FNTOMOSTRACA NEW TO THE FAUNA OF ORKNEY. 93 



slabs Oil end. We think of the numberless genera- 

 tions that have existed and passed away since 

 that far-off time, while like lone sentinels these 

 monuments have stood through sunshine and storm 

 telling of the insignificance of human life, and the old 

 question imperceptibly forces itself upon the mind— 

 "What is man that Thou art mindful of him, or 

 the son of man that Thou shouldest visit him?" 

 As we turn away, a gleam of encouragement 

 strikes athwart these gloomy reveries with the 

 thought that the good as well as the " evil that men 

 do lives after them," even though their personality 

 be lost in oblivion. 



Whether this and similar circles were formed for 

 religiovis purposes, or for commemorating some great 

 battle, or in honour of some great hero, is only 

 matter of conjecture and seems likely to remain 

 so ; but the stones themselves will continue to 

 be viewed by the ignoi'ant "vvitli superstitious 

 awe, while, to the intelligent and devout mind, 

 thoughts full of interest and instruction will be 

 suggested. Numerous other stones, mostly solitary, 

 are scattered over this part of the mainland, all 

 of which appear to be of equally ancient date ; and 

 possibly many of these single stones may be monu- 

 mental in their significance. 



At the south end of the "Bridge of Brogar," and 

 on both sides of it, were some shallow weedy pools, 

 and a ditch by the side of the road leading down to 

 it that had the appearance of being suitable habitats 

 for Entomostraca. These were the only places I had 

 time to try my tow-net in. On examining the 

 material collected in these places, I found that 

 besides other things there Avere at least ten species 

 of Ostracoda, which are as follows : 



Cypria ophthalmica (Jurine) (= Cupris compressa, 



Baird). 

 „ Icevis (C. F. Miiller) (= Cypt^is ovum, Jurine) 



,, Serena (Koch) (= Cypris Icvi-is, Brady). 



Cypris prasina, Fischer (= Cypris salina, Brady). 



