Explorations in the Bone Cave of Ballynamintra. 191 
supposed to have been deposited there previously to the formation of the stalagmite, 
but are now believed to have been introduced at a more recent time and to belong 
to the stratum we are treating of, for the following reasons. The stalagmite (as 
we shall see) was formed directly on the gravel. In all that portion of the cave 
around where these two bones (of Irish elk and ox) were found the stalagmite had 
been broken up and lay in this pale sandy earth, which seems to have found its 
way into every crevice, and to have filled hollows under as well as between the 
masses of stalagmite. As, therefore, these two bones were neither found in the 
stalagmite nor in the gravel, but in the stratum now under consideration, it is 
very possible that like it they were more recent than the stalagmite, though 
found beneath a mass of it. Certain peculiarities in their condition and colour also 
lead to this conclusion. 
Among the bones from this stratum the only instance of human remains is a 
phalanx or finger-bone, said by the workmen to have been found in the pale sandy 
earth, on an occasion when they unfortunately were by themselves, though in its 
blackened appearance it resembles the bones from the grey earth above. 
Bits of charcoal occurred occasionally in this stratum, one of which was five feet 
below the datum level, though this was near the swallow-holes. (See cross- 
section B.) 
Traces of man in the pale sandy earth appear, therefore, to be few and doubtful, 
while the species of animals though fewer were all represented in the second 
stratum. A shell of the common garden snail was found with a bone of pig at a 
depth of six feet from the surface in this stratum, near the swallow-holes. Shells 
of several species of Helix were commonly found in the first two strata, and even 
in the pure calc tufa. 
No. 4.—Crystalline Stalagmite. 
In every part of the cave this deposit, though sometimes shattered, was found, 
always buried under the preceding strata, and either resting on or bearing traces 
of the gravel (the lowest stratum in the cave), which remained adhering to the 
stalagmite blocks and incorporated with them on their lower side. The stalagmite 
was generally more or less crystalline, sparkling when broken ; and in one part of 
the cave the lowest layer of it, which formed the ceiling of a curious hollow 
mentioned below, was made up of a mass of small, transparent, vertical crystals, of 
a yellowish tint. Much of the stalagmite was however opaque, exhibiting lines of 
deposition, of a pale fawn-colour, but occasionally containing peculiar ferruginous 
masses. In more than one instance a stalagmite column was found embedded 
horizontally in the stalagmite floor. From the twelfth foot inwards this floor 
extended across unbroken from wall to wall (see cross-sections D, E, and F) ; but 
outside that limit the stalagmite was all found broken up and disturbed (except 
some by the walls), and lay embedded in the pale sandy earth last described, a few 
