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 the 
tales of days of other years," and of the " 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 
