84 
HYiENAS. 
cal Society, though I am not prepared to say any 
more than lie, that this cave had been employed 
like that at Yealm Bridge as an hyaena’s den, on the 
contrary, I conclude that these solitary specimens 
were washed in with the diluvial matters ; near 
Y ealm Bridge is a cavity of small dimensions, and 
here, among the pebbles, brecciae and mould, I found 
after a long search, a single tooth of a pig cemented 
to a portion of indurated clay ; the chief instance 
however, is the cave at Yealm Bridge* which I 
found to contain a set of relics not inferior as to 
number of species to that examined by Professor 
Buckland at Kirkdale, the cavity itself also pre¬ 
sented superior accommodation, in regard of height, 
though its length was much less. Before proceeding 
to the precise description of this, it must here be 
understood, that among the several species of animals 
inhabiting our lands in the antediluvian sera, there 
were some which had the habit of appropriating 
caves and fissures of rocks as dens, to which they 
habitually resorted to repose, or to devour their 
* On September 1st, 1835,1 published the account of this cavern 
in the “ South Devon Monthly Museum,” with a feigned signature, 
and on March 23rd, 1836, Colonel Mudge, who had in the interim 
heard of, and examined into the facts, read a memoir on the 
subject before the Geological Society, in which however, the dis¬ 
covery is ascribed to me. In the Penny Cyclopjedia, Colonel M. 
is implied as the discoverer ! This circumstance should serve as 
a caution to persons who fortunately possess any information 
worthy of public record, not to sacrifice the sole reward of scien¬ 
tific research which is to be reaped in this country, by choosing 
a work and a method of publication which necessarily prevent the 
world from placing credit in the right quarter. By reference to 
Nos. 23 and 37 of the u Edinburgh Journal of Natural History” 
it will be seen that I have acknowledged two extracts from the 
Colonel’s account in a new report of my discover}", and have in 
return, set Colonel Mudge right on some important particulars 
which 1 had superior opportunities of becoming aware of. 
