Page:Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London, vol. 32.djvu/341

Rh being acted on by water, during floods, and washed away. It was not to be assumed, from the absence of any traces of man in the lowermost deposit, that he did not exist in that spot at this period, as he would hardly be likely to occupy dens along with the Hyæna. Some of the flint implements found in the valley-gravels were of extreme rudeness as compared with those of the high-level gravels, though the latter were the older. Fineness of finish does not necessarily prove more modern date, as is exemplified by the Shrub-Hill implements; but much would depend on the material, and he had not yet seen Mr. Mello's specimens.

Mr. inquired whether the absence of coprolites from these dens might not be accounted for by the cleanly habits of the animals. The Carnivora, as a rule, were exceedingly cleanly in this respect.

Prof. suggested that the difference of material might be explained on the supposition that the people who left the quartzite implements had lived in that or some other district where quartzite was the only or most common material; while the flint was brought by a tribe who came from a district where flint was abundant. The rougher material did not of itself prove greater antiquity. Quartz and quartzite had been used at all periods from that of the laterite of India to that of the neolithic graves of Britain, and even later elsewhere. So also he had found grey felstone implements in Wales of neolithic as well as of palæolithic type; while polished weapons of the same material were occasionally found in the fenlands near Cambridge.

Mr. stated that the African Hyæna does not resort to caves, and he could not understand why the extinct Hyæna should have done so. The remains of Hyænas had been found in caves on the banks of the Lena and Obi in Siberia; and this led him to think that possibly the Hyæna of that period, owing to the intensity of cold, was in the habit of hibernating, as the bears of cold climates do at the present day. The African Hyænas only prey on sickly members of the antelope tribe; and it therefore seemed to him doubtful that those found in caves would have preyed on such large animals as the Rhinoceros.

The inquired at what distance from the cave flint was obtainable, and also where quartzite pebbles could be found.

Dr. considered that the development of man was more clearly proved by the progressive improvements in the manufacture of his implements than by the physical formation of his skull.

Mr. stated that quartzite pebbles could be obtained within seven or eight miles of the spot, whilst flints were abundant at not more than about forty miles distant.

Mr., in reply, said that quartzite pebbles occurred abundantly in some sands near the caverns. They were probably derived originally from the Bunter. The flints might have been obtained at no great distance, possibly from the valley of the Trent; for some specimens were weathered, and evidently derived from gravel; others, however, were probably obtained directly from