24 Address of the President. 



tion of the moss towards the centre of the valley which 

 compelled the remainder to flow into the loch."* In an 

 Irish crannog lately described by Professor Harkness : — 

 " Drumkeery Crannog," writes the Professor, " was certainly 

 not formed by first raising the surface above the water level. 

 There is evidence of the rising of the level of Drumkeery 

 lake 5^ feet since man left records of his existence on its 

 banks. The elevation of the water, it might be assumed, has 

 been brought about by earthquake influences, but there is no 

 necessity to have recourse to mere conjecture in this matter. 

 On the east and west sides of Drumkeery lake extensive 

 peaty tracts occur. These peaty tracts have invaded the 

 margins of the lake, reduced its area, and caused its waters 

 gradually to rise in level." (Archaeologia, vol. xxxix., p. 8.) 



We did not sufficiently examine the outfall of the Barean 

 loch at Clonyards to ascertain if it could have been closed 

 up naturally and so have allowed the water to accumulate. 

 But at Sanquhar loch the builders of the crannog there 

 either lowered the water by the outfall we made use of or 

 the loch then was not nearly so deep as when we examined 

 it, and the peat gradually forming both stopped the outfall 

 and encroached upon the bounds of water. The latter is the 

 most probable ; an opening or well upon the west communi- 

 cated with the loch, and upon that side the peat or moss 

 rested upon water. The regular pile of building could not 

 have been raised as it exists in four or five feet of water. I 

 believe that in all those instances where the structures are 

 now submerged that it arises from this cause, and although 

 nothing may appear upon the margins of a loch to awaken 

 curiosity we should not be satisfied until we have examined 

 the bottom some distance from its shores. 



With these observations I would close this address, re- 

 commending our members to continue their researches 

 among the many lochs of their district. The subject has 

 the advantage of being there almost quite untouched, and 

 .will most amply repay investigation. 



^* Rep. B. Ab3. Newcastle, p. 143. 



