AT HANGMAN'S WOOD, GRAYS. 257
APPENDICES.
I.—Note on the Bones found in the Deneholes in Hangman's
Wood.
By E. T. NEWTON, F.G.S., F.Z.S., of the Geological Survey.
Through the kindness of Mr. Holmes and Mr. Cole I have had
the satisfaction of visiting the deneholes at Hangman's Wood during
the explorations, and of examining not only several of these interest-
ing excavations, but also of seeing many of the places from which
the numerous bones of animals were obtained. In two or three
instances, under the guidance of Mr. Holmes and Mr. Christy, I
went into chambers which had been entirely closed, and saw them
in the condition in which they were when first opened. It was very
curious to find the bones of a number of different animals at the
extreme edge of the pile of sand, which had by degrees fallen down
the shaft until the latter was at length closed. At first it seemed
strange that the bones should be almost always at the outer edge of
this pile, but the reason was soon obvious. The sides of these piles
of sand are very steep, and it would mostly happen that any animal
falling down the shaft would sooner or later slide to the lowest part.
Even if the animal were not killed by the fall, yet, as it became
weaker through want of food, it would become less able to climb the
steep sides of the heap, and would at length lie down to die at the
lowest part. Before the accumulation of the sand-heap any animal
falling down might remain on the floor directly beneath the shaft, or,
if not killed, might get away from the shaft, but would eventually
leave its remains upon the floor in some part of the chambers, to be
at length covered over by the increasing pile of sand. As the sand-
heap increased in size, there would be a tendency for whatever
fell down upon it to slide further and further away from the shaft.
It thus happens that the bones of animals are found chiefly near the
floor, and when the chambers are first opened the bones are to be
found mostly around the edges of the sand-heap.
Among the numerous bones which have been collected by the
explorers I have been able to identify the following : human bones,
with those of horse, ox, sheep, pig, goat, dog, fox, cat, badger,
polecat, weasel, rabbit, hare, indications of one or two birds, and
parts of a toad. The circumstances relating to the finding of the
human bones have been referred to by Mr. Holmes; and as it seems
evident that eighty years ago the skeleton was on or near the surface
P