xlv 



four to six feet, over which are found more or less stones, clay, and 

 gravel. In some cases, where the foundation is very soft, as in 

 island No. 2 of Drumaleague Lake, of which a section is given 

 in drawing 2, fig. 2, the layers of timber are very deep. In other 

 cases, where the ground is naturally firm, as in island No. 1 in the 

 same lake, the platform of timber is confined to a portion of the 

 island. See the plan of this island in drawing 2, fig. 1. 



" 5th. In almost every case a collection of fiat stones has been 

 found near the centre of the inclosure, having marks of fire on them, 

 and apparently having served as a hearth. In the island No. 2 of 

 Drumaleague Lake there were three of these hearths found in dif- 

 ferent parts of the inclosure. 



" 6th. Considerable quantities of bones are generally found 

 upon or around the island, being apparently those of deer, black 

 cattle, and hogs ; the skulls of the cows being long and narrow, 

 with very short horns. 



" 7th. In almost every case one or more pairs of quern stones 

 have been found within the inclosure. 



" 8th. In many cases pieces of oak-framing have been found, 

 with mortices and cheeks cut in them. Some of these, such as 

 what were found on island No. 2 of Drumaleague (see drawing 3, 

 fig. 3), appear to have been portions of an ordinary door-frame ; 

 but others, such as those found on the island in Lough Scur and 

 in Loughtown Lake (see drawing 3, figs. 1 and 2), are portions of 

 a heavy frame, the use of which does not appear so evident. 



" These structures were generally covered with water, and only 

 discovered when the surface of the lake in which they lie was 

 lowered in the course of the operations connected with the drainage 

 of the adjacent land. In some cases a small portion of the centre 

 of the island was visible when the lake happened to be at its low 

 summer level, but seldom attracted any particular attention, being 

 looked upon as merely the top of a shoal. The surfaces of many 

 of these inclosures, however, were found to be two or three feet 

 below the summer level of the water ; and one of those in Druma- 

 league Lake was Jive feet under water. 



" The streams which form the outlets from many of these lakes 

 run through strata of alluvial deposit and peat, in which great 

 quantities of timber are to be found ; and the inference appears to 

 be natural, that the level of the lake has risen subsequently to the 

 formation of the islands^ and very probably in consequence of the 



