74 The History of the Spur 



on Plate 46, Fig. i. It is a swan-necked spur, with a neck 

 two and a quarter inches long, with straight sides, terminating 

 in circular studs, precisely the same in that respect as the 

 ordinary hunting spur. The trooper's spur has a straight neck, 

 one and a half inches long, with the rowel-box turned downwards, 

 and is similar in every respect to the hunting spur, except that 

 of late years the studs and buckles have been done away with, 

 in order to avoid anything projecting from the outer side of 

 a man's spur catching in his neighbour's stirrup when drawn 

 up in close line. The sides of the troopers' spurs now terminate 

 in an opening, as shown on Plate 46, Fig. 2, to which the 

 sole strap, or chain, and the instep strap are fastened, thus 

 reverting to the method of attachment which had been in vogue 

 for so many centuries previous to the eighteenth. 



When dismounted, both officers and troopers wear a swan- 

 necked steel box spur, without sharp rowels, as shown on 

 Plate 47. 



