single stone, hollowed out into a semicircular arch. The arch has two such stones in the thickness. The sill is also in one stone. These stones are all dressed and carved with an architrave-like figure running all round the doorway, enriched with a flat pellet ornament, a form of frequent use in Irish examples. On the summit of the arch is carved a crucifixion, with the legs not crossed. In the round tower at Donoughmore, County Meath, a representation of the Crucifixion occupies a similar position over the head of the doorway. Dr. J. Anderson gives the following minute description of the sculpture of the Brechin Tower:--“In the middle of the height of the jambs on either side are raised panels, bearing figures in relief of men habited as ecclesiastics. One bears a pastoral staff of the form peculiar to the early Celtic Church, having a curved head resembling that of a walking-stick. The other bears a book on his breast, and carries a cross-headed or tau-staff, which is of exceedingly rare occurrence either in this country or any other. At the lower part of the jambs on either side are the figures of two crouching beasts. One is a winged griffin, and both bear a close affinity to the figures of nondescript creatures carved on the early sculptured memorial stones.”[76] On each side of the arch of the doorway are two projecting blank panels, apparently intended for sculptures never executed. [Illustration: FIG. 613.--Brechin Cathedral. West Doorway.] When the Bishopric of Brechin was founded by King David, a church would, no doubt, be erected, but of that structure not a fragment remains. Of the existing building the western doorway (Fig. 613) presents the oldest feature. It is 5 feet 9 inches wide, and deeply recessed, the jambs being enriched with five detached shafts set in a series of nooks, and having moulded caps and bases, the caps with round abaci. The arch is pointed, and contains five orders carved with numerous bold mouldings, some of which present details showing the remains of a highly relieved chevron, a lingering form of Norman enrichment, together with rows of dog-tooth ornaments. The whole effect is simple and massive, and corresponds with other examples of early first pointed work, which may be assigned to the early part of the thirteenth century. The upper and the southern parts of the west façade (see Fig. 610) have been rebuilt at a later period. The portion over the doorway contains a fine example of late decorated tracery in the large western window, and the rebuilt portion to the south contains a niche, which is rather eccentrically introduced (see Fig. 613). [Illustration: FIG. 614.--Brechin Cathedral. Cap in Interior Angle of Tower.]