KAU.i TYPES OF SCULPTURES. 11 



rings generally touch the radial line at both extremities, but sometimes they 

 terminate on each side of it without touching it. The radial groove occasion- 

 ally extends considerably beyond the outer circle, and in most cases it runs in 

 a more or less downward direction on the stone or rock. " Sometimes it runs 

 On and unites into a common line with other ducts or grooves coming from 

 other circles, till thus several series of concentric rings are conjoined into a 

 largei- or smaller cluster united together by the extension of their radial 

 branch-like grooves." This type usually exhibits from three to six rings, 

 the outermost having a diameter of from ten to sixteen inches. But the 

 author measured one specimen at Auchnabreach, Argyleshire, Scotland, 

 three feet in diameter and composed of eight circles. 



Fifth type. — Ciy^s surrounded by concentric rings and flexed lines. — "llio 

 number of inclosing or concentric rings is generally fewer in this typo 

 than in the two last preceding types, and seldom exceeds two or three in 

 number." 



Sixth type. — Concentric rings without a central cup. — In a compara- 

 tively limited number of cases the concentric rings of the types already 

 described appear without a central cup or depression, which is, however, 

 most frequently wanting in the complete concentric circles of the third type. 

 Seventh type. — Concentric circular lines of the form of a spiral or 

 volute. — The central beginning of the spiral line is usually, but not always, 

 marked by a cup-like excavation. "The volute or spiral is, perhaps, the 

 rarest of the forms of circular ring-cuttings in Great Britain ; but this typo 

 seems common on the incised stones of Ireland and Brittany." 



It often occurs that two, three, or more of these various types are found 

 on the same stone or rock, a fact proving, to use Professor Simpson's lan- 

 guage, "that they are intimately allied to each other, belong to the same 

 archaic school of art, and have a community of character and origin." 



In Plate II of his work Professor Simpson represents what he calls "the 

 chief deviations from the principal types." I reproduce here this plate as 

 Fig. 2 without further comment, drawing only attention to the first four 

 designs, which represent cups connected by grooves. This is a noticeable 

 and frequently occurring feature, as will be seen hereafter. In order to show 

 the co-existence of different types on the same stone surface, and the manner 



