HOLMES : PRE-HISTORIC REMAINS OF ROMBALDS MOOR. 295 
the technical name — a streak or gi'oove may pass away, or may run 
towards or join some other cup or circle, and so connect them. 
Sometimes a streak or groove appears to be the principal, which 
the other figures, i.e., cups and rings appear to be attached, but 
generally the circles are the feature, and the connections secondary. 
Sometimes a rude circle or boundary of other shape appears to sur- 
round or inclose cups. The streak or connexion usually goes direct, 
but occasionally it varies and bends, much like a road or stream. 
These, which may be called the typical forms, are given by 
Sir Jas. Y. Simpson as such, along with others of complex order and 
form, which may be designed to represent some things of order or pur- 
pose. No one hypothesis appears to account for or include the whole 
of the peculiarities of the cup and ring or inscribed rocks. With 
considerable diffidence, but with a full conviction of the fact, I sub- 
mit that a twofold aspect of a common feeling or intention can be 
traced, which may account for all and every figuring that I know of. 
The general principle or object arises in our common humanity tend- 
ing to represent externally that which we feel to be of importance, or 
we deem to be necessary or advantageous. 
In this way, the sun, moon, and external phenomena of nature 
may become symbols, and worshipped as the objects significant of 
production; and the organs of the natural functions may be figured 
as indicative of the passions, and of their good or evil held to be 
actual at the time. The phallus or Lingam, and the Yoni, or crescent 
moon, have everjrwhere been used as the male and female emblems, 
and as implying increase, production, and blessing. In the end, the 
very emblems became themselves symbolised into conventional, simple, 
or more complex forms. Thus the circle or hollow dot, or cup and 
rings, are figured as symbols of the sun, as the sun itself was the 
symbol of increase and production. Growing more complex, the 
serpent represents the sun for both good and evil, as the action of the 
sun indicated in effect. It is a most interesting study to follow the 
order of symbolism or connection, behind the sun and the serpent, 
for good and for evil ; but in result, each and all were used and figured 
as co-related and often identical. That this form should be common 
and extend from India to Egypt and as far south as Fiji is remarkable, 
