In localities where the Celtic races were not supplanted by foreigners, it would be strange indeed, and altogether at variance with archæological experience, as propounded by the learned author of _The Past in the Present_,[52] if the habit of resorting to isolated and inaccessible islands for safety would be all at once abandoned whenever the greater security afforded by stone buildings became known. Hence, in the Irish annals we find frequent mention made of crannogs down even to the middle of the seventeenth century, and Dr. Joseph Robertson has quoted several historical passages to prove that certain crannogs in Scotland--as, for example, those of the Loch of Forfar, Lochindorb, Loch Canmor, and Loch-an-eilan, etc.--survived to the middle ages. Many of these, however, were strong mediæval castles built for a different purpose, and had nothing in common with the crannogs proper beyond the fact of their insular situation. From an etymological analysis of the earliest topographical nomenclature of Britain, as well as from other sources, there is abundant proof that in former times a Celtic population occupied nearly the whole of the island. Ultimately, however, these Celts were driven by successive waves of immigrants to the far north and west, and it becomes an important inquiry to determine if, in these localities from which they were expelled, there still exist any traces of lake-dwellings. I have already remarked that no remains of wooden islands have been found in the south-east of Scotland. This, however, may be due to want of research on the part of antiquaries, and other causes, which so long kept us altogether in the dark regarding the phenomena of lake-dwellings in this country; and, indeed, some curious indications have already been supplied by independent observers as to their existence, not only in the south-east of Scotland, as at Balgone in East Lothian (see footnote, page 249), but in several parts of England and Wales. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 40: _Caledonia_, Book iii. chap. v. pp. 358 _et seq._] [Footnote 41: Amongst the donations to the Museum of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, I find various vessels of brass found in marshy ground near Balgone, East Lothian (also deer's horns and bones of animals.--_Proceed._ vol. vi. p. 174), by Sir George Grant Suttie, Bart., which are at least suggestive of the former existence of a lake and a crannog in the locality. These vessels consist of-- A large bronze (brass) tripod pot, with loops at the neck for handle, 13 inches across the mouth, 15-1/2 inches high, and circumference round the middle 45 inches. Three other bronze (brass) pots of similar type, varying in size. A bronze (brass) pot (measuring, etc.). Shallow bronze (brass) basin, etc. Portion of a larger bronze (brass) basin. Bronze (brass) tripod vessel, with spout and looped handles, etc. Bronze (brass) tripod vessel with straight spout, etc.