MOUTH OF KUHLOCH. STATE OF ITS INTERIOR. 139 
The exterior of this cavern presents a lofty arch e, in a nearly per¬ 
pendicular cliff, which forms the left flank of the gorge of the Esbach, 
opposite the castle of Rabenstein. (See Plate XVIII. e.) The 
depth of the valley below it is less than 30 feet, whilst above it the 
hill rises rapidly, and sometimes precipitously, to 150 or 200 feet. 
This narrow valley or gorge is simply a valley of denudation, by 
which the waters of the Esbach d fall into those of the Weissent. 
The breadth of the entrance arch is about 30 feet, its height 20 feet. 
As we advance inwards the cave increases in height and breadth, and 
near its inner extremity divides into two large and lofty chambers, 
both of which terminate in a close round end, or cul de sac, at the 
distance of about 100 feet from the entrance. It is intersected by no 
fissures, and has no lateral communications connecting it with any 
other caverns, except one small hole close to its mouth, and which 
opens also to the valley. These circumstances are important, as they 
will assist to explain the peculiarly undisturbed state in which the 
interior of this cavern has remained, amid the diluvial changes that 
have affected so many others. The inclination of the floor, for about 
SO feet nearest the mouth, (see Plate XVIII. e,) is very considerable, 
and but little earth is lodged upon it; but further in, the interior of 
the cavern g is entirely covered with a mass of dark brown or blackish 
earth h, through which are disseminated, in great abundance, the 
bones and teeth of bears and other animals, and a few small angular 
f raaments of limestone, of the same nature with the roof from which 
CJ 
and. bones for each individual animal, we shall have in this single vault the remains of at 
least 2500 bears, a number which may have been supplied in the space of 1000 years, by 
a mortality at the rate of two and a half per annum. 
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