By a careful study of these remains interesting evidence
is obtained of the so-called antediluvian animals, their habits,
their food, and organization. Such information is, however,
of a problematical character when compared with the direct
results obtained from an investigation of the contents of
these caves. It is impossible to measure with any degree
of accuracy the period at which man first sheltered within
their rugged space. Becent explorations of " Kent's Cavern "
were made under the direction of Mr. Fengelly, who, speaking
in 1872, says as follows :

" Coming to the question of time (meaning the age of the
several deposits in which the bones were found), we have
gtme back ten thoasaod years at least — that is the minimum.
3dbvGoOg[e



70 8CIBN0E AHD ABT OF FOBTLABD OEKENT.
it maj be more — betoK we get through the hlack mould ; we
enter then the granular stalagmite, and we know from the
nature of the case that that thickneae of stalagmite must
indicate an enormous length of time, inasmuch as the stalag-
tnitic floor cannot be formed lister than the limestone is
dissolved overhead, and the solatioa of that limestone is due
to the presence of carbonic acid, and there is no possibility,
under existing conditions, of any other water entering that
cavern than what ^Is on the hills as rain. I do not ask you
to take the thickness of the stalagmite as a chronometer, but
will tell you a iact. There is in one part of the cavern a
huge boss of stalagmite rising ap from the floor. That boss
betokens that its formation was comparatively very rapid.
