56 Transactions. 



upwai'ds — in all, some thirty dials of one kind or another. The 

 four principal ones face the four points of the compass, one 

 being- for moonlight, and the others for morning, midday, and noon. 

 The principal dials face the south ; one large one is cup shaped, and 

 has the hours traced and lines radiating from the gnomon ; at the 

 left hand is a St. Andrew's cross, with its arms forming' the 

 gnomons, and at the bottom is a small heart-shaped dial, the ridge 

 in the centre throwing the shadow. Many fanciful dials used to 

 be so designed, as of one, a tracing of which I have seen, cup- 

 shaped and a human face at the bottom, a large nose forming the 

 pointer. On the top of the dial rests a stone with the points of 

 the compass with socket evidently for a wind vane, and the effect 

 of the old monument amidst its modern surroundings is most sug- 

 gestive. Another fine dial stands at the Moat of Troqueer, and 

 is in the form of a globe. It has a double circle of hours, but 

 with no date or motto, and it is made of Arbroath freestone. I 

 should judge from its appearance that it was made in the beginning 

 of the century. A pretty little dial stood in a garden at Auld- 

 girth, with five dials, but its age is comparatively modern. There 

 are two others of very chaste design, and evidently formed upon 

 the same lines. One stands in the garden of Mr Davidson of 

 Summerville, the other in that of Mr T. Roddan, plumber, Dum- 

 fries. Mr Davidson's stands nearly eight feet high. It has four 

 dials, facing the points of the compass, and with a beautifully-cut 

 globe on the top. From the information I first had, I thought 

 this likely to be one of the old town dials, but on inspecting it and 

 comparing it with the other, I came to the conclusion that it was 

 quite modern. There is neither date, maker's name, nor motto 

 upon it. That of Mr Roddan stands on a fine fluted column, and 

 is about eight feet high, with four dials and a globe on top, and 

 has th'> date 1849, and some initials, evidently those of a former 

 proprietor. Sundials form objects of exceptional interest, and 

 even of beauty, when suitably placed. The old cross and dial of 

 the town of Leven was found built mto a wall, and more than 

 likely this is the last stage of many others. Where have all the 

 pre-Reformation dials in Scotland gone to ? Those in the form of 

 images would have a short shrift in the time of the Reformation, 

 as they were sure to stand where they could be easily reached ; 

 but I am under the impression that the remains of many others 

 will be found on taking down walls in the vicinity of religious 



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