THE BONE CAVES OF THE PLYMOUTH DISTRICT. 109 
during the antediluvian period into the open fissures, and there 
perishing, had remained undisturbed in the spot on which they 
died, till drifted forwards by the diluvian waters to their present 
place in the lowest vaultings with which these fissures had 
communication." * 
Mr. Cottle (if I rightly understand him) suggested that the 
animals rushed headlong into a horizontal passage communicating 
with the main chambers, to escape the waters of the deluge, and 
were drowned in the trap into which they were thus precipitated. t 
I shall not enter upon the discussion of the deluge theory, 
though it has been recently revived by Mr. Howard, f.r.s. The 
evidence is utterly opposed to the action of any agency of a 
cataclysmal character. 
Mr. Pengelly held in 1859 that the cavern of 1858 "originally 
communicated with the surface by an opening sufficiently wide to 
allow the passage of all its contents, and that it was thus filled ; 
but whether animals fell or were dragged in, or whether the 
bones found there were wholly or partially the disjointed rem- 
nants of dead animals washed in, I will not undertake to 
say." J In 1877, however, Mr. Pengelly's views were more 
definitely expressed, as he did not see " the least occasion for sup- 
posing anything more than a series of gaping fissures, traversing a 
table-land, above the reach of flooded rivers — though not neces- 
sarily or probably of great elevation — into which some animals fell 
and were killed, and others retired to die ; where, perhaps, a few 
were dragged or pursued by beasts of prey ; whilst the rains of 
Devonshire washed in at least some of the bones of those which 
died near at hand on the adjacent plateau." § 
The intimate association and order of many of the bones 
proves that at the time of deposition these were partially united 
by ligaments, if not invested with flesh ; while the manner of 
admixture of the remains of various animals in some cases shows 
that with them at least there was redeposition after decay. That 
water played some part in the production of the jDhenomena is 
admitted on all hands ; and that the carrying force of this water 
must have been considerable is proved by the magnitude of the 
* Op. cit. Cited "Devon. Assoc. Trans.," vol. v. part i. p. 265. 
f Op. cit. Cited "Devon. Assoc. Trans ," vol v. part i. p. 274. 
t Op. cit. Cited " Devon. Assoc. Trans.," vol. v. p. i. pp. 299-300. 
§ "Trans. Devon. Assoc.," vol. ix. p. 440. 
