184 Transnctions. 



henceforth rank not as a mere " camp," but as a Roman station 

 of the first class, intended probably as a defence of the great 

 Southern Wall. Successfully assailed by superior numbers, the 

 legionaries had, perhaps oftener than once, to abandon it, finding 

 it on their return a mass of ruins. Such at least is the tale the 

 excavations seems to tell. How often it was rebuilt by them or, 

 as it may be, by other invading or by native tribes, it may be 

 impossible to say. But a careful study of the various appear- 

 ances it is seen to present will doubtless be made, and the veil 

 that has hitherto shrouded the past may be lifted, at least in part. 

 Greater interest than ever now attaches to Birrenswark. The 

 camps there differ in many respects from Birrens, but from any 

 point of view are worthy a careful examination. In other parts 

 of Dumfriesshire are ancient strongholds to which attention is 

 now naturally drawn. Raeburnfoot, in Eskdale, as described by 

 its discoverer in the " New Statistical Account of Scotland," has 

 not a few of the characteristics of a Roman camp or fort. Nothing, 

 however, it would appear, has been done to satisfy the inquirer 

 as to its real origin. At no great distance from it is Castle O'er, 

 which has been a fort of great strength though less Roman like 

 in form ; and in the north of Middlebie, on Birrens Hill, is a 

 remarkable quadrangular fort that seems to have hitherto almost 

 escaped notice. 



The following is tlie substance of Mr Barbour's statement : 

 Although the exploiatory works are not yet so complete as to 

 admit of all the lines being fully traced, enough has been done to 

 show that the entire area of the interior of the camp was occupied 

 with buildings of various kinds, and the roads about them. The 

 character of the roads and structures and their arrangement are 

 deserving of careful study. The plan displayed is found to be 

 highly symmetrical. It shows a main road extending from the 

 north gateway to the south end of the camp, and one running 

 from the east gateway to the west. Tliese divide the camp into 

 four rectangular spaces, the two at the south end being the 

 smaller, and these spaces again are subdivided by numerous sub- 

 sidiary roads or lanes running parallel with one or other of the 

 main thoroughfares. It has not been ascertained whether the 

 north-to-south road was continuous or if it was blocked north of 

 the crossing by a centra] building — the Pnetorium or the Forum 

 — confirm to the arrangement found to obtain in some other 

 camps. The roadways generally are formed of a thick bed of 



