HORSE-SHOES OF DIFFERENT FORMS. 185 



15th century, are characterized in those (figs. 45,46,47), 

 from the Chateau of Sogron (8th to 15 th century); and 

 also those of Asuel and Vorbourg (figs. 48, 49). One of 

 them is peculiar in having a very primitive toe-clip {pi?i- 

 con), formed by the toe of the shoe being a little elongated 

 and bent upwards (fig. 49 ) ; and another has the calkins 

 inverted, or turning towards the heel of the foot (fig. 46). 

 The specimen from Vorbourg (fig. 49) closely resembles 

 that from Souboz (fig. 50) ; and yet the latter was 

 found at such a great depth in a quarry, that the work- 

 men believed the rock must have growm since it was 

 deposited. But there can be little doubt that it was lost 

 in the pasture on this part of the mountain traversed by 

 a Roman road, and at a very remote date had slipped 

 through a crevice in the rock. 



' It has already been remarked that in the ruins of 

 various castles, as elsewhere, shoes have been gathered 

 like those of early times, but we have emitted doubts as 

 to their employment at a later period. The shoe from 

 the Chateau of Asuel weighs 425 grammes, and it has 

 six nail-holes like those of the 12th century, mentioned 

 in the Roman da Renard (edit. Willems, p. 241), when 

 the cunning fox engaged the wolf Isangrin to read, under 

 the feet of a mare, on what conditions she would surrender 

 the flesh of her foal ! This description of shoe, stronger 

 in metal and of similar dimensions, appears to characterize 

 the horses of the middle ages, which had to carry heavy 

 caparisons of iron and riders covered with weighty armour. 

 They sometimes offer an important indication, consisting 

 in -the mark of the farrier who forged them. This is very 

 distinctly seen on the shoe from Asuel, and on those of 

 Vorbourg and Sogron. That from Asuel reminds us of 



