24 Transactions. 



competent authorities, are in reality grave-yards), and lastly the 

 grave-stone, with its sculptured cross, the style of which brings 

 it up to a comparatively modern date. 



Another point is the relation and bearings of these ancient 

 structures to the natural features of the ground. It cannot be 

 mere chance that every one of them is quite close to a stream. 

 There is abundance of ground less well watered on either side. 

 The moat at Kirkclaugh is washed by a stream ; the two stand- 

 ing stones at High Auchenlarie stood between two streams, as 

 also the stone circle close at hand ; while on the Laggan Burn, 

 within 400 yards of it, we find the three distinctive remains of 

 Cairn, cup-marked, stone, .and grave. 



In the same way, too, Cairnholy and its numerous other 

 remains are close on the banks of what is now Kirkdale Burn, 

 and the cairn and circles on the north slopes of Cairn Harrow 

 are also near another running stream — the Cauldside Burn. 



Lastly, the measurements of distances both as to large spaces 

 and small seem to me to indicate some system. As I once before 

 pointed out, all the dimensions in detail of the Ihcnndi and Stone 

 Circle at Cauldside are in multiples of 9 and 3 ; and, I think, 

 you will find that the same law holds good with regard to most, if 

 not to all, the dimensions of tlipse other circles, cairns, sculptured 

 stones, and gi'ave at present described. I do not for a moment 

 wish to be misunderstood to the effect that I advocate tlie build- 

 ing of a merely fanciful theory of numbers in connection with 

 this subject, but rather simply to draw attention to the fact that 

 certain numbers do certainly occur in these dimensions with a 

 frequency that cannot be the result of a h;ippy accident. When 

 there is so little systematic or regular in a subject as yet so 

 slightly worked out, I think a reasonable endeavour to place any 

 clue in the hands of those who ai-e much more competent than 

 the present writer to investigate the whole subject of Petroglyphs 

 is our plain duty as observers. There is still a vast deal to be 

 done — to be observed, drawn, described, and properly recorded 

 in our annals ; for as time goes on and steam ploughs become 

 commoner, the very face of the earth undergoes a change which 

 often causes the heart of the Archaeologist to sink within him ; 

 and, once lost, the very sites of such a colony as I have attempted 

 to picture to-night, fade away into the past and are forgotten, 



