Kirkdale Cave

Kirkdale Cave, in the vale of Pickering, Yorkshire, 28 miles W. of Scarborough, is famous for the numerous remains of Tertiary mammals which have been found in it. It was discovered in 1821, in the cutting back of an oolitic limestone rock in which it is situated. It was examined by Buckland, and fully described by him in his Reliquiae Diluviane. Its greatest length is 245 feet, and its height is so inconsiderable that there are only two or three places where a man can stand erect. The fossil bones are contained in a deposit of mud that lies on the floor of the cave: this is covered by stalagmite formed by the water, highly charged with carbonate of lime, dropping from the roof. The remains of the following animals have been discovered: hyæna, tiger, bear, wolf, weasel, elephant, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, horse, ox, deer, hare, rabbit, water-rat, raven, pigeon, lark, and duck.