
1891.] Among the Prehistoric Monuments of Brittany. 871 
clad in their sober black garments, environed by the many 
mounds, tombs and standing stones, rising as silent witnesses of 
the mysterious past, and becoming an integral part of the every- 
day life of the inhabitants,—a journey among such scenes has a 
strange fascination. 
From Paris to Carnac seemed like a journey to Ultima Thule. 
Ordinary maps in guide-books, and the books themselves, threw 
little light on this obscure corner of France. Had it not been for 
valuable information kindly afforded us by Prof. Gabriel de 
Mortillet, the distinguished founder of the prehistoric section of 
the vast Museum of National Antiquities at St. Germain-en Laye, 
who drew a rough map of the Carnac region, together with 
information given us by Dr. Topinard, the learned successor to 
the chair of anthropology formerly held by Paul Broca, who 
freely gave us his personal cards for use among the local anti- 
quarians of Morbihan, we should have lost much time in seeking 
the most interesting places to visit.. We were also indebted for 
useful suggestions to Mr. Thomas Wilson, who spent part of a 
previous summer in and about Carnac, and has, in company with 
M. Gaillard, the chief antiquarian of Morbihan, explored a number 
of dolmens, and whose article in the AMERICAN NATURALIST for 
July, 1888, was of much aid. Acting on such good and reliable 
advice, I made M. Gaillard’s hotel at Plouharnel my headquarters, 
and from there made excursions to Lockmariaquer, to Carnac, 
to Erdeven, and to the Peninsula of Quiberon, thus seeing all 
the alignments and many of the typical tumuli and dolmens of 
Morbihan. 
A journey in any direction from Paris through Brittany to the 
Atlantic coast is a delightful one. It was the middle of August, 
delightfully cool, often misty, to be sure, but with no pouring 
rain, and often a bright sun,—ideal weather for walking and 
driving in village carts. Leaving the Mount Parnasse station at 
eleven in the forenoon, the train shot by Versailles, with its 
palace, gardens, and surrounding forests, and after taking us 
through Chartres and Le Mans, left us early in the evening at 
Rennes, where we slept. Early the next morning we visited the 
museum of the university, and though it was closed,—it being a 
Am. Nat.—October.—2, 


