^2 Transactions. 



place in the old Churcliyard, where, in the course of time, its fine 

 incised work will become gradually but assuredly undecipherable. 

 The stone is a rudely trimmed rectangular block of porphyry (]), 

 standing 2 feet 10^ inches above ground, and measuring 8| inches 

 at the base, and 8, 6, and 3| inches at the top. The design is 

 remarkably fine, having a bird, Celtic cross, pattee, and two 

 panels of Celtic ornament below — this side now faces the west ; a 

 very vague and much spoilt design is on the east side ; while that 

 facing south bears a design having resemblance to a female 

 figure, and the north face is unsculptured. The edge of the north- 

 east side seems to bear some ornament also, but much disfigured 

 through exposure. Taken altogether, this small but beautifully- 

 carved monolith is certainly one of our most precious relics of the 

 Celtic sculptured stones, if, indeed, it be not absolutely unique ; 

 and it is worthy of a much safer abode than the open and damp 

 precincts of the little kirkyard where it happens at jiresent to be 

 deposited. 



4th Group — Holed Stones. 



1. Of this type, I have as yet been able to note but one. Its 

 site is interesting, far away among the hills beyond Loch Urr, 

 and close to a remarkable structure called Lochrinnie Mote. The 

 stone occupies the crown of a somewhat pyramidal hill about 300 

 yards west of the Mote, and much higher. It is a thin, broad 

 slab of hard blue whinstone, and stands 3 feet 2 inches above 

 ground, 2 feet 6 inches wide and 6 inches thick. It is placed 

 not precisely east and west (breadthways), but so as to allow the 

 hole to be exactly north and south, the hole having been drilled 

 rather obliquely. The hole is about four inches in diameter, and 

 has been, to judge only from its present mutilated condition, 

 nearly circular. Around The Holed Stone, and at radii difiiering 

 from 45 to 120 feet, are several stones, some fairly prominent 

 others prostrate. These are 10 in number, and between the two 

 on the north-west arc is a small heap of stones. The circum- 

 ference is 585 feet. 



In Lands and their Owners, Mr M'Kerlie mentions two 

 standing stones south-east of Lochrutton Kirk ; but, after 

 personal examination of the probable locality and due inquiries 

 from persons likely to know, I have not been able to obtain any 

 information about these. The Ordnance Map 6-inch scale also 

 shows a Machermore Stone in Kirkmabreck on the bank of the 



