22 Transactivnti. 



of loose stones — a more pile of .stones, indceil, not signiliuant 

 enough to liave attracted notice, were it not that we find the 

 apex of this stone pointing unmistakably to the Four Standing 

 Stones of Newton on tlie Shore Fields, a third of a mile away. 

 This is the point par excellPAice that seems to me important and 

 most interesting in our research into the meaning of these strange 

 symbols. If we can be sure, and until I hear on undoubtedly 

 authentic word that this slab was only recently so placed, I shall 

 believe in its position. If, I repeat, we can be sure that this was 

 the original position of the slab, we have gained at least one 

 clear step further towards the elucidation of the mystery of these 

 Petroglyphs ; for we have then a proof of their having some 

 bearing on the burial-places and sepulchral customs of the people 

 who erected these standing stones, and poised these sculptured 

 symbols just this way and no other. 



The details of this Laggan Stone are these : There are tliree 

 groups of rings, each with central cup. The group at the apex 

 has 4 rings (diameter of outer ring being 8 inches) and 2 grooves. 

 The middle group has 5 rings, diameter 9 inches. The third 

 group has 4 rings, diameter 8 inches. 



The groups are so arranged that a line bisecting tlie stone from 

 the middle of the lower edge to the apex cuts the centre of the 

 cup in the apex group and touches the east edge of the cup in 

 the lowest group. 



The sides of tlie stone measure, beginning from apex, eastward, 

 2 feet 1 inch, 10 inches, 1 foot 10 inches, 1 foot, and 1 foot 10 

 inches. The spaces between the ring-groups are 8 inches and 3 

 inches respectively. The cups are rather over 1 inch in diameter, 

 and the outer rings are exactly 1 inch across from centre to 

 centre. 



Again continuing our progress, this time seawards, we come at 

 another half mile or neai'ly so, to the huge grave above referred 

 to as the Standing Stones of Neioton : very often called 

 " The Three Standing Stones," for the simple reason that only 

 three points are visible from the distance. 



This sepulchral monument, however, really consists of seven 

 stones visible above ground ; first, a long flattish one, 

 measuring 3 feet 10 inches by 1 foot 5 inches, and very thick, 

 apparently the kist cover. At either end of it a headstone, 

 2 feet 1 inch by 1 foot, and a footstone, 3 feet by 1 foot, and 



