The Petroglyphs In Argyllshire.

niegalithic circle , more or less perfect ; many large cairns ; a vitrified fort ; Danish or British forts , & c . Both these Argyllshire groups of petroglyphs are sculptured on the smooth crowns and gentlysloping- sides of rock-knolls , or bosses of very hard , coarse , sub-crystalline * greenstone , which slightly

protrude from the braeside about half way up between the subjacent strath and the ridge of the environing hills . The first and smallest group is situate about half-a-mile above Callton Mor , the residence of Mr . Malcolm , the principal landowner of the neighbourhood . It consists of seven or

eight well defined concentric circles , besides a few others less distinct . They are mostly of the normal type figured in the Builder as No . 1 , with a enp-like hollow in the middle , surrounded most commonly by three or four concentric circles , through which a radial grooveor channel

, , passes from the central cavity to beyond the outermost circle , in a strai ght or sometimes slightly curved line , and with a downward ( and , here at least , easterly ) direction . I should mention , however , that two are not strictly circular , but of a decidedly horse shoe shape . They are all placed very close

together , and are frequently connected with each other , either by the said radial groove , or by a prolongation of the exterior circle . So that , as they occupy the summit of the little rock-knoll , and its sloping face , any sacrificial blood ( as has been suggested ) or other liquid , poured on the top

would flow through them to the bottom . The circles , at this locality , vary from about Sin . to 6 in ., to perhaps nearly 12 in . in diameter . The average dimension of the grooves may be set down at iin . to fin . in depth , and rather more in width ; while the central cups are from lin . to 2 in . deep , and

2 in . or more in diameter . These grooves have evidently not been worn or hollowed out , by friction ; for they are not smooth , and there are evident marks of their having been chipped , from the outer edge , by a narrow , but seemingly blunt , instrument—231 ' ° hably of flintof which numerous

, specimens have been found in the surrounding cairns , derived most likely from the altered chalk beds of the adjacent country of Antrim . Besides these complete circles , there are several of the characteristic cup-like holes , which may in some instances have been intended for the centre of circles

that never were finished ; but , in others , are placed too close together to admit of such a supposition . I should , however , add , that the surface of the rock is here , as elsewhere , covered with a thin layer of peaty soil and herbage , which has been only very imperfectly cleared away ; so that it is

by no means ascertained how far these curious incisionsmay extend ; while doubtless many rock sculptures exist in the neighbourhood , yet undiscovered , but which accident may any day bring to light . On the same side , but lower down , and

nearer to the ma , nsion of Callton Mor , two similar circles are to be seen , on the top of a small smooth rock , nearly obliterated by exposure . And it is said there were originally many more such sculptures on an adjoining- rock , which was destroyed in making a road , some few years since . -

. I must also observe that at least five such circles , with a central cup , and descending- groove , have been found by the Rev . R . J . Mapleton , on . some tall " standing stones , " in the immediately subjacent valley ; together with many of the above-mentioned cup-like hollows , evidently

artificial , but unsurrounded by circles . This is sufficient at least to connect the rock-sculptures with these ( commonly believed Druidical ) monoliths ; while elsewhere , as I shall have occasion to remark , though not ( I believe ) as yet in this district ,, similarly incised circles have been found on the inside of the covering slab of as many as ten or twelve cists .

But much the most considerable and instructive collection of these incised rock circles occurs near a small farm , called " Ach-na-breac , " about two . miles from Lochgilphead , and a quarter of a mile above the old , road from that place to Ealmartin . This , like the former group , is situate on a

tolerably smooth but much larger rock-knoll , projecting from the mossy hill-side , and with two faces sloping , the one towards the east and the other towards the south , but slightly separated by rather broken rock , thinly covered with j ^ eat mould , & c . " Breac , " I believe , in Gaelic , signifies a spot or

freckle , and is the common term used for the mai-ks of the small-pox ; but , as it is equally applicable to a " field spotted with stones , " I cannot pretend to say whether or not there be here any allusion to the circular marks on the rock above . That rock , however , itself bears the very

significant name of "Leach-ua-Sluagh . " "Leach , " of course , means a " flat stone , or rock ; " and the Gaelic dictionaries give "host , or army , " as the

equivalent for " Sluagh ; " but the best Gaelic scholars we could interrogate on the spot assured us they commonly used the word for any gathering , or assemblage of people together , for any purpose , civil , religious , or military . On the crown and adjoining eastern face , I counted

upwards of forty well-defined circles ; on the other and lower side , more than thirty ; besides several others , more or less imperfect . But , though some , of them have been long uncovered , so as to be overgrown with grey lichen , a large portion has only been lately brought to light , while the soil

has been as yet very partially removed , so that it is impossible to say what number of these strange symbols may exist here . Speaking generally they may be said , to preserve the same normal type already described , of a deepish central cup , surrounded by from one to seven or eight concentric

circles , traversed by a commonly straight but sometimes wavy radial groove or channel , which often extends to tho next subjacent circle . But ,