History and traditions of the land of the Lindsays in Angus and Mearns

88 LAND OF THE LINDSAYS.
remains, such as those which were found at Dalbog and Ballownie
so far as we can learn, have ever been found within them. In
the hollow ground, however, on the east side, a circular patch
of from four to six yards in breadth, was accidently discovered
some years ago in the middle of a gravel hillock, and found to
contain a quantity of black earth to the depth of about four feet.
This deposit was artificial, and being found useful in improving
the thin soil on the farm, the tenant had the whole of it carried
away for top dressing, and near the bottom of the pit some
vestiges of charcoal were found ; but there was no trace of human
bones, either calcined or otherwise, or of any sort of building.
The circles of Colmeallie are of the common concentric kind,
and the outer encloses an area of forty-five by thirty-six feet,
and consists in all of from fifteen to twenty stones, including
three large slabs in the centre, which are supposed to have
formed the altar. Some of the boulders are of great size and
weight, and, with the exception of three, are all prostrated or
mutilated. Those standing are each pretty nearly five feet four
inches above ground; one of them is three feet nine broad,
another two feet three, and the third about one foot eight
inches. At thickest, they are respectively thirteen, fourteen, and
twenty inches. The largest lies on the ground, and is nine feet
five inches long, by seven feet five broad. Others of nearly equal
dimensions with the erect stones are built into the adjoining
dyke, and another is so high and strong as to form the centre-
support or pillar of a cart shed. Although these circles are
erroneously described in the New Statistical Account (where they
are stated as being almost complete), many old people remember
of them being more entire than they are now ; but the late
tenant was one of too many who saw no use in going a little
distance for building materials when he could get them at his
door, however revered or valuable ; and, as his Gothicism was
either unknown to, or unheeded by his landlord, one stone after
another disappeared in whole, or was blown to pieces, as circum-
stances required.
It is worthy of remark, that on the opposite side of the river,
nearly equi-distant from the sites of the circles of Colmeallie and
Dalbog, a farm still bears the significant cognomen of the
Ronnnach or Ma?iach, which literally means u a songster or re-