Mr. James Hardy, on some Ancient Stone Cists, &c. 2lb 



The length of the graves (inside measure) was about 4 

 feet, the width 20 inches, the depth 15 inches. The skele- 

 tons were found doubled up in a recumbent position, side- 

 ways, their heads resting between their knees. They were 

 more or less decayed, and the skull of only one was fit to 

 preserve. The bones of it were intact, with the exception 

 of the temporal. The upper jaw-bones were in a good state 

 of preservation, but only contained three of the teeth. The 

 under-jaw was quite good, and contained all the teeth in 

 very fair condition. Four of the double teeth were very 

 large. The skull measured 20 inches round, a little above 

 the occiput. The height from the chin to the top of the 

 brow indicated a long face. The skull was somewhat nar- 

 row in front, but widened considerably towards the back. 

 The size of the skull, of the teeth, and of the bones, induced 

 the belief that the persons interred were middle-aged. From 

 the position of the graves, and the appearance of the contents, 

 it was inferred that they had been all formed at the same 

 time — probably after a battle. In the last grave uncovered, 

 an urn appeared, placed bottom upwards. This grave did 

 not differ in construction from the rest. It contained no 

 skeleton, but only a little dark earth. The vase-shaped urn 

 was very rude and simple, and made of red fire-clay. It is 

 in the possession of Mr. Mitchell Innes, who has communi- 

 cated a sketch of it (Plate v.), along with its dimensions. 

 It is 6 inches high externally, 5 inches deep in the interior ; 

 breadth across the mouth, 6| inches ; broadest interior part, 

 5 inches ; breadth of the ornamental bossed ring, 7 inches. 

 There are no ornaments, other than three bosses, across this 

 band, and no handles, nor were the bosses perforated. 



This account is drawn up from a variety of statements 

 from different correspondents, compared with paragraphs in 

 the " Scotsman," " Courant," and the local papers. 



James Hakdv. 



PoxAMOGETOisr NiTENS, This I gathered in the Teviot in front of 

 Ormiston House, and I do not think it has been previously 

 noticed in our district. — W. B. Boyd. 



„ heterophylltjs. This grows plentifnlly in Cauld- 



shiels Loch. — Ibed. 

 Chenopodium Botbys. This native of the south of Europe has 

 occurred as a straggler near Cherrytrees. — J. B. Boyd. 



1 J 



