1872.] The Amorpholithic Monuments of Brittany. 439 
that the most suitable stones of the more ancient lines were 
often taken to construct the neighbouring cromlechs. In 
opposition to this we cannot help admitting that there seems 
to be some analogy between the narrow entrance gallery 
leading to the chamber, sometimes circular, of the dolmen- 
mounds, and the narrow avenue, which widens as the circle 
is neared. 
The French savans appear to have confined their labours 
to the contents of the interiors of the dolmens, and, with 
the exception of a few vague speculations, have altogether 
neglected to examine thoroughly the gigantic stone circles 
and avenues, which are amongst the most conspicuous and 
renowned objects in Brittany. The celebrated stone avenues 
of Carnac are a series of alignments in the Commune of 
that name extending from the borders of the Commune of 
Trinité to a spot between Carnac and Plouharnel. It has 
been taken for granted that these alignments were 
continuous; and it is to the careful measurements and 
plans made by two English gentlemen, Sir H. Dryden and 
the Rev. W. Lukis, that we are indebted for their discovery 
that these lines in reality consist of three totally distinét 
groups.* 
These groups are named for convenience after the villages 
or homesteads nearest to them, viz.—(1) Menec; (2) Kervario; 
and (3) Kerlescant. It is not improbable that the names of 
these localities were acquired from the circumstance of the 
stones standing upon them; for, according to Lepelletier’s 
Celto-Breton dictionary, the word Menec signifies a memorial 
or souvenir, and the word Kervarv the place of death. The 
words Carnac and Carnetlloux are similarly identified with 
Celtic words signifying a charnel house or ossuary: so in 
the Cymri we find Carnedd as the Welsh for cairn, tumulus, 
or tomb. 
(1). Commencing with the group nearest Carnac, we find 
a circle of stones, or rather the remains of one, on a slight 
elevation enclosing several of the farm buildings and dwell- 
ings of the village of Menec, after which the group is 
named. This enclosure is somewhat elliptical in plan, its 
largest diameter being g2 yards, and its shortest 80. 
These stones, which are of uncouth form, are of con- 
siderable size and bulk, having an average height and 
breadth of about g feet, whilst they are rather flat and thin. 
The circle forms the south-western limit of a_ series 
* The author was unaware of the existence of Mr. Vicars’s map, since 
re-published by Mr. Fergusson, when the above was written. 
