26 Mr. H. C. Collyer on the 
covering stones of all the chambers only just show at the surface, 
as in the case of the dolmens of Kondossec, shown in the photo- 
graphs, and several other groups near. In the case of the dolmen 
of Keriaval, of which two photographs are shown, there is a centre 
gallery with chambers at each side. This dolmen has been en- 
tirely denuded of its covering of earth, as also has the fine dolmen 
of Mane Kerioned, of which I took three photographs. ‘This is 
one of the most picturesque of all. Most of the finest monuments 
have been taken possession of by the French Government, and 
cared for and protected by them. Notices to this effect are put 
on stones near, as will be seen in the photograph of the dolmen 
of Crucuno, which is a purchased one, plates having run short. 
It would be well if our Government took more steps to preserve 
ancient monuments in this country than they do; so much damage 
and destruction is constantly going on that can never be remedied 
afterwards, and priceless memorials of the past are being lost 
for ever. 
Another photograph shows a group of dolmens that have not 
been considered important enough to clear of bushes or take 
possession of, and they stand amongst the gorse in the wilds in 
the condition they all were in a few years ago (the covering 
stone of one shows a rounded boulder of quartzite in the granite). - 
The stone of which the monuments are composed is a fine 
grained grey granite, and all (with two exceptions only) are 
stated to be of the granite of the country. I show a specimen 
or two of granite, and also some pebbles of a jasper, &c., which 
occur on the surface near the menhirs. These show a curious 
weathering, as of partial solution, like half-dissolved crystals 
of sugar. 
The menhirs, or standing stones, next claim our attention. 
Opinions differ greatly as to the original purpose for which they 
were erected, but most authorities consider that they had a 
sepulchral origin—in fact, that they were nothing else than rows 
of gigantic tombstones ; but, with regard to the large isolated 
menhirs, it is probable that they were objects of worship, or 
connected with the worship of the sun; also from the super- 
stitions still prevalent amongst the peasantry they may have 
had a phallic significance. The largest of these now standing 
is about forty feet high, but one which has been thrown down 
and broken measures seventy-eight feet in all, and must have 
stood seventy-two feet above ground. I show a photograph of 
this, and the six feet of the broken stump-end which was in the 
ground is clearly noticeable in the photograph (and still more so 
to the eye) by the difference in weathering. Now this monolith 
was thrown down about 1300 or 1400 years ago, when the 
people were first converted to Christianity, for we are told that 
when Christianity was introduced in the sixth century the 
