The largest, best exposed, and most interesting volcanic vent along the northern shores of Fife is that which has been laid bare at the headland of Kinkell Ness, and a portion of whose enclosed material has been sculptured into the picturesque shore stack known as the Rock and Spindle. (“These two words,” as Sir A. Geikie points out, “are generally misunderstood. ‘Rock’ is the Scots word for a distaff; and ‘Spindle’, as here used, has reference to the stellate mass of basalt resembling a spinning wheel.”) Reason for this appropriate designation will be readily gathered from the accompanying photograph (Plate XIII).