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364 PROC~.EDI~aSOF TH~ OEOLOeICALSOCl~TY. [March 8,

2. ~t the FossIL CONTENTS Of t~te GENISTA , . By G. BusK, Esq., F.R.S., F.G.S., and the late HuQ~ FALCONER, M.D., V.P.R.S., For. Sec. G.S. [In a Letter to His Excellency General Sir W. J. Codrington, K.C.B., &c. &c. Governor of Gibraltar.] (Communicated by the Secretary of State for War.) THe. circumstances which led to our visit to Gibraltar, and the objects we have had in view, are so well known to Your Excellency that it is unnecessary on our part to do more than refer to one or two incidents in the early history of the cave. When the interesting objects contained in the upper chambers of the "Genista" cave on Windmill Hill were brought to light by Capt. Brome, Your Excellency addressed a letter to the Secretary- at-War, giving a preliminary report on the results; that communi- cation was forwarded from the War Office to the President of the Geological Society of London, with a request for an opinion as to the importance in the interest of science of following up the explo- ration, and for suggestions as to the manner in which it could be best conducted. The reply led to the sanction of the Secretary-at-War for the further exploration of the cavern by means of the labour of the military prisoners, under the able superintendence of Capt. Brome ; and, to pass over minor incidents well known to Your Ex- cellency, the objects discovered were forwarded to us in London for identification and scientific examination. Having devoted several months to the study of the cave-col- lections successively transmitted to us, which were so carefully classified, by means of distinctive marks, by Capt. Brome, the Governor of the Military Prison, as to place the main facts clearly: before us, we were so strongly impressed with their importance that we determined, on Your Excelleney's invitation, to visit Gibraltar and examine the general condition of the cave on the spot; for the discoveries in the Windmill Hill cave have not only yielded unexpected results regarding the former state and the ancient animal population of the rock itself, but they further point to a land connexion between the southern part of the Iberian penin- sula and the African continent at no very remote geological epoch. Capt. Brome's Report, dated 21st August, 1863, with the plan and section which accompany it, so clearly explains the nature of the Windmill Hill cave, that it is unnecessary for us to enter on the present occasion into any detailed description of it. The rock abounds in , which are of two classes. 1st. Seaboard caves at various heights above the level of the sea and horizontally excavated in the ancient cliffs by the waves. 2nd. Inland caves descending from the surface and in connexion with great vertical fissures by which the mass of the rock has been rent at remote epochs during disturbances caused by violent acts of upheavement, like the well- known cavern of St. Michael. The " Genista" cave of Windmill Hill belongs to the second class ; it forms part of a great perpendi- cular fissure, which, by the vigorous measures adopted by Capt. Downloaded from http://jgslegacy.lyellcollection.org/ at Monash University on July 3, 2016

1865.] RVSX A~1) rA~O~m~---~I~LTAR cAvp,s. 365

Brome, has either been excavated or traced downwards to a depth of upwards of 200 feet below the level of the plateau of Windmill Hill. It was full of the fossil remains of quadrupeds and birds, of the former of which some are now wholly extinct, others extinct in Europe and repelled to distant regions of the African continent, others either now living on the rock or in the adjoining Spanish peninsula. The following is a list of the species which we have at present identified :-- Pachydermata. Rhinoceros Etruscus (?). Extinct. Rhinoceros leptorhinus (syn. R. megarhinus). Extinct, abundant. Equus. Young animals only, species undetermined. Sus priscus (?). Extinct. Sns scrofa. Living. Ruminants. Cervus elaphus, vat. barbarus. Fossil remains abundant. Cervus dama, or a nearly allied form. Abundant. Bos. A large form, equalling the in size, remains few and imperfect, species undetermined. Bos taurus. Abundant in the upper chamber. Capra hircus (?). In the upper chamber. Capra 2]~goceros, form A.; Capra ~goceros, form B. Two forms of/bex, probably extinct but in vast abundance throughout the fissure. Rodents. Lepus timidus. Rare. Lepus cunieulns. Very abundant at all depths. Mus rattus. Garnivora. Felis leopardus. Felis pardina. FelLs serval. Hyaena brunnea. Now repelled in the living state to Southern Africa. Canis vulpes. Ursus, sp. ~'ot the Cave Bear, form undetermined. Dell~hinidce. Phocsena eommunis. JBirds. Remains numerous, genera and species undetermined. Tortoise. Rare, species undetermined. F/sh. Remains numerous in the upper chamber. Apart from the still immature state of the investigations, it would be quite beyond the limits within which we are restricted in this communication for us to enter in detail upon the conclusions to which the data furnished by the fossil remains lead ; we shall there- fore confine ourselves to a few of the more important general points. The rock is now bared of natural forest-trees, and destitute of wild animals, with the exception of the hare, rabbit, fox, badger, and a few magot monkeys, the last in all probability the descendants vor XXL--rA~T. I. 2 C Downloaded from http://jgslegacy.lyellcollection.org/ at Monash University on July 3, 2016

366 Pnoc~I~as oF rue (~EoLo(~ICXL socI•'rY. [March 8,

of introduced animals. The fossil remains of the "Genista" cave establish be3.ond question that the rock was formerly either peopled by, or the occasional resort of, large quadrupeds like the elephant, rhinoceros, aurochs, deer, ibex, wild horse, boar, &c., which were preyed upon by hyenas, leopards, African lynx, and serval: that the remains were transported by any violent diluvial agency from a distance is opposed to all the evidence of the case. The manner in which they were introduced into the Windmill Hill cave we believe to have been thus :--The surface of the rock and its level in relation to the sea were formerly different from what we now see. The wild animals above enumerated, during a long series of ages, lived and died upon the rock. Their bones lay scattered about the surface, and in the vast majority of instances crumbled into dust, and disappeared under the influence of exposure to the sun and other atmospheric agencies, as constantly happens lmder similar circum- stances at the present day. But a certain proportion of them were strewed in hollows along the lines of natural drainage when heavy rains fell; the latter, for the time converted into torrents, swept the bones, with mud, shells, and other surface-materials, into the fissures that intercepted their course; there the extraneous objects were arrested by the irregularities of the passages, and subsequently soli- dified into a conglomerate mass by long-continued calcareous infil- tration. That elephants frequented the rock is proved by a valuable specimen of the molar tooth of an extinct species, which we have ascertained to be Elephas e~ntiquus, discovered by Mr. Smith, of Hill, in a sea-beach on Europa Point. That the hyenas were dwellers upon the rock is also established by the fact that, in addition to numerous bones, we have discovered a considerable quan- tity of coprolites of Hyce.~a brunnea among the "Genista" cave relics. Some of the species must have peopled the rock in vast numbers. We infer, upon a rough estimate, that we have passed through our hands bones derived from at least two or three hundred individuals of ibex swept into the Windmill Hill fissure; in no instance have we observed fossil bones attributable to one complete skeleton of any one of the larger mammalia. That the rock now so denuded of arboreal vegetation was then partially clothed with trees and shrubs, as the corresponding lime- stone mountains on the opposite side of the straits are at present, is so legitimate an inference as hardly to be open to rational doubt. It is now a pinch to find sufficient food at the end of the hot season for the flocks of goats which are reared on the promontory ; while it is a matter of absolute difficulty to find fodder at all for the few cows that are kept by some of the officers of the garrison. When elephanth, rhinoceros, wild oxen, horse, boar, deer, &c., &e. either peopled or resorted to the rock in considerable numbers there must have been abundant trees and more or less constant green food for them. Bare exposed masses of rock get intensely heated by a southern sun, they repel moisture by being thus heated, and raise the mean temperature of the locality by radiation; while, on the contrary, a clothing of trees and of fruticose vegetation both Downloaded from http://jgslegacy.lyellcollection.org/ at Monash University on July 3, 2016

1865.1] nvsK .~'D ~X~COX~---aI~a.~TXR e.~VES. 367 tempers the heat, attracts moisture, and greatly increases the fall of rain. We are aware that Your Excellency's attention has been directed to planting-operations on the " rock." :Numerous and re- peated failures must be looked for at the commencement; but the facts above mentioned would indicate that success may ultimately be attained, with much benefit to the station. The next prominent point in the case is the character of the extinct fauna of Gibraltar regarded ~ a group. Of the prewfiling fossil forms which occur in :England, , and , as far south as the northern slope of the Pyrenees and the shores of the Mediterranean, such as the Mammoth, llhinoceros tlchoH~s, Urs~ls spela~ts, Hy(eJ~a .~l~elcea, &c., not a vestige has been detected among the fbssil remains of Gibraltar. In the latter the Carnivora are the most significant. The three species of Fells are of African affinities ; and Hyena brtlnnea, now for the first time ascertained to have existed formerly in :Europe, is at the present day chiefly found near the Cape of Good Hope and Natal. That any of these wild animals could have crossed the straits fl-om Barbary to :Europe is contrary to all probability. The ob~ious inferenec is that there was a connexion by land, either circuitous or direct, between the two continents, at no very remote period, somewhere within the Medi- terranean area. To arrive at any further evidence bearing upon this very important question, from the rock of Gibraltar, becomes an object of the highest general and scientific interest. Human remains were found in great abundance in the upper chambers. They appear to have belonged to between thirty and forty individuals. They were accompalfied by stone implements of the polished-stone period, broken qucrns, a large quantity of pottery, marine shells of edible species, and some other objects enumerated in Capt. Brome's Report. No way of access from the surface by which these m~terials could have been introduced has been dis- covered ; but, on carefully examining the ground, we believe, with Capt. Brome, that the entrance was somewhere under the southern half of the east wall of the prison-enclosure. Until the aperture from the surface is discovered, no certain conclusion can be arrived at. Considering the time and labour which have been expended on the cavern, it would be a subjcct of great regret if the exploration were left incomplete on this iniportant point. We would therefore venture strongly to recommend that the excavations be continued through the ground over which the east waU runs, until the ex~rnal aperture is detected. We believe that it will be fbund in the fissure outside the east wall, which Capt. Brome has so sagaciously and per- severingly explored. The human bones are of high interest in consequence of cer- t~dn peculiar characters which many of them present. They appear to belong to widely different epochs, although none of them perhaps of very high antiquity (i. e. before the historical period). That the upper chambers of the cave were ever inhabited by savage man we consider to be highly improbable. It seems more likely that they were used as places of deposit for the dead. 2c2 Downloaded from http://jgslegacy.lyellcollection.org/ at Monash University on July 3, 2016

368 PROCEEDIN{}S OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [March8,

As regards the final disposal of the interesting and important relics discovered in the "Genista" cave, a complete series ought to be de- posited in London, either in the British Museum or in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons. But we consider it to be of still higher importance that a collection should be retained for Gibraltar. In the progress of the vast defensive works which have been carried on during the past century, in scarping and tunnelling the rock, objects of high interest, relating either to its natural history or archaeology, have been brought to light; but in the great majority of eases they have either been disregarded or lost. Instances might be cited from Col. James's ' History of the Herculean Straits,' 1771, and from Major Imrie's ' Memoir on the Mineralogy of the Rock,' in 1797. In 1844 a landable effort was made by the late Arch- deacon Burrow to establish a museum on the rock ; but, after languishing some time, it failed from the want of proper support. The relics of the collection were afterwards exhibited in the Soldiers' Home; but when that institution was given up, no place remained either for displaying or taking proper care of the collection. Some of the brightest records of the military glory and prowess of our country are indissolubly connected with Gibraltar. A great nation like England cannot afford to neglect, or disregard without reproach, whatever bears on the natural history or archaeology of so renowned a possession. That the naval and military services take the liveliest interest in such objects is placed beyond doubt by the United Ser- vice Museum of London, founded upon collections contributed by them from all parts of the world ; but it appears to us that the formation and maintenance of a local museum at Gibraltar, illus- trative of its products and relics, ought not to fall upon the garrison, who are only temporary residents, and that it is more properly an imperial obligation. The least expensive and best mode of carrying the object into effect would probably be to have a room in the Library reserved for the purpose, and under the management of the Library Committee. The only outlay would be in the construction of the apartment and in the glass eases for the objects ; no establish- ment would be required. In case of any proposal of this nature being entertained, we would venture to suggest to Your Excellency that the collection should be strictly limited to objects of local interest, having reference to the rock, the bay, the straits, and the immediate vicinity. Every- thing from beyond these limits should be excluded. • museum of reference of this nature should include :-- 1. Herbarium collection of the plants yielded by the rock. 2. A zoological collection of all objects, terrestrial and marine, produced within the limits. 3. A collection of specimens of minerals of the rock. 4. A complete collection of the fossil remains yielded by the ossi- ferous caves and bone-breccia of Gibraltar. 5. An archaeological collection of coins, pottery, and other antique relics occt.rring within the circuit of the bay. Downloaded from http://jgslegacy.lyellcollection.org/ at Monash University on July 3, 2016

1865.J rvsx AND r~r.CO~Cra--~IB~ArTAR C,tVrS. 369

In illustration of the absolute need there is of a local collec- t-ion of the kind here indicated, we may mention that, being anxious to fix the age of the pottery yielded in such abundance by the Windmill Hill cave, no similar materials for comparison derived from the ancient ruins of Carteia, or from points in the Mediter- ranean resorted to by the Phoenicians, were to be found in the British Museum. The proof of the antiquity of the human race is one of the leading questions that occupy the attention of educated and scientific men at the present day. That human remains and other objects bearing upon it are considered of high value is suffi- ciently proved by the fact that a grant of s was passed for the purchase of a collection of this kind from the valley of the Vdzbre, in the south of France, during the last Session of Parliament, for the British Museum. One of the human skulls yielded by the rock many years since appears to us to point to a time of very high an- tiquity. In fact it is the most remarkable and perfect example of its kind now extant. In the absence of a properly organized mu- seum no record exists of the precise circumstances under which this interesting relic was found, and that it has been preserved at all may be considered a happy accident; it has cost us much labour, and with but partial success, to endeavour to trace its history on the spot where it turned up. Our ts has been so fully occupied by the examination of the cave collections and collateral subjects that we have only been able to make a cursory examination of the geology of the rock. We entirely agree with the opinions expressed in the excellent memoir of Mr. James Smith, of Jordan Hill, that it bears unmistakeable evidence of having undergone extraordinary disturbance, both of upheaval and depression, during the Quaternary or immediately pre- modern period; but the data are complex, and in some instances obscure. ~ow that a complete topographical survey of the rock has been completed on a large scale, a geological survey would be a matter of comparative ease ; and we would submit to Your Excel- lency'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 much time. We cannot bring this letter to a close without expressing our opinion of the value and importance of Capt. Brome's exploration of the Windmill Hill cavern, under the support and enlightened coun- tenance and encouragement which we are well aware he has uni- formly received from Your :Excellency during the progress of his operations, and which have led in a great measure to their successful issue. The only account of the mineralogy of Gibraltar that has been published is in the excellent "Brief Description" by Major Imrie, of the Royal 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 Gibraltar; but the fossil mammalian remains of the bone-breccia Downloaded from http://jgslegacy.lyellcollection.org/ at Monash University on July 3, 2016

370 PROCEEDI~'68 OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [March S, were only very cursorily noticed by both authors. In the latter half of the last century they attracted the attention of William and John~ in papers which are to be found in the' Rob'al Trans- actions,' but without an attempt at precise identification. Cuvier, in his great work the ' Ossemens Fossils' in 1823, gave a special chapter on the ossiferous breccias, and devoted much attention to those of the Mediterranean. From the materials derived from the rock 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 :-- "Voilh done clans ce petit hombre d'os de Gibraltar que j'ai pu me procurer, au moins une espbce de liSvre et probablemcnt une esp~ce de cerf, dont les parcils ne sont pas connus en Europe. "Que seroit-ce si quelque naturaliste rdsidant sur les lieux pre- noit la peine de recueillir et de ddgager avec soin ceux qui se ddcou- vriroient pendant quelques anndes, eomme je l'ai fait pour les ossemens de nos gypses ? D'ap%s ce que nous allons voir dans les articles suivans, on ne peut douter qu'il n'y fit des rdcoltes abon- dantes et intdressantes." (dip. cir. tome iv. p. 174.) F,om 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 Capt. Brome undertook the exploration of the "Genista" cave ; and the best commentary upon the preceding cita- tion is furnished by the fact that the materials collected by him have enabled us to determine upwards of twenty species of mam- malia, 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 walk of the mammalian palmontology of Gibraltar, Capt. 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 has discriminated and arranged the objects, are worthy of the highest commendation, and more espe- cially so as the subject was new to him. We are inclined to believe that the labour of military prisoners was never better directed in the interest of science. We have to tender our best acknowledgments to Your Excel- lency for the very cordial reception which you have given us, and for the pains you have taken to forward the objects of our ~-isit in every respect. We beg leave also, ttLrough Your Excellency, to offer our thanks to the military, naval, and civil departments of the service for their hearty cooperation. Our thanks are more espe- cially due to Major-General Frome and the officers of the Royal Engineers, and to Capt. Ommanney, It.N., the senior naval officer of the station, who have rendered us ever)." assistance.