THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
315 
or immediately pre-modern period. But the data are complex and in some 
instances obscure. Now that a complete topographical survey of the Bock 
has been completed on a large scale, a geological survey would be a matter 
of comparative ease, and we should submit to your Excellency's consideration 
the expediency of an application being made for the services of an assistant 
upon the geological survey of England to be deputed for the purpose. The 
area is so compact and limited, that the survey, including that of the 
surrounding bay, need not occupy more than a couple of months. 
15. We cannot bring this letter to a close without expressing our 
opinion of the value and importance of Captain Brome's exploration of the 
Windmill Hill cavern, under the support, enlightened countenance and 
encouragement which, we are well aware, he has uniformly received from 
your Excellency during the progress of his operations, and which have 
mainly led to their successful issues. The only account of the mineralogy 
of Gibraltar that has been published, is the excellent “ Brief description " by 
Major Laurie, of the Boyal Artillery, which appeared in the Edinburgh 
Philosophical Transactions in 1797. In 1844 Mr Smith, of Jordan Hill, 
brought out his valuable memoir on the “ Geology of Gibraltarbut the 
fossil mammalian remains of the bone breccia were only very cursorily 
noticed by both authors. In the latter half of the last century they attracted 
the attention of William and John Hunter, in papers which are to be found 
in the “ Boyal Transactions," but without an attempt at precise identification. 
Cuvier, in his great book the “Ossemens Eossiles," of 1824, gave a special 
chapter on the “ ossiferous breccias," and devoted much attention to those of 
the Mediterranean. Erom the materials which passed under his hands, he 
was able to detect evidence only of two extinct species, one of which is 
doubtful. He concludes his remarks on the Gibraltar remains in the 
following terms: 
“ Voila done, dans ce petit nombre d’os de Gibraltar que j’ai en me procurer, au 
moins une espece de lievre et probablement une espece de cerf, dont les pareils 
ne sont pas connus en Europe. 
“ Que serait-ce si quelque naturaliste residant sur les lieux prenait la peine de 
recueiller et degager avec soin ceux qui se decouvriraient pendant quelques 
annees, comme je l’ai fait pour les ossemens de nos gypses ! D’apres ce que nous 
allons voir dans les articles suivans, on ne peut douter qu’il n’y fit des recoltes 
abundantes et interessantes." (op. cit. tom vi. p. 346). 
Erom that period down to the present day, hardly any addition has been 
made to our knowledge of the subject during a lapse of forty years, until 
Captain Brome undertook the exploration of the Genista cave, and the best 
commentary upon the preceding citation is furnished by the fact that the 
materials collected by him have enabled us to determine upwards of twenty 
species of mammalia above enumerated, many of them extinct, and all of 
them bearing importantly on the ancient condition of Gibraltar. Indeed, it 
is within the facts of the case to say that in the important w r alk of the 
mammalian paleontology of Gibraltar, Captain Brome has done more than 
was effected by the united labours of his predecessors since the rock became 
a British possession. The persevering energy and vigour with which he has 
followed up the inquiry, and the minute and scrupulous care with which he 
