Occupying the Summit of a Hill at Dunkeld. 47 



tural history, and, more particularly, to geological investiga- 

 tion, has, however, put to flight all these visions, and left us at 

 no loss to distinguish betwixt the appearances produced by 

 the efforts of art and design, and those which have resulted 

 from the ordinary operations of nature. Whatever interest, 

 in a historical view, these phenomena may therefore have lost, 

 they have gained a countervailing one as natural objects ; in 

 many cases illustrating, either in a curious or useful manner, 

 the changes which time is daily but slowly making on the sur- 

 face of the earth. 



In Scotland, as in Cornwall, antiquaries have not been 

 wanting who were ready to attribute some of these remarkable 

 natural appearances to a Druidical origin ; and, among these, 

 may be enumerated the rocking stone in Strathairdle, which has 

 furnished a page to some of the writers of the day. The rock, 

 of which I transmit you a sketch, (See Plate I. Fig. 3,) has also 

 been called a Cromlech, which it resembles in the peculiarity of 

 its position; but I imagine that your readers will have no scruple 

 in admitting it as an example, (and a peculiar one at the same 

 time,) of those transported stones so often found occupying 

 situations so unexpected, as to render an explanation of the 

 course which they have taken a matter of no small difficulty. 



This rock occupies the summit of a hill near Dunkeld, 

 known by the name of Craig-y-barns, (the serrated rock.) 

 Its shape is so irregular that it cannot be described, but the 

 sketch will supersede the necessity of saying any thing on this 

 part of the subject. The same irregularity renders it difficult 

 to form an accurate notion of its weight, but it probahly ex- 

 ceeds fifty tons; a judgment founded on comparing it with 

 other stones of known weights resembling it in shape. The 

 greatest length is twelve feet, and the greatest thickness five ; 

 from which circumstances, with the aid of the accompanying- 

 sketch, a sufficiently accurate notion of its form and dimen- 

 sions may be conveyed. 



From the drawing, it will be seen that the lower flat sur- 

 face is supported on three loose stones ; and, in this circum- 

 stance, consists that resemblance to a Cromlech which has led 

 to the unfounded notion of its Druidical and artificial origin. 

 These loose stones also lie at liherty on a flat and solid sur- 



