HADDINGTONSHIRE 



weary at so long a stretch of cultivation, but the 

 heart rejoices at the thought of such agrain-pro- 

 ducing land. 



Now to the very curious dovecote standing 

 here. It is of stone and circular — nothing un- 

 common about either point, considering where 

 we are. But circular dovecotes are most often 

 covered by acirculardomedroof. Not so the one 

 before us. Its builder clearly knew the benefit 

 of giving to its occupants a sheltered southern 

 slope, and this is how he set himself to carry 

 out the plan. 



The height of the round wall is varied, high- 

 est towards the north and lowest to the south. 

 The roof is therefore sloping, slightly horse- 

 shoe-shaped, and is a foot or more below the 

 summit of the walls, thus affording additional 

 protection from cold winds. Entrance is given 

 by a curious low broad dormer window, also by 

 a row of holes below the eaves, which give a 

 happy effect of miniature arcading. 



It is difficult to set aside the opinion that the 

 designer of this dovecote was a Scotsman who 

 had been in Southern France, or who had per- 

 haps received advice upon the matter from a 



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