294 description of the plate. Ap}~il %^, 



Ofsian, I took notice of it as a singularity pretty re- 

 markable, that two or more of these structures were 

 usually near to each other, and also that they were 

 in general placed very near to s«me water. It is im- 

 pofsible for me to form any conjecture concernin g the 

 reason of this proximity of these temples ; but that 

 it is often to be obicrved cannot be denied ; and this 

 circumstance, with the others, seem to point out these 

 descriptions of Ofsian, as peculiarly appropriated to 

 the structures of this sort that are still preserved. 



It deserves here also to be noted, that from an ac- 

 curate examination of the different structures of thi3 

 dafs that still remain, it appears that they have not 

 all been divided exactly iu tlic same manner within, 

 in lefser particulars, though the general plan is much 

 the same. Those that are of large dimensions seem 

 all to have had stairs, and most of them galleries 

 within the thicknefs of the wall \ and wherever these 

 are found, the whole of the openings are tov/ards the 

 inclosed circular area, and none of them outward ; 

 but the form of the internal cavities, the number, 

 the size, and the disposition of these openings, differ 

 in different places. It seems from hence probable, 

 that the superintending priests or architects, at the 

 time of their erection, ordered these lefser matters 

 as best suited their own fancy. 



A few observations on another kind of dh lines will 

 he given in a subsequent number. 



A DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATE. 

 Fkw countries pofsefs a greater diversity of pictu- 

 resque scenery than Scotland 5 and few parts of Scot-. 



