BITS AND BITTING 109 



many not long ago. Then, again, in the horn 

 and bronze period — ^according to old records — a 

 primitive half-twist-bar-mouth-turn-cheek-pelham 

 came into vogue ; of course the original makers 

 did not call it by that name, but it was one all 

 the same. Virgil mentions a Roman bit, which 

 was termed in his time Licpattis, on account of 

 its ragged structure. Berenger, in his " History 

 and Art of Horsemanship" (1776) gives the 

 figure of a bit which was found in a large barrow 

 called Silbury Hill, which stands near the road 

 from Bath to London. The mouthpiece is not 

 unlike that of a modern snaffle ; the cheek pieces 

 are peculiar, and would not serve to carry a curb 

 chain. This bit is supposed to be either Roman 

 or early British. All bits, practically speaking, 

 come under the heading of either curbs or snaffles, 

 excepting those which partake of the character 

 of both. In the fourteenth century the long 

 lever bits had formidable spikes attached to them, 

 so that a rider's enemies might not attempt to 

 arrest his progress by catching hold of the 

 charger's mouthpiece. The sixteenth century 

 was responsible for chain snaffles, which re- 

 strained hard pullers ; and, in a curious little 

 black-letter volume, published 1566, we find 

 numerous plates showing curb bits more or 

 less severe, and more or less ornamented. These 

 resembled the handsome cavalry bits of the pre- 

 sent day. The following is an outline history 

 of bits up to the age of steel : — 



{a) The raw-hide halter was introduced. 



{b) The wooden snafifie, which was only a straight bar. 



