CAITHNESS, 'ratline's, a maritime county in the extreme northeast of the mainland of Scotland; area, 686 square miles. The surface is generally level or undulating, and there are few hills of any height, except on the Suther land border. Much of the surface is deep moss or peaty moor, but there is a fair proportion of fertile land in the eastern part. About one quarter of the whole surface is under crops and rotation or in permanent pasture. Of corn crops oats is by far the most import ant. Sheep is largely engaged in, and a considerable area is under deer forest. Only a very small portion of the country is wooded The coast, north and east, is prevailingly bold and rocky; in the southeast low and sandy. The chief headlands are Dunnet Head on the north coast, Duncansby Head at the northeast corner, Noss Head and the Ord on the east coast. The largest bays are Dunnet Bay on the north and Sinclair's Bay on the east, but Thurso Bay and Wick Bay are also noteworthy. There are many lakes, some
of them very attractive. The largest is Loch Watten, near the centre of the county. There are no navigable rivers. Caithness is poor in metallic minerals, but excellent flagstones have been quarried for many years and form one of the chief exports of the county. Many of the inhabitants are engaged in fishing, and Wick is one of the chief centres of the Scottish her ring-fishery. The manufactures are subsidiary to its other industries. Wick, the county town, is a royal burgh, and Thurso is the only other town. The antiquities of Caithness are numer ous, and include old castles, so-called Picts' houses, monoliths, etc. The country returns one member to Parliament. Pop. (1911) 32,010.