1879-1880.] 399 



victory, or mark the burial place of some powerful chief, whose 

 name and deeds are alike long forgotten. Though the earn is 

 itself a monument of antiquity, one at least of the stones used in 

 its construction belongs to a more distant period still. On its 

 upper surface, but almost defaced by long exposure, are several 

 cuplike depressions, evidently of human workmanship. Were 

 these the only marks upon the stone they might easily have been 

 overlooked ; but, on the under side of the slab, which can fortun- 

 ately be seen by a person entering the chamber above referred to ; 

 many more perfect hollows, arranged in something like order, are 

 quite perceptible. The present position of the stone is certainly 

 not that which it occupied when the depressions were cut, as many 

 of those on the under side are now entirely out of reach. An 

 opinion might be conjectured that the carved slab stood con- 

 venient to the spot now occupied by the earn, and that the ancient 

 builders utilized it, as to them even at that distant period, it was 

 merely a useful, but meaningless, stone. Similarly marked stones 

 are of frequent occurrence in the South of Ireland, and are 

 supposed to be of pagan origin. The one above referred to is, 

 however, perhaps the first detected in the North, and it was briefly 

 noted by the President of the Club, Mr. William Gray, M.R.I.A., 

 at the meeting of the Royal Historical and Archaeological Society 

 of Ireland, held in Belfast early in the present month. 



A sharp run was made to the exposed point of Torr Head ; 

 time would not, however, allow of more than a short rest here, 

 and the road was again taken for Cushendall. A quairy of 

 beautifully coloured syenite, near Runabay Head, was. visited. 

 This stone has all the appearance of durability, and it is surprising 

 that no thorough trial seems to have ever been made of it as an 

 ornamental building stone. 



After breakfast next morning the return journey was commenced. 

 The greater portion of the party, desirous to take as much out of 

 the time as possible, halted to examine Ardclinas old church and 



