28 
being subterranean channels of 
creeks and streams, which after a 
course of 100 yards to one or more 
miles disappear in them. They 
chiefly differ from the last by hav- 
ing waters. Commonly inaccessi- 
ble, being filled by the water. Ve- 
ry common, chiefly in West Ken- 
tucky, in the open glades called 
barrens of the sandstone table land. 
4. Spring Caves . Giving rise to 
a stream which issues from them, 
either to join another stream, or 
sink in the Sinking caves. On- 
ly a modification of the last; but 
less common, sometimes quite ac- 
cessible, forming vast caverns with 
a vaulted roof. Chiefly in the 
limestone regions. 
5. Crater or Funnel Caves, On- 
ly in the limestone regions, very 
common, formed by circular or 
elliptical hollows, called Sinks in 
Kentucky, from twenty yards to one 
mile in circuit, and from five to fifty 
feet deep. Sides sloping inside, 
similar to the craters of volcanos, 
but more of a funnel shape, with a 
vent hole at the bottom, leading to 
a fissure, spring or cave. When 
this hole is choked up by earth, the 
basin fills with water and forms a 
pond. The sinks are, according to 
my eruptive theory of the limestone 
and clay formations, the springs, 
craters, or spouts from whence issu- 
ed in the sea, that limy mud which 
spread horizontally, imbedding the 
fossils. 
6 . Saltpetre Caves. Large cavi- 
ties with galleries and chambers, 
roof commonly flat, floor with a rich 
nitrous diluvial loam, commonly in 
the limestone. The largest of ail is 
the Mammoth Cave, the entrance to 
which is figured above, and an ac- 
count follows beneath. It is in these 
that bones of anted ilu vial quadru- 
peds have been found. Many were 
discovered while digging for salt- 
petre, but being often crumbling 
were lost, the best were scattered 
or thrown away, except a few col- 
lected by Mr. John D. Clifford arid 
others. 
The principal fossil bones found 
in them, and come to my knowledge, 
belonged to 
1. The Megatherium , or an ani- 
mal very near it. 
2. My Aulaxodon speleum , since 
called Megalonyx laqueatus , by 
Harlan. 
3. A kind of Taurus , either the 
Buffalo, or T. latifrons . 
4. A small animal like a Polecat. 
5. A smaller one yet, perhaps a 
Sorex. 
The animals still living, or rather 
wintering in those caves, where the 
temperature is very mild and equal, 
are bats and rats of many species, 
and my subterranean Salamander, 
Spelerpes luc'fuga, which is perma- 
nent there. 
There also have been found a few 
ancient mummies, not antediluvian, 
but buried in the diluvium, and quite 
preserved by the antiseptic nitrous 
soil; they are not numerous, rather 
accidental than otherwise. 
7. The seventh and last kind of 
caves, are the Stalactical Caves, si- 
milar to those of Europe, filled with 
stalactites and pillars, as well as 
stalagmites rising from the ground. 
Rather uncommon and always in the 
limestone. 
To give a tolerable idea of these 
caves, 1 shall describe some of them, 
out of several series. 
Jenning’s Spring and Lovedale 
are two sinking caves of the 3d and 
4th Series, between Frankford and 
Lexington; both in the limestone 
and shaped like an excavated bow, 
with a large spring at one end and 
a sink at the other. Jenning’s spring 
turns a mill, the excavation is 150 
yards long, 3 to 6 wide, and only 2 
or 3 deep. Lovedale could also turn 
a mill, but has none. It is rather a 
chasm, 200 yards long, 10 wide, and 
10 deep. 
E Ik horn Cave belongs to the 4 th 
Series; it is in the cliffs of Elkhorn 
creek north of Lexington, like a fine 
hall, with smooth limestone walls, 
accessible for 100 yards and more, 
about 10 yards wide and high. A 
