CHAP. XXXI 
THE VENTS OF EASTERN FIFE 
75 
to be closely examined. The accompanying figure (lig. 211) exhibits some 
characteristic forms. Eccentricities of outline no doubt arose from the 
irregular way in which the rocks yielded to the forces of explosion during the 
piercing of a volcanic orifice. This is often well shown by the veins and 
nests of tuff or agglomerate which have been forced into the rents or 
Fig 213. Plan of volcanic necks at Kellie Law, east of Fife, on tlie scale of three inches to one mile. 
1 Kellie Law (tuff) ; 2, Carnbee Law (tuff) ; 3, 4, B, small tuff necks ; B B, basalt dykes and bosses ; cc, coal-seams ; 
’ l, limestone ; ), fault. The arrows mark tlie dip of the strata through which the necks have been drilled. 
sinuosities of tlie orifices. In other cases, however, it is probable that, as 
among the Ayrshire necks, and those of Carboniferous age already cited, what 
appears now as one volcanic, neck was tlie result of a shifting ol the actual 
funnel of discharge, so that the neck really represents several closely adjacent 
vents. The case of Largo Law has been already noticed. The necks at 
Kellie Law (Fig. 212) show clearly the same structure, the Law itself 
(1) probably consisting of two contiguous vents, while 
a third (2) forms a smaller cone immediately to the 
east. Such a slight lateral displacement of the vent 
lias been noticed at many Tertiary and recent vol- 
canic orifices. In the island or peninsula of Vol- 
canello, for example, three craters indicate successive 
shiftings of the vent, the most perfect of them mark- 
ing the latest and diminishing phase of volcanic 
activity (Fig. 211, compare Fig. 29, vol. i., p. TO). 
The Fife necks vary from only a few yards up 
to perhaps 4000 feet in diameter. One of the 
smallest and most completely exposed occurs on the shore at Kewark JJastle, 
near St. Monans. It measures only 60 yards in length by about 37 yards 
in breadth. A ground-plan of it is given in Fig 224. Still smaller is 
Fig. 214. — Plan of the craters 
in Volcauello, Lipari Islands. 
