with these curious crescents, a circumstance which may, if confirmed by other examples, lead to some rational explanation.

At a few paces from this rock is seen a small eminence, apparently a tumulus, but it is so surrounded with briars and other shrubs, that without a closer examination it is not easy to decide upon its character; but about sixty yards further on, and in the same line, is a rectangular inclosure, defended on the north and south by natural rock, and on the east and west by masses of stone heaped up by man. It is known by the name of Parc ar C'hallaoued (field of the Gauls). On removing a rock in the south-west angle, two stone celts were lately found, one composed of silex, pierced with a hole, as given in the accompanying illustration.

About three or four years ago, two gentlemen of Gourin, named Stenfort, cut into an adjoining tumulus, though not according to the rules usually observed in such operations. They made, however, the discovery of a kind of sarcophagus, about two yards long, and 14 inches broad, the sides of which were formed of small flat stones placed on the ground near each other. The cover was composed of similar stones, placed obliquely two

and two, and supporting each other at an obtuse angle, not very unlike the coved lid of a common stone coffin. This grave contained two femora only, in a tolerably perfect state, the other bones having crumbled into dust. No traces of weapons, ornaments, or vases were found, but several fragments of charcoal were found in the soil composing the tumulus. This sarcophagus was placed at the outer edge of the tumulus, so that one of its extremities had only a few inches of superincumbent soil. A considerable part of this tumulus still remains unexamined, and, if further researches were made, very probably other graves would be discovered.

Monuments of this class are by no means unfrequent in the neighbourhood of Toul Laeron. Besides those I have mentioned, the commune of Sprezet boasts of a tumulus and several dolmens; while in the adjoining commune of St. Hernin is a monument deserving special attention, being unique in Finistère, and probably in the whole of Britanny. It consists of four tumuli, about 12 feet high, situated on a lande, called Goarim ar Runiou, or Goarem ar Buchennou (La Garenne des Buttes), the tumuli being arranged in a semicircle, with a distance of 10 yards between each.

It is possible that a complete circle once existed, for the ground where the missing tumuli would have existed now forms a part of the cultivated land of a neighbouring farm. However, there is nothing left of them at present, owing to the general belief among the peasants, that they contain treasures. Each tumulus generally has its own proprietor, but one or two of these is the joint property of more than one person. About a year ago, in company with two friends, I met with great difficulty on the part of the owner, who demanded 600 francs for permission to explore, but who, however, finished by yielding to our promise of two francs and a bottle of wine, if they worked themselves at the digging. I found in the centre of this tumulus, a cist, or sarcophagus, lying northeast and south-west, similar to the one previously mentioned, both as to dimensions and construction. But

whether the monument had been previously examined, or, as there were no signs of any previous disturbance, the weight of superincumbent earth had forced in the covering stone, the interior of the cist was nearly full of earth; nor could we find any bones, or ornaments, such as are frequently found in this kind of grave, but only a considerable quantity of charcoal fragments.

The peculiar arrangement of these four tumuli naturally reminds us of the stone circles common in Wales, parts of Scotland, &c., &c., but of which I do not know a single example in the whole of Britanny. However, I have little doubt but that these last are simply places of sepulture, as are those that I have described. It is, I regret, all I can state, (and that is simply my own impression,) for I have not yet had the good fortune of meeting with a spirit complaisant enough to whisper in my ear some of the wonderful things that took place in those mysterious sacred "enceintes.

The commune of Saint Gwazec, which also adjoins that of Sprezet, is still more rich in Celtic monuments. In a field called Parc a'r Roch there is a covered alley more than 60 feet long.

In the landes and woods, of the names of which I am ignorant, are three alignments, remarkable for the dimensions of the stones, to one of which is attached a tumulus, which has been excavated by the peasants, who have laid bare two distinct chambers.

Nor must I omit to mention a fortified enceinte, called Castel Ruffel, situated on an escarped eminence, the highest point in the commune. It is protected by a defence, nearly circular, following the outline of the hill, connected with two demilunes which protected the side easiest of approach. All these defences are formed of blocks of stone, without any mixture of earth or lime. At a distance of some paces from this work, which is probably a Gaulish oppidum, is a covered alley, forty feet long, and formed of two rows of stones, inclined against each other. This kind of covered alley, of which some

examples exist near Douarnenez, is rarer than those formed of upright stones, supporting horizontal slabs.

From the summit of Castel Ruffel, the lande of St. John, in the commune of Leuhan, is visible, where are two considerable tumuli, between which the Roman Road from Quimper to Carlaix runs. At two hundred paces in the same lande is an alignment, now. consisting of three stones, only one of which, about 12 feet high, is standing upright. The following account of this stone was given us:-The Lord of Ruffel Castle had a daughter, by no means remarkable as a model of virtue, of which she gave a proof by going off one day with a lover, without bidding her father good-bye. He was preparing to set off in pursuit of the fugitives, but as they had a considerable start, he had only the satisfaction of seeing them crossing the lande of St. Jean, on which he took up one of the stone masses that guarded his castle, and threw it after them; but, falling short, it stuck in the ground as it now stands.

None of the monuments that I have mentioned have, with the exception of Castel Ruffel, been noticed by anyone, and are hardly known except to the immediate neighbours. The brief notice, however, that I have here given of them, may suffice to show that a visit to Toul Laëron, and its neighbouring communes, would repay an archæologist's visit. Besides the attraction of the beauty of its scenery, this district still retains the most ancient popular songs and tales to be found in Britanny; but, unfortunately, it is impossible to travel there without some knowledge of Breton, for very few peasants speak French. Moreover, respectable looking citizens are not always looked on in a pleasant manner. The roads are difficult to make out, and there is a considerable chance of loosing oneself, without the satisfactory compensation of meeting, as Jean did, with a White Lady. R. F. LE MEN.

CARVED STONE HAMMER.

THE accompanying cut gives an accurate representation of the very curious stone celt lately exhibited in the Temporary Museum, at Bangor.

It was found by a labourer, in grubbing up a wood on the Maesmore estate, near Corwen, about twenty years ago, since which time it had remained in the hands of the finder, until last year it became the property of myself.

The material of which it is composed is a dusky white chalcedony, and of such extreme hardness that it is almost impossible to make the slightest scratch upon it with an ordinary penknife. Its weight is ten ounces and a half, and its dimensions in length, depth, and greatest breadth are respectively, two and a half, two, and one and a half inches.

On a reference to the illustration, the character of the ornament will be clearly understood. It bears no resemblance to the patterns frequently found on bronze celts, very rarely on stone ones, and though it cannot be termed very artistic, yet it has been evidently worked out with great care and regularity, and, considering the hardness