88 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



hammers and axes that have been found throughout our 

 province, that it, like almost every district in the world, 

 had its stone or earliest period of civilisation. It is hoped 

 that now some further proof may be adduced by some of 

 these shell-heaps revealing more of those pristine imple- 

 ments. Still, with all the proofs that have been gathered, 

 at home and abroad, the stone age can be only relatively 

 fixed. It preceded the bronze, as this again preceded the 

 iron age. 



By far the most striking, if not the most ancient example 

 of the Kjokken-Moddinger we have in our vicinity is that 

 one which lies within a small wood on the old margin of the 

 Loch of Spynie, and on a sort of promontory formed of 

 those raised shingle beaches, so well developed in that 

 quarter. It is on the south side of the road leading from 

 Lossiemouth, and considerably nearer the farm-steading of 

 Brigzes than to that of Oakenhead. It is on the former 

 farm, and on the estate of Kinnedar. It has been much 

 diminished by its contents being carted off from the centre 

 as manure or top-dressings for the adjacent fields. It was 

 but a few days ago that we saw a layer of shells from it 

 thickly laid on a dunghill made up from the strawyard of 

 the farm, preparatory to the coming crop. Ossian, we be- 

 lieve, would look upon this mound, and be reminded of a the 

 tales of days of other years," and of the i( feasts" of which 

 he so pathetically sung. But " the sound of shells has 

 ceased ;" their " joy" and " generous strength" no more 

 " go round." " On the side of Mora," no Fingalian " heroes 

 gather to the feast." The Dane has given these mounds a 

 name fraught with aught but our wonted associations with 

 the halls of Morven — a name, however, which the husband- 

 man seems to have adopted, and to act upon in the obliter- 

 ating operations of the present hour. It is hoped that the 

 ample fringe of shells that yet remains on the farm of 

 Brigzes will now be preserved, as the memorial of, truly, 

 auld lang syne. 



To this day there exists, among some of our neighbours 

 in the upland districts of the province (descendants of the 

 heroic followers of Fingal), the custom of paying a visit 



