buttresses at the angles, one of which is still preserved on the south side (see Fig. 743), where it has been incorporated with the later cloisteral structures, while the other buttresses have been altered. A fragment of the original choir also still survives in a portion of the south wall, which has been incorporated with the later building of the dormitory to the south. This fragment still retains, though built up, the plain round arch of a small window, and its large, round sconsion arch--the former now looking into the dormitory (Fig. 745), and the latter being visible in the interior of the choir (see Fig. 741). This window is, doubtless, of the period of the tower and nave. It has formed part of the exterior south wall of the choir, thus showing that the space opposite it was open, and that the dormitory, which is on the first floor, and blocks it up, has been added at a later period. [Illustration: FIG. 744. The Abbey of Inchcolm. Corbels of Parapet of Tower.] What the original form of the cloister buildings may have been it is now difficult to determine. As has been pointed out above, their arrangement is very unusual, the cloister walk occupying the whole of the ground floor, and the domestic buildings being on the first floor. This arrangement is quite contrary to that generally adopted, the usual plan being to have a one-story cloister walk round the court, giving access on the ground floor to the sacristy, chapter house, &c., in the east range, to the refectory in the south range, and to the cellars, &c., in the west range. At Inchcolm the ambulatory, or cloister walk--about 15 feet wide--occupies the whole of the ground floor round the east, south, and west sides of the square, while the church stands on the north side. This arrangement would be somewhat awkward as regards the principal entrance to the church through the tower, which would be left in the open court without any covered way leading to it. An attempt has been made at a late date to obviate this drawback by continuing a one-story cloister walk round the north side of the court (see Fig. 737). [Illustration: FIG. 745.--The Abbey of Inchcolm. Plan of First Floor.] The ambulatory is lighted by small round-headed windows towards the court (see Fig. 743), having wide square ingoings with stone seats (Fig. 746); and the sill of the recess is raised about 12 inches above the level of the cloister walk. Entering from the east walk is the chapter house, an octagonal building, 24 feet in diameter, of a somewhat later date than the nave and tower. [Illustration: FIG. 746.--The Abbey of Inchcolm. Cloister Walk, East Range, looking North.]