152 



this place are illustrated by a drawing in Dr. MacCulloch's work 

 (pi. xxiv., fig. 3). 



THE TORMORE CIRCLES. The stone circles at Tormore, N.E. of 

 King's Hill, are the most complete in Arran; eight circles can be 

 traced, each consisting of from four to fourteen stones, which 

 measure from three to eight feet, and are six to eleven in circum- 

 ference; the circles have diameters varying from fifteen to thirty 

 feet. One of the stones has a perforation evidently artificial. The 

 stones are of the same kind of rock as the Brodick pillar. (See the 

 remarks in Art. 62). Various conjectures have been framed regard- 

 ing the origin and use of these circles ; some consider them as places 

 of druidical worship; others as sepulchral monuments. The question 

 is fully discussed in Wilson's Archaeology, as also the probable 

 origin of the single upright stones. Mr. M' Arthur, who has 

 recently examined these remains in Arran, with great care adopts 

 the latter view, which he supports by the following consider- 

 ations : First, their occasionally enclosing a cromlech, undoubtedly 

 sepulchral; second, the discovery of urns, with bones and ashes 

 near them; and third, their cairn-like construction. He contends 

 that their resemblance to the enclosed British barrow is complete 

 (paper quoted above). Stone coffins with bones, and hollowed 

 stones, are also found; of the purpose of these there can be no 

 doubt. Sepulchral tumuli exist in many places, as at Black- Water- 

 foot and in Glen Cloy. 



LEAOA-BREAC. A walk in the late afternoon from Black-Water- 

 foot across Leac-a-breac to Lag, a secluded delightful spot, forms a 

 pleasant close to the excursion to King's Cove. Leac-a-breac is a 

 high hill with steep seaward front and long inland extension. It is 

 composed of felspar porphyry the largest mass in the island. The 

 rock is well adapted for ornamental purposes. Sandstones and shales 

 emerge from under Leac-a-breac eastwards, and occupy the shore to 

 Benan-head, traversed by vast numbers of dikes, a group of which is 

 noted along the coast as forming the small safe port of South-end. 



SLAODRIDH WATER shows in its lower part, at and north of the 

 road, a great outburst of felspar porphyry in the bed and banks. It 

 is similar to the porphyry of Leac-a-breac, but apparently uncon- 

 nected with it. This rock, with syenite, greenstone, and claystone, 

 forms much of the hill-sides on the east of the river. The bed 

 and banks are occupied by shales and sandstones, among which a 

 careful search would, no doubt, be rewarded with the discovery of 

 many fossils. A walk from Lag, along this hill-side to Lamlash, 

 forms a pleasant and instructive excursion. 



