a royal and parliamentary burgh of Scotland, the principal town in the Orkneys, is situated in the S.E. side of a large and well-sheltered bay in the island of Pomona. It consists mainly of one long, narrow, and somewhat dirty, though venerable-looking street, most of the houses being built in the old style, with solid walls, small irregular windows, and gables facing the street. Another street parallel to this is more modern in appearance. The chief ornament of the town is the cathedral of St Magnus, a stately cruciform building, 236 feet long by 56 in breadth, and 71 in height. It was founded in 1138 by Earl Ronald, and is early Norman in its most ancient part. The choir was lengthened by Bishop Stewart in the reign of James IV., and the nave by Bishop Reid in the reign of Queen Mary. These additions are less purely Norman than the old part. The choir has long been used as the parish church; and recently the building underwent a thorough repair by order of Government. Near it are the ruins of the Bishop's palace, in which King Haakon of Norway died of a broken-heart, and of the Earl's palace, built by the ambitious Patrick Stewart, last feudal Earl of Orkney. Among the other public buildings are a town-hall and assembly rooms; there are two libraries, and a grammar school endowed by Bishop Reid. The port is chiefly frequented by coasters and passing ships from Norway and the Baltic. The principal exports are cattle and fish. Steamers ply regularly to Leith. The burgh contributes with Wick in returning one M.P.; constituency (1856) 109. Pop. (1851) 3541.