* * * * * So far as I know, there has never been a complete inquiry into the stone circles in Britain, but Mr. Lewis, who has paid great attention to these matters, has dealt in a general manner with them (_Archaeological Journal_, vol. xlix. p. 136), and has further described (_Journal_ Anthropological Institute, n.s., iii., 1900) the observations made by him of stone circles in various parts of Scotland. From an examination of the latter he concludes that they may be divided into different types, each of which has its centre in a different locality. The types are--(1) the Western Scottish type, consisting of a rather irregular single ring or sometimes of two concentric rings; (2) the Inverness type, consisting of a more regular ring of better-shaped stones, surrounding a tumulus with a retaining wall, containing a built-up chamber and passage leading to it, or a kist without a passage; (3) the Aberdeen type, consisting of a similar ring with the addition of a so-called “altar-stone” and usually having traces of a tumulus and kist in the middle. In addition to these three types of circles, there are in Britain generally what Mr. Lewis calls sun and star circles, with their alignments of stones, and apparently proportioned measurements. He has shown that there is a great preponderance of outlying stones and hill-tops lying between the circles and the N.E. quarter of the horizon. From what has been stated in Chapter III with regard to the nightly observations of stars it will be gathered that these may have been used for this purpose. The following list gives some of the bearings of outlying stones and other circles from the centres of the named circles:-- Roll-rich, Oxon.--Kingstone N. 27° E. Stripple Stones, Cornwall--Bastion on bank N. 26 E. Long Meg, Cumberland--Small circle N. 27 E. The Hurlers, Cornwall--Two outlying circles N. 13-16 E. Trippet Stones--Leaze circle N. 11 E. If these alignments mean anything they must of course refer to the rising of _stars_, as the position on the horizon is outside the sun’s path. The many circles in Cornwall have been dealt with by Mr. Lukis in a volume published by the Society of Antiquaries in 1895.[7] A carefully prepared list of circles will be found in Mr. Windle’s recently published work entitled “Remains of the Prehistoric Age in England.” It may be useful here to state, with regard to megalithic remains generally, that they may be classed as follows; some details will be discussed later on. (_a_) Circles. These may be single, double, or multiple, and either concentric or not. (_b_) Menhirs, large single stones, used to mark sight-lines from circles. (_c_) Alignments, _i.e._, lines of stones in single, double, or in many parallel lines. If these alignments are short they are termed avenues. (_d_) Holed-stones, doubtless used for observing sight-lines, sometimes _over_ a circle.