poles and spikes were thrust against the soil overhead, the operators being protected by the chalk floors of the adits, and the earth was allowed to fall on the floor of the cave, whence it was removed and minutely examined. Among the earth which fell from above, a small vessel of red Samian ware (evidently almost the last substance that had fallen into the cavity) was dislodged.
   On the removal of the earth, the floor was carefully worked over: it disclosed nothing but a basin-shaped floor in the natural chalk rock. The probable "opening" above has not yet been touched, but a dark oval spot can be seen from within the cave, at the top of the circular decanter-shaped excavation, and the impression of a large square-shaped tool is still observable on the chalk sides. 
   The height of this circular excavation is seventeen feet eight inches, the diameter eleven feet eight inches; the untouched earth, from the top of the excavation within, to the surface of the turf outside, may be of the thickness of about ten feet.
   A few pieces of flint, apparently knives and arrowheads, came to light, but no human bone, nor tool, nor weapon; nor has any coin yet been met with to fix a date. The Samian ware however (potter's mark, V I C) would lead to the conclusion that the cave existed prior to the fifth century: it is slightly broken, and apparently a salt-cellar.
   The unburnt vegetable fibre appearing in some of the fragments of pottery among the blackened shades of the burnt clay, and on other fragments the dull black tint, suggest that these vessels were burnt in "smother kilns," during the existence of the extensive Romano-British pottery-works in Kent and Northamptonshire: all appear to be remnants of articles of domestic use.
   If the date of the formation of the cavern be doubtful, the even circular form, and the violently applied toolmarks, render it certain it was the work of man. Similar