a royal and parliamentary burgh, and the county-town of Fife-shire. It stands in the centre of the House of Fife-shire, about 6 miles from the sea, and by railway and ferry is about 32 miles distant from Edinburgh. It consists principally of one long street, extending from east to west, and intersected by a cross street leading north and south. The town and county halls are the principal public structures; and besides two Established churches there are chapels belonging to the Free Church, the United Presbyterians, and the Episcopalians. There is also a large academy formed by the incorporation of an old joint-stock academy with a modern one on Dr Bell's foundation. The principal trade of the burgh is connected with its weekly corn-markets, and with the manufacture of coarse linen goods, snuff, leather, candles, bricks, and earthenware. For such branches of industry its clay-fields and water-power present considerable facilities. It is governed by a provost and 17 councillors; and unites with St Andrews, Crail, Anstruther, Kilrenny, and Pittenweem, in sending one member to the imperial parliament. On a mound called the Castlehill, at the east of the town, stood the fortress of the Macduffs, the feudal earls or thanes of Fife. The estate of Sir David Lindsay of the Mount was within a short distance of Cupar; and on a green esplanade in front of Macduff Castle, still called the "Play-field," the satirical drama of the "Three Estates" is said to have been performed. From the press of Mr Tullis in Cupar appeared the editions of Virgil, Horace, &c., edited by Dr Hunter of St Andrews. Pop. (1851) of royal burgh 4005; of parliamentary burgh 6686.

**CUPÉL** (Lat. *cupella*, a little tub or vessel), a small earthen cup-shaped vessel used in the refining of metals. It is usually made of phosphate of lime, or the residue of burnt bones, rammed into a mould. In the process of assaying the precious metals, the silver or gold is fused upon a cupel with lead, when the lead becomes oxidated and vitrified, and is absorbed by the substance of the cupel, while the silver or gold remains in a state of purity. This process is called *cupellation*. See Assaying, vol. iii., p. 770.