63 



to those worn by the Highlanders of Scotland in fastening 

 the shoulderknots of their tartans. It may have been, 

 however, the ornament of the rosette on a shoe. The ring 

 of it is ornamented by six diamond-shaped pieces of metal, 

 four of which are simply checked, but two on opposite 

 sides exhibit the fleur-de-lys. Its material appears to be 

 silver. 



Nos. 45 and 46 are rings, probably ear-rings, which 

 attached themselves at their points, and remained in their 

 positions from the spring of the metal The manufacture 

 of both is curious, as the former is evidently constructed 

 of the compressed sheet metal formerly alluded to, and the 

 latter is curiously indented at the side. It exhibits three 

 marks, at each of three intervals on the ring, but the 

 meaning of them is not apparent It is not probable that 

 they were designed for mere ornament. There are several 

 other rings in the collection, which exhibit varieties in 

 form and workmanship, and perhaps in material, The ear- 

 ring is an ornament of very rare occurrence. 



No. 47 is a portion of an ancient pin or skewer, used 

 for fastening the garment before our modern pins were 

 known or heard of. The loop at the top is probably 

 intended to serve for the insertion of a ribbon, to preserve 

 it from being lost — a precaution that was noticed in No 5. 

 Other skewers have been found in great variety, especially 

 one with a multangular head, each surface of which is 

 ornamented in a manner precisely similar to the skewers 

 found at Pompeii. There are others, in whole and in part, 

 in considerable variety, well deserving of attention. 



The remaining articles are evidently as various in their 

 objects as they are different in their forms. No. 48 is 

 probably an antique needle-case, and there are three or 

 four specimens of needles found near it, all of which would 

 suit it in size. The construction of this and another 

 needle-case is similar to that of various articles already 

 noticed, as it is rudely squeezed together from the sheet 

 metal, as if it were constructed of pasteboard. Even the 

 needle is manufactured on the very same plan, for by the seam 

 on its side we see that it has been compressed, the formation 

 of the eye and point being subsequent processes. Had the 

 early inhabitants of New England only known how easy 

 it is to manufacture needles on this plan, we might never 

 have heard of a whole village possessing only one, or of 

 good housewives arranging their time by the hour, so that, 

 by night or by day, it migbt never be idle. 



