i895"9 6 -] Notes on Last Summer's Excursions. 197 



to examine the caves. The first of these, going westward 

 from Buckhaven, is known as the Gas -Works Cave, the 

 entrance opening on to the premises of the gas company. 

 This, so far as I know, does not exhibit any sculptures, but is 

 nevertheless interesting in many other respects. It is surroun- 

 ded by a bench-like projecting piece of rock, out of which at 

 the end next the entrance there is hewn a mortar — not of the 

 usual flower-pot shape, but of a more globular form ; and not 

 very many years ago traces of grain were still remaining in 

 it. This may of course merely indicate its use in compara- 

 tively recent times, but as the entrance to this cave was for 

 long covered up, it is perhaps not going too far to assume 

 that the contents are ancient, and have been preserved in 

 consequence of having been protected from the action of the 

 air. Its floor has at one time been paved with limestone 

 boulders, no doubt collected from the adjoining beach. The 

 next, and perhaps the most interesting of all the caves, is 

 known as Jonathan's Cave, in consequence, it is said, of a 

 man named Jonathan and his family having used it as a place 

 of residence. It is a fine cave, 70 feet long and 20 feet in 

 breadth, but not of any great height. It runs right under the 

 ancient ruin known as Macduff's Castle. The sculpturings 

 are, I believe, all on the western wall, none having been found 

 on the east side, but on a ledge at the top of the cave there 

 are crosses and other figures. On the west wall we find 

 numerous animal forms and other sculptures, and the so-called 

 " spectacle ornament " is of frequent occurrence. The next 

 in order is the Doo Cave, or Dovecot Cave, it having at one 

 time been fitted up as a pigeon-house. It is one of the finest 

 of the series, measuring about 100 feet in length, and from 6 

 to 70 in breadth, and being also very lofty. There are many 

 figures sculptured on the wall, both of animal and other forms, 

 and generally resembling those found in Jonathan's Cave. The 

 next cave, though smaller, has three entrances, and has many 

 sculpturings on its sides, apparently very similar to those of 

 the other caves, but much more obliterated by the action of 

 the weather than in any of the others. It has been named 

 the Court Cave, from a tradition that King James IV., being 

 overtaken by night in this locality, spent a merry evening 

 within the cave in company with a tribe of gipsies whom he 



