would here 
remark is that, so far as the bones of the extremities are concerned, it must have been of 
a size pretty nearly corresponding with the existing Hyaena crocuta, though perhaps a 
little lower in stature. As sufficient means of comparison between the skeleton of the 
Cave-Hyaena with that of the existing H. crocuta in the wild state (for the bones of 
animals that have been long caged are of little avail for the purpose) are wanting, it 
will be useless here to enter at any length upon that part of the subject ; and I would 
merely remark that the quite perfect radius and tibia, shown in Plate XLV., do not 
appear to differ in any respect, either as regards dimensions or form, from the corre- 
sponding bones in the Spotted Hyaena*. 
And with regard to the teeth, though more may be said, it is, I think, impossible to 
* As material for future comparison, the dimensions of some of the principal bones of the skeleton in the 
Cave specimens are suljoined : — 
1. Atlas : antero-posterior diameters of dorsal and ventral arches, 1-10 and '61 ; distance between the foramina 
in front L55. 
2. Humerus : distal extremity, 1*60 X 2-15. 
3. Radius: length 8’20 and 8 - 15 ; proximal end *75 x 1*21; distal end l-OOxl'62; circumference of shaft 
(least) 2-10. 
4. Acetabulum: diameter 1*12. 
5. Femur : distal detached epiphysis 2-10 x 1’90 ; circumference of shaft 2 - 75. 
G. Tibia : length 7 - 45 ; proximal end 2 , 00 x 1'90 ; distal end L50 x 1*00 ; circumference of shaft (least) 2 - 40. 
