the N. and S. diameter, centre to centre of stones A and G, as 292 feet, and the two parallel cross-diameters E, J and D, K each 246 feet. I am at a loss how to account for this, as the measurements made for this notice were made with the greatest care, and subjected to repeated tests.

(b) Dimensions of Individual Stones and their Positions.--In the old plan stone L-between D and E-the stone now lost, is drawn considerably larger than D, which is at present by far the largest of all. It is a huge prostrate block of whinstone, slightly tapering outwards from the circle from a base 7 feet 6 inches wide to an irregular top 4 feet 10 inches wide; and it is 10 feet 6 inches long. If ever upright, it would naturally have rested on its broad end, and would then have overtopped by fully 4 feet its diametrically-opposite stone (J), which is now the highest. It has been estimated that stone D weighs between 11 and 12 tons. The next largest stone is the broader one of the two (or three?) so closely grouped together at K (Simpson's "fallen cromlech"). This also is recumbent. It measures 10 feet 3 inches by 6 feet. Of the rest, A, B, and I average 8 feet by 6; C, F, and G are each nearly 5 feet 6 inches by 5 feet, while H is only 3 feet square at the base, tapering upwards, and weighs probably only 3 tons.

(c) Mineralogical Character of the Stones.-I find, from consulting descriptions in the Trans. Dfs. and Gall. Nat. Hist. and Antiq. Soc., that there are marked differences among these eleven stones. Gilchrist a sound geologist-thus describes them :—

66

They are all Silurian

The late Dr

except one; that one is a so-called Porphyry. Again, of the whole number, including the porphyry, four are boulders. These might have been obtained at or near the spot where they stand; but the seven others have been detached from the living rock by some ancient quarrying process. The nearest place where such rock could be obtained is the hills in the vicinity of Irongray Church,"

i.e., seven or eight miles distant.

My friend, Mr James Barbour, Architect, agrees with the above opinion, stating that the basement of one of the stones (D in plan) shows that it has been torn from the rock.1

1 It is perhaps only fair to quote the opinion of Dr Dickson, quondam Secretary to

This leads me by a natural sequence to discuss what is, after all, the most interesting feature of these stones; I refer to

III. The supposed Artificial Cup-Marks on certain of the Stones.Following the paragraph already quoted from Simpson are these words: -“The largest (stone), about 10 feet long and 7 broad, is prostrated forward, and has upon its face, its top, and one of its sides, about thirty smooth and rounded cup excavations."

This can apply only to stone D. Dr Dickson finds cup-markings upon four of the whinstones; and in referring to stone D he says:"It is upon what must have been the base (had it ever stood upright, which is doubtful) that these hollows exist."

I had previously come to the same conclusion myself. Apart, however, entirely from any possibilities of this sort, I most unhesitatingly decline to consider these cup-hollows as the handiwork of man; and as I have revisited and re-examined many times every reputed rock-surface in Galloway, and some other districts, bearing genuine sculpturings of the type under discussion, I think I may say that these cup-hollows are assuredly due only to natural causes. They are neither round enough, shallow enough, nor sufficiently grouped to be the handiwork of man. Once more to quote Simpson :

"At one side of the circle, and somewhat within the circuit of it, are three or four stones, which appear to me to be the prostrated remains of a cromlech and its supports. The cap-stone has, running across its back, four oblique rows of cup-like excavations, some of them round and others irregularly elongated in form. One of the fallen props is similarly marked. It would be important to note accurately if the various strings of cups correspond in any degree with natural lines in these stones, and if, therefore, they may possibly have a natural origin; or if they are arranged quite independently of the mineralogical peculiarities of the blocks, and are, hence, as they seem to be, the results of artificial tooling."

This description with fair accuracy may apply to the groups of stones at K. Waiving, for the meantime, the question of their being a fallen cromlech," I may state that it has been the opinion of all experienced the Dfs. and Gall. Soc. In a notice entitled "On certain Markings on the Druid Circle at Holywood," he says:— "The stones differ much in size and appearance, but are all equally rugged and irregular, as nature has fushioned them,"

observers that the cup-hollows on both the "cap-stone" and its "support are due to natural causes only. In my own judgment they do decidedly run along the lines of cleavage in the rock; more especially is this quite evident in the stone called the support.

IV.

NOTICE OF THE BELL AND OTHER ANTIQUITIES AT THE CHURCH OF KETTINS, FORFARSHIRE. BY ALEXANDER HUTCHESON,

F.S.A. ScoT., ARCHITECT, BROUGHTY FERRY.

The parish church of Kettins is situated in Forfarshire, about a mile and a half south from the town of Cupar-Angus. The name Kettins appears anciently in different forms, none, however, differing greatly from its modern spelling. It appears in the Rental Book of Cupar Abbey, in 1463, as "Ketnes" (Grampian Club), while 1555 it is written "Caitnis." It is mentioned as the "Kirk of Ketnis in a deed of assignation, dated 1537. The church, which was dedicated to St Bridget, belonged to the diocese of St Andrews, and ("Ecclesia de Ketenes ") was consecrated by Bishop David de Bernham on 18th April 1249.

No portion of an earlier church can be traced in the present structure, which bears the date 1768 on a shield within a rectangular panel inserted externally in the south wall. The same date appears on a weather-vane surmounting the belfry.

In the belfry hangs an ancient bell bearing a Dutch legend. The late Mr Andrew Jervise (Epitaphs and Inscriptions, vol. ii. p. 97) supplies an erroneous transcription of the legend and a translation. The following is the text of Mr Jervise's remarks on the bell:

"The legend in old Dutch shows that it had been originally accompanied by another bell, which bore the name of a female :-POPEN. REIDER.GAF.MARIT.

TROON, AS. MINEN. MATEN. MEESDER. HABIS. ANNO. DOMINI. M. CCCCC. XIX

[Priest Reider gave Margaret Troon as my mate (wife) Master Habis. A.D. 1519]."

1 Since these notes were written an alteration has been made on the church, involving the removal of the belfry. See additional note at end of this notice.

It is almost needless to remark that if the above transcription is wrong, the translation is equally so. But in justice to Mr Jervise, who was a most painstaking antiquary, it is only fair to say that it is understood he procured the transcription from a working slater whom he got to make the ascent to the belfry. The Rev. James Fleming, minister of the parish, had on his own account made the ascent, and was convinced Mr Jervise's transcription was wrong. Some correspondence passed between them, but no further attempt was made to clear up the matter during the lifetime of Mr Jervise. In 1891 my friend, Mr J. W. Munro, H.M. Inspector of Schools, happened to be at the manse, and had the matter mentioned to him, when he proposed that I should be asked to examine the bell, of which a figure1 is given in fig. 2. As the question seemed interesting, I readily agreed, and in July of that year, in company with Mr Munro, I visited Kettins and took a rubbing from the bell (shown in fig. 1), which clearly shows the legend to be as follows:

MARIA TROON ES MINEN NAEM

MEESTER HANS POPEN REIDER GAF (N!

ANNO DOMINI MCCCCCXIX

Fig. 1. Legend on the Bell of Kettins, from a rubbing.

The legend is mainly in Roman capitals in one line, that extends right round the bell, the date being in a second line. The translation is simple-Maria Troon is my name: Master Hans Popen Reider gave me. Anno Domini 1519. At the commencement of the legend is a

1 From a photograph obligingly taken by Mr Robert Smith, F.S. A. Scot., BroughtyFerry. The enlarged view of the legend is from my rubbing.

seal or stamp containing the figure of a man on horseback, probably intended for St Michael attacking the dragon. There is here no ground for the theory that the bell "had been originally accompanied by another bell, which bore the name of a female.”

Rev. Mr Fleming has directed my attention to a reference to one Hans Popenruyter, who was principal gun-founder to King Henry VIII.

Fig. 2. The Bell of Kettins showing part of its legend and date.

of England in 1509 (see p. 8, Smiles' Men of Invention. Svo. John Murray, 1885). The dates nearly correspond, and it seems extremely probable that the King of England's gun-founder was the donor of the Kettins bell, but to whom or where did he give it, and who was "Maria Troon," after whom, or to whom, he named his bell?