44 Transactions. 
mechanism and the principle on which it was constructed. Mr 
Rutherford exhibited two photographs of the supposed cup- 
markings on the two largest 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 Holywood. 
By J. Gitcurist, 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 interesting 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. They 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 are 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 
