CHEETHAM: CUP AND RING MARKINGS AT HORSFORTH. 177 
places in the different parts of the world just named. Yet the one 
shown here was not exactly similar to any of them, nor indeed 
did any two in his collection appear to be alike notwithstanding their 
general resemblance. It would appear that if they have expressed 
definite ideas, the language in which they are inscribed has varied as 
much as the idioms of spoken languages vary at the present day. 
There are several casts in the museum of the Philosophical Hall at 
Leeds taken from the markings on Rombalds Moor, one of them, 
in the arrangement and dimensions of the figures, is not unlike the 
one we have brought under your notice. The cups are very distinct and 
about one inch deep, but the peculiar feature is the absence of rings, 
which are usual in most markings. It is considered that as regards 
distinctness the marks on this recently exposed stone compare very 
favourably with others, one reason being the peculiar and most valuable 
property of the rough rock of hardening with exposure ; another being 
its uneven surface, which has preserved the fine markings from destruc- 
tion by the ploughshare, which has evidently obliterated some, as a later 
and more careful examination has enabled traces to be discovered of 
several others. The cups are half an inch in depth, and the rings a 
quarter of an inch ; two of them have outlets near three inches in 
length, and what would appear to give them an astronomical signifi- 
cance is they point to the north. I may say that Mr. Holmes did 
not attach much importance to these two marks, yet we must sup- 
pose they had some connection with the meaning of the inscriptions. 
Although numerous conjectures have been made no satisfactory 
solution has been arrived at. Their meaning is yet a mystery. 
ON THE DRIFT DEPOSITS OF THE VALE OF MOWBRAY. 
BY T. CARTER MITCHELL, ESQ. 
The district in which my observations have been made may be 
roughly described as that part of the Vale of Mowbray which lies 
between Ripon, Thirsk, and Boroughbridge, being bounded on the 
west by the river Ure, and on the east by the foot of the Hambleton 
Hills. Through the centre of this district runs the river Swale. This 
piece of country seems to be very rich both in quantity and variety 
