Druidism in connection with Wiltshire. 149 
anterior sepals. In this case only the two lateral petals remained 
absent. The botanical student will now see that the tubular nectaries 
of Hellebore are real petals, and that the outer envelope of this flower, 
as well as the simple and beautifully coloured one of Anemone, 
Caltha, &c. is a real calyx, additional proofs of which lie in the facts 
that Helleborus niger, which possesses the tubular petals, has its calyx 
as much and as delicately coloured as the Anemone nemorosa, and 
that in Ranunculus awricomus the real petals are, in cold backward 
seasons, sometimes entirely wanting; the calyx being dilated and 
more coloured than usual, so as to supply their place. Ifsuch a flower 
of the R. auricomus be compared with that of Anemone ranunculoides, 
their true relation will be evident, and the propriety of considering 
the beautifully yellow coloured floral envelope of the datter as a true 
calyx, cannot fail to be recognized. 
DArwmdism in connection with Wiltshire. 
By the Rzy. Jonn Locxart Ross, M.A., Oxon, 
Vicar of Avebury and Monkton. 
CHAPTER I. 
Pyramipa Stones AND CIRCLES, THE EMBLEMS OF THE PATRIARCHAL 
RELIGION. 
‘* Nobilis est lapidum structura.”’ 
¥ “ROM the earliest ages it has been the custom of mankind to 
3 pay divine worship to the Supreme Being, the first intima- 
tion of which is given in the book of Genesis,! where we are 
informed that “Then began men to call on the name of the Lord.” 
After the calling of Abraham and Jehovah had appeared to him, 
it is related, that “he builded an altar (near Bethel in Canaan) 
unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord.’ 
“These altars,” says Dr. Stukeley, ‘‘were the Patriarchal temples 
like those of our Druids, the places of public worship; and invoking 
in the name of Jehovah is a form of speech importing public wor- 
ship on Sabbath days, equivalent to our saying—to go to Church 
1 Gen. iv. 26, 2 Gen, xii. 8. 
