310 



Mr. PETKIE'S Inquiry into the Origin and 



detached and lost. Both the figures were gilt, and their eyes, as well as those 

 of the serpent, are formed of small gems ; and the sides of the dragon are orna- 

 mented with a line of turquoises, placed at equal intervals from each other. 

 The bowl, or middle portion, which is 

 hollow, is encircled by a central belt, 

 ornamented with nine turquoises and 

 nine sapphires, placed alternately and at 

 equal distances from each other, the in- 

 tervening spaces being filled with sculp- 

 tured beads. Above and below this belt 

 there are figures of four dragons, gilt, and 

 with eyes formed of gems. The tail of 

 each of these animals is brought round 

 the head of the other, so as to form a 

 very symmetrical ornament; and the sur- 

 rounding ground is filled with a blue 

 enamel. Immediately above the bowl, 

 and encircling the upper portion of the 

 staff, is an ornament resembling the Irish 

 crown, consisting of eight radii, orna- 

 mented above the fillet with the same 

 number of gems. The lower portion of 

 the head, or cylindrical socket, is orna- 

 mented with a very graceful pattern, com- 

 posed of leaves, or flowers, in three ver- 

 tical ranges. The ground in these or- 

 naments is also of a blue enamel, but the 

 stems are gilt, and the flowers are filled 

 with an enamel of white and red, now a 

 good deal decayed. These ranges are separated from each other by three figures 

 of a fish, the well-known mystical symbol of the early Christians ; and these 

 figures are each ornamented with a range of seven gems, turquoises and sap- 

 phires alternately, placed at equal distances along the back. 



Independently of any other consideration, this crozier is of the highest inte- 



