TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 155 



were used by successive races or generations, it was shown, from the position of 

 certaui hieroglyphic figures of an ancient type on some members of the circles in 

 Aberdeenshire, that they must have been overthrown, and reerected in their present 

 form of megalithic circles. 



The argmnents in favour of the religious obj ect in the gi-eat megalithic circles 

 were included imder the following seven heads : — 



I. They were not places of sepulture, but fanes, temples for heathen worship ; 

 for no sepulchral deposits which could rationally be connected with the origin of 

 these monvmients, had been found within these circles. 



II. Not being sepulchral, a religious object may be inferred from the position of 

 the principal group of monoliths being relative to a particular point of the 

 compass. 



III. A pecidiai- type of sculptm-es, which are not sepulchral, found on members of 

 these circles. 



IV. The vast size of some of the circles and of the masses of stone of which they 

 are formed. 



V. Having stone avenues, causeways, or other permanent approaches. 



VI. Being selected as places for worship by early Christians ; and being often 

 called churches, both in Gaelic and in the lowland Scotch dialect, although no 

 Christian church ever occupied their sites. 



VII. In India, stone circles and other megalithic monuments were anciently, and 

 71010 are commonly erected as places of worship. This was emphatically asserted, 

 on personal observation and the best authority, not as a doubtful argument, but as 

 an undeniable fact, and that the practice existed not in one only, but in many 

 districts, some of which were mentioned, as well as the authorities. 



On Ancient Hlerorjhjphic Sculptures. By Lieut.-Col. Forbes Lesme. 



In this paper it is maintained that the hieroglyphics found graven on earth-fast 

 rocks, boulders, and rude monoliths in Scotland, are symbols of religious ideas ; 

 the argument being confined to such ligm-es as are graven in mde monoliths where 

 no Christian symbol appears. 



These hieroglj^hics are referred to two distinct types, the most ancient of 

 which appear to have been the works of a race that was superseded by the Celtic, 

 to whom the later type of sculptures may confidently be assigned. 



The ancient typo is found iu many parts of England and Ireland as well as in 

 Scotland, which would lead to the conclusion that a homogeneous people occupied 

 the three countries. This type of figures is found profusely scattered on rocks 

 where sepulture was impossible, and no connexion with any sepulchral remains has 

 been traced. 



The second type of sculptures, although certainly of heathen origin, is evidently 

 of a later age. Many of them have been discovered, none, however, beyond the 

 limits of those districts of Scotland which were occupied by the Celtic tribe of 

 Picts. 



In this paper the author, whilst maintaining the religious origin of the figures 

 graven on rude monoliths, combats the theory which would assign their origin to 

 a species of Pictish heraldry, and their use to have been as personal ornaments. 



The Origin of the Moral Sense. By the Eev. J. M'Cann, B.B. 



Is the Stone Age of LyeU and Luhhoclc as yet at all proven ? 

 By W. D. MicKELL. 



On Bones and Flints found in the Caves at Mentone and in the adjacent 

 Railway Qutting. By M. Moggridge. 

 The caves of the red rocks, half a mile east of Mentone, are in lofty rocks of 

 Jurassic limestone on the shore of the Mediterranean, and at an average height 



