Transactions. 53 



a Photograph of the Shark exhibited by Mr Hastings at the 

 November meeting ; Tokens of Kirkmahoe Parish from Mr W. G. 

 Gibson ; a Wasp's Nest from Mr- Hume of Cherrytrees. Mr J. 

 W. Dods presented a Eoman Coin found in Egypt by one of the 

 soldiers during the recent campaign. 



Communications. 

 I. The Kirkmadrine Crosses. By Mr Ja^mes G. H. Starke, 

 M.A., F.S.A., of Troqueer Holm. 

 The Kirkmadrine Crosses have never been the subject of a 

 paper before this Society, and as I went to sec them last summer 

 it occurred to me that you might be glad to have an account of 

 their history, characteristics, and present condition. They were 

 first brought to public notice in 1872 by a paper read before the 

 Scottish Society of Antiquaries in Edinbui'gh by Dr Mitchell, who 

 had accidentally discovered and examined them with the skill of a 

 scientist some years previously. They are the oldest and only 

 monuments of their kind in Scotland with the exception of one 

 other, also situated in Wigtownshu-e, near to AVhithorn. But 

 they ai-e fast going to destruction, and one of my objects this 

 evening is to awaken the interest which has too long slumbered 

 regarding them, in order that something may be done for their 

 better jjreservation in future. 



There are hundreds of monoliths with crosses incised upon 

 them scattered throughout Great Britain, but only about half-a- 

 dozen similar to those at Kirkmadxine, in having the sacred 

 monogram of Christ upon them, and in peculiar characteristics 

 which enable us to determine their date as being not later than the 

 7th century. The Rhind Lectures, deKvered by Dr Anderson in 

 1879-80, and by Mr Romilly Allen in 1885 (since published) 

 satisfy the mind of the most exacting student that these Kirk- 

 madrine Crosses, as they are called, belong to a very early date 

 after the introduction of Christianity into Scotland, not later, they 

 believe, than the 7th century. They are probably older than the 

 Euthwell Cross, which, with its beautiful ornamentation and poetic 

 lines from Caedmou, speak of an advanced art and literature 

 derived from the teaching of Paulinus in Northumberland A.D. 625, 

 while these Kirkmadrine crosses display a simpler and earlier style, 

 derived from Rome through Gaul by St. Ninian and his followers. 

 I may here mention that Kirkmadrine was one of several small 

 parishes long ago merged in the modern parish of Stoneykirk, the 



