286 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academij. 



The distance from the centre of this circle to the S.W. angle of the 

 gallauu is 1139 feet 5 inches. This gg-Uaun when viewed from the other 

 objects is not a horizon mark, since it stands on the lower slopes of the small 

 eminence on which is an ordnance bench-mark. 



I. "B." 

 "Kaxnach Ckuim Duibh" of O.S. 

 This large circle, the most important of the objects in Ibis district, pre- 

 sents several very remarkable features, and must be completely described. 

 There is this difficulty concerning it, that it was restored, as Mr. Lynch says, 

 by the Count de Salis and the tenants of the farm, the late ilessrs. John and 

 Edward Fitzgerald. It is, therefore, rather difficult to feel quite certain 

 which of the stones are in their ancient position and which have been placed 

 there by the restorers. ^Mr. Lynch states that " on inquiring from SLi'. Edward 

 Fitzgerald he informs me that he and his brother only introduced at the time 

 of the restoration very few stones into the cii'cle, and that all the rest be- 

 longing to it had fallen from their upright position and been covered by the 

 earth from the surrounding rath." Mr. Edward Fitzgerald is unfortunately 

 no more; and I can only give an account of the circle as it at present exists, 

 and express my opinion as to those portions of it which are really ancient. 

 The stones which compose it fall natiu'ally into four groups : — 



(1) Great stones projecting a considerable distance above the edge of the 

 mound. There is no reason to doubt that all these are ancient. 



(2) Lining-stones intervening between the others, and more or less the 

 same height as the inner surface of the mound itself. I entertain no kind of 

 doubt that the great majority of these are ancient. 



(3) Small walling-stones, sometimes in two or even three tiers, which 

 intervene at certain spots. These may or may not be ancient, but in any 

 case are of little importance. 



(4) Loose stones placed on the tops of others, and forming prominent 

 objects along the margin of the bank. These may or may not be ancient. For 

 my own part I have grave doubts about them, though the brother-in-law of 

 the late Mr. Fitzgerald told me that the most cui-ious in shape of these (the 

 " eccentric stone," above No. 73 stone, see fig. 11) had not been placed there 

 at the time of the restoration, but had been there as long as anybody could 

 remember. 



With these preliminary observations, I now turn to the description of 

 the cii-cle itself. It consists of (a) an encii'cling mound with a single entrance, 

 and {h) a ring of stones embedded in or projecting from the moimd. 



(a) The mound is circular ; the height of its inner wall, which is lined with 

 atones, averages 3 feet ; from this the bank slopes down more or less gradually, 



