The most famous of the Tanist stones is the Coronation-stone in Westminster Abbey—­the Lia Fail, or Stone of Destiny—­on which the ancient kings of Scotland sat or stood when crowned, and which forms a singular link of connection between the primitive rites that entered into the election of a king by the people, and the gorgeous ceremonies by which the hereditary sovereigns of England are installed into their high office.  There is no footmark, however, on this stone.  It may be mentioned that before the arrival of the Scottish stone there had been for ages a similar stone at Westminster Hall, which gave the name to and was the original place of sitting for the Court of King’s Bench.  It was no doubt a relic of the primitive Folkmoot of Westminster, which has developed into the Parliament of England.  In the neighbourhood of Upsala is the Mora stone, celebrated in Swedish history as the spot where the kings were publicly elected and received the homage of their subjects.

A more characteristic specimen of a Tanist stone may be seen on the top of Dun Add, a rocky isolated hill about two hundred feet high, in Argyleshire, not far from Ardrishaig.  On a smooth flat piece of rock which protrudes above the surface there is carved the mark of a right foot, covered with the old cuaran or thick stocking, eleven inches long and four inches and a half broad at the widest part, the heel being an inch less.  It is sunk about half an inch in the rock, and is very little weather-worn—­the reason being, perhaps, that it has been protected for ages by the turf that has grown over it, and has only recently been exposed.  Quite close to it is a smooth polished basin, eleven inches in diameter and eight deep, also scooped out of the rock.  With these two curious sculptures is associated a local myth.  Ossian, who lived for a time in the neighbourhood, was one day hunting on the mountain above Loch Fyne.  A stag which his dogs had brought to bay charged him, and he fled precipitately.  Coming to the hill above Kilmichael, he strode in one step across the valley to the top of Rudal Hill, from whence he took a gigantic leap to the summit of Dun Add.  But when he alighted he was somewhat exhausted by his great effort, and fell on his knee, and stretched out his hands to prevent him from falling backwards.  He thereupon left on the rocky top of Dun Add the enduring impression of his feet and knee which we see at the present day.  This myth is of comparatively recent date, and is interesting as showing that all recollection of the original use of the footmark and basin had died away for many ages in the district.  There can be no doubt that the footmark indicates the spot to have been at one time the scene of the inauguration of the kings or chiefs of the region; and the basin was in all probability one of those primitive mortars which were in use for grinding corn long before the invention of the quern.  Dun Add is one of the oldest sites in Scotland.  It has the hoary ruins