■44 I'raiisactioHn. 



mechanism and the principle on which it was constructed. Mr 

 Rutherford exhibited two photographs of the supposed cup- 

 markings on the two hirgest stones in the Holywood circle. Mr 

 M. J. Stewart, M.P., sent for exhibition a dozen specimens of the 

 natural grasses grown on his farm at Southwick. Two specimens 

 of the common clover measured thirty-eight inches in length, and 

 the common meadow grass over four feet, while the tall fescue 

 grass — J*', elatior — extended to the length of six and a half feet. 



Communications. 



I. Notes on the Druidical Circle at llolyivood. 

 By J. Gilchrist, M.D., President. 

 Having been in the vicinity of Inverness for a few days during 

 summer, I had an excellent opportunity of examining those so- 

 called cup-markings, which are specially well-known in that 

 district. Recently I revisited the Holywood circle along with 

 three gentlemen, two from Inverness — Dr Aitken, medical 

 superintendent, and Mr Ross, architect — both familiar with 

 these intei'esting relics of a people unknown, dwellers in a pre- 

 historic age. Dr Grant-Bey, from Cairo, was also with us. The 

 object of the visit was, if possible, to determine whether the so- 

 called cup-markings on the Holywood stones were natural or 

 artificial. Tliey are found on two of the eleven stones still 

 standing — viz., the one next the entrance gate from the west, and 

 the fifth from the gate looking east. A careful examination of 

 all the stones was made, but especially of the two latter, when it 

 was concluded that the markings in both were natural. "With 

 this judgment I am disposed to agree as regards the fifth from 

 the gate ; but I am more dubious with regard to the first, and 

 would rather leave it to be settled by one having authority. I 

 believe Dr Dickson, late of Dumfries, and one of the founders of 

 this Society, was the first to notice these markings, and read a 

 paper on them a few years ago. They were visited by the late 

 Professor Simpson, and quite recently by the Rev. Mr Lukis, the 

 latter in the interest of the London Antiquarian Society. I may 

 add that I re-examined the stones geologically. They ai-e all 

 Silurian — that is, the rock which constitutes the hilly ridge on 

 each side of the Nith valley — except one ; that one is a so- 

 called porphyry. Again, of the whole number, including the 

 porphyry, four are boulders — that is, masses which have been 



