One of these M. Le Men sent to me, which had never been used, being as fresh as if it had been just taken from the mould.

A still larger number was found between Quimper and Quimperlé last February, all of the same type, a notice of which, together with an elaborate drawing of the only ornamented one, has been forwarded to the Journal by M. Le Men.

The stone implements of this collection vary considerably in size and finish, but not, with few exceptions, in form. There are, however, no instances where the sides are parallel, like the remarkably fine stone implement now in the Museum at Caernarvon, found in the parish of Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd many years ago.

With one or two exceptions, the celts that form this collection are generally of the same type, one extremity being provided with a curved or straight cutting edge, the other more or less gradually diminishing to a narrow point. The great majority of them have apparently been intended to be fitted with bone or wooden handles; some, however, especially the larger ones, were perhaps used simply by the hand. These primitive stone implements seem to have been more frequently pierced with a single hole than is usually the case with those found in this country, though only one of the present collection is so pierced. Some also are left rough where the handle would be fastened, while the other portions are carefully polished, though in many cases the polishing extends equally all over the whole surface. On the carved slabs of the chamber at Gafr'innis are several representations of the ordinary stone celts, or at least what may be considered as such, unprovided with handles; while we have what is undoubtedly the figure of a stone celt, provided with a handle, on one of the covering slabs of the dolmen at Lockmariaker, called the "merchant's table."

M. Le Men conjectures that the use of the hole, so frequently found, is either for securing the implement more firmly with a peg, or for suspending them, when without a handle, to the waist, or neck.

We now proceed to notice separately this collection. 1. This is the largest and heaviest, being nearly 11 inches long, and having a cutting edge of more than 5. Its weight is 4 pounds. It is composed of a hard grey igneous rock, moderately polished, having a curved cutting edge, which bears marks of long, but not severe service. From the tapering of its sides, and under and upper surfaces towards the other end, it may be used very conveniently by an ordinary sized hand, while its weight would give it sufficient impetus for effective

work.

2. The slender proportions of this specimen, as well as the high polish and great care with which it has been wrought, seem to point out that it was not intended for rough work. It is nearly 9 inches long, and 3 broad at its cutting edge, and of a beautiful green porphyry. The upper and under surfaces are nearly flat, while the edges taper very much towards the handle, which ends in so fine a point that a very small hand would conveniently grasp it. From its lightness and high finish, it may have been, if not a war implement of some chieftain, intended for ceremonial or sacrificial purposes.

3. The general form of this specimen is similar to that of No. 1, except that it does not taper off into so small a point, and appears to have been better adapted for securing to a handle. One side only has been polished. Its length is 9 by 3 inches.

4. This is of the same material as No. 1, but slightly different in form, it being remarkably thick and heavy in proportion to its length of 7 inches. The smaller end, which has been left rough, is not so much reduced in size like the preceding ones, thereby giving a more secure purchase to the handle.

5. This celt is of a different form. The cutting edge is almost straight, and forms an obtuse angle with the main axis, so that the implement presents an obtuse angled triangle. It is composed of a reddish porphyritic rock, intermixed with quartz. It is also unusually thin, the upper and under surfaces having been ground flat.

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This implement, from its inconvenient form for hand use, must have been fitted with a handle.

6. A well proportioned celt in black basalt, not highly polished, measuring 6 inches by 3.

7. This is a remarkable celt from its thinness, which does not, in the thickest part, exceed a quarter of an inch, the upper and under surfaces having been worked flat with great care. The material is a white stone of porphyritic character, and has been carefully polished. The sides are perfectly straight, converging probably to a point, for the smaller extremity has been unfortunately broken off, as is seen in the illustration. The cutting

edge is chipped on one part, but in its original state formed a considerable curve. This is the only instance in the collection furnished with a hole, pierced in the usual manner of these implements. This implement appears to be so little adapted for ordinary work, that we are inclined to class it with No. 2, as intended for ceremonial or sacrificial purposes.

8. A stone celt of the same rock as No. 1, the smaller end of which terminates in a very narrow point. The cutting edge is now rectilinear; but, as it has been much worn, this is not probably its original form. Its thickness is very considerable in proportion to its other dimensions, which are about 7 and 3 inches respectively. It has never been carefully polished.

9. This is of the same material as the preceding one,

but of somewhat different proportions. There is one slight peculiarity in the formation of it, namely, that on one side the bevelling towards the cutting edge extends higher up towards the smaller end on one surface than the other. In most examples this bevelling is found to be nearly the same on each side.

10. One of the surfaces of this celt has been worked nearly flat, the other being somewhat convex. On this same surface a slight concavity, about an inch long, has been also worked, but for what purpose is not evident. The lower part only has been polished, the upper being left rough. The stone is a dark basalt, and is of the same dimensions as No. 8.

state.

11. This is an elegantly formed celt of dark porphyry, in perfect preservation, and highly polished, except towards its smaller end, where the stone is left in a rough Its length is 5, and greatest breadth 24 inches. 12. This also is very similar to the preceding one, but an inch shorter. One of the sides has been worked flat, nearly to the smaller extremity. The edges near the part where it would be clasped by a split handle are left rough, or have been intentionally worked into rough excrescences, as if for the more secure fastening of the handle.

13. A very perfect example, in dark green porphyry, highly polished. Both surfaces have been worked nearly flat. It is nearly of the same dimensions as No. 12.

14. This is a rudely-formed implement, of light coloured igneous rock, about 5 inches long and 2 broad. It may have been once well provided with a cutting edge, which, having been worn away by use, or otherwise, the implement has subsequently been converted into a kind of hammer, for the broken or worn edge has been carefully ground down, and not left in a mutilated condition.

15. This is made of the same kind of stone as No. 1, but bearing traces of a dark brown polish. The cutting edge is slightly rounded, and apparently never finer than it is at present, as if intended for rude work. The thickness very considerable in proportion to its other dimensions, which are 44 and 24 inches.

is

16. A representation of this article (which does not, however, convey an accurate idea of the proportions) is given in the accompanying cut. Its form differs in a remarkable degree from all the preceding examples, answering exactly to the modern chisel. It would even now serve as a common turnscrew, the cutting edge (hardly half an inch broad) being as perfect as when it

first came out of the maker's hand. The length of this specimen exceeds 5 inches. The angles of the sides have also been carefully worked round, and slightly converge towards the opposite extremity, as if intended to have been inserted into a hollow bone or wooden handle.

17. Like No. 14, this example has undergone a second grinding. A large fragment has been chipped off by some accident, carrying away with it a portion of its cutting edge. Attempts have been subsequently made to grind down the fractured part so as to fit it for further use. It has only been slightly polished. Its length (which is double its breadth at the cutting edge) is nearly 4 inches.

18. This specimen, which is of the same material as the preceding one (a light green igneous rock), has been still more extensively damaged, the cutting edge having been quite destroyed by extensive chippings, extending two or three inches. No attempt has been made at any regrinding, but the other extremity seems to have been used instead, the marks of service being very evident.

19, 20. Both these are made of the same kind of stone as No. 5, similar in form, and nearly equal in size. The