EY HUGH MILLEE. 347 



The assumption that the cup is the primal type of the sculp- 

 tures is at least perfectly warrantable.*^ Upon that assumption 

 the three above-named characteristics are paralleled thus, i'irstly, 

 the cup, as in nature, occurs either singly or set in groups ; 

 secondly, a " radial groove" or duct represents the natural chan- 

 nel, and thirdly, this duct is placed ^'very generally down the 

 slope of the rock."f 



Thus far there is a fundamental similarity. But it displays 

 itself in a parallelism much more extended. The natural cups 

 are frequently confluent; so are sometimes the artificial. Ducts 

 from several pot-holes sometimes unite stream-like, into a single 

 main channel, which might be conventionally figured as ' ' a rude 

 resemblance to a plant;" so also do the artificial, from a descrip- 

 tion of which, by the late George Tate of Alnwick, I quote the 

 simile. Cuts or hollows in the stone sometimes accidentally in- 

 tercept channels passing from natural pot-holes, as also do other 

 pot-holes lying in their way ; and so again designedly in the case 

 of the artificial. In fact, except the circles and what they 

 have imported with them, the resemblance seems thorough. 

 The tendency to lengthen out upon a slope is a feature which 

 the artificial figures seldom display, and do not, so far as 

 I am aware, carry out to the full extent, but cups separately 

 elongated or passing into their channels as if by elongation are 

 not uncommon. I 



I may be allowed to suggest that such detailed resemblances 

 may not be accidental. They seem to me strongly to counte- 

 nance the supposition, that in this case, as in most otliers, man 

 has imitated nature, and that the natural rock-sculptures are tlio 

 originals of these conventional and variously-figured cups and 

 channels. But it will be asked — Why should these pot-holes at- 

 tract the eyes of the ancient Britons, and wherefore should tlicy 

 deem them sacred ? 



* I have since learned from my friend the Ucv. G. II. Hull, F.SA., that wo liavc the 

 anthority of Sir James Simpson's classification for this. 



t George Tate, "Ancient Sculptured Rouks," p. 7. 



X Hoe Dr. IJruce's "'Incised Markinjjs on Stone," for lljruro/i of tlicso, appuenily of the 

 niitural size. 



2 ij 



