Address of the Vice-President. 17 



galithic Circle with its avenue still standing. See Proceed- 

 ings of the Society of Antiquaries, vol. 6, Appendix p. 20. 



The Holywood circle is a good example within easy reach 

 of the Society, and the name, the neighbourhood, and tradi- 

 tion all concur in assigning to the place, in ancient times, an 

 extensive grove — which Avas a favourite locality for Druidic 

 rites. 



Eleven massive stones still remain, and the circle formed 

 is about 80 feet in diameter. 



In a very elaborate paper by Professor Simpson on an- 

 cient sculpturing on stones, the author says — At one side of 

 the circle and somewhat within the circuit of it, 3 or 4 

 stones appear to me the prostrated remains of a cromlech and 

 its supoorts. The cap stone has running across its back 4 

 oblique rows of cup-like excavations, some of them round 

 and others irregularly elongated in form. One of the fallen 

 props is similarly marked. It would be important to note 

 accurately if the various strings of cups correspond in any 

 degree with natural lines in the stones. See Proceedings of 

 the Society of Antiquaries, vol. 6, Appendix p. 24. 



By far the most magnificent megalthe circle in the North 

 of England, says Professor Simpson, is that of Salkeld in 

 Cumberland. It is formed of 67 stones, some of them of 

 very great size. 



in excavating in the interior of a .stone circle in the 

 island of Arran, a flat stone was found measuring 4 feet 2 

 inches by 3 feet 9 inches ; and on removing the stone a cist 

 was disclosed containing four flint arrow heads, and an urn, 

 in which was a handful of black earth, apparently the only 

 remains of the personage there deposited. In the interior of 

 another circle in the same locality, another stone cist was 

 found ; and at a distance of about 3 feet off from this was 

 another stone cist, containing a human skull and some long 

 bones, with two flint arrow heads. 



It thus appears that the stone cirles were used, among 

 other purposes, as places of sepulture. See Proceedings of 

 the Society of Antiquaries, vol. 4, page -506 sey. 



