262 HORSE-SHOES AND HORSE-SHOEING. 



little more than that of the Springhead example. Though 

 much oxidized, it yet retains the undulated border, and it 

 is perforated by seven nail-holes of very large size, with 

 the oblong socket to lodge the nail-head. Three of the 

 holes are on each side, and one in the centre of the toe has 

 doubtless been intended to act like the modern toe-clip, 

 and prevent the shoe from being driven back. This fea- 

 ture in these antique shoes is very rare, indeed this is the 

 only instance in which I have been able to trace it. The 

 aperture for the shank of the nail, instead of being nearly 

 circular, as in the Springhead shoe, is quadrilateral, and of 

 immense size, in proportion to the shoe (§ths long, by 

 TTiths wide). One of the nails yet remains in the shoe, 

 but the head is much worn ; though sufficient is left to 

 prove that it was of the flattened, high, and wide T pat- 

 tern. The shank is almost square like a carpenter's nail, 

 and fills the hole ; and at a distance of only ^ inch from the 

 foot surface of the shoe it bends suddenly forward as if 

 to form a clench on the outside of the hoof. The excess- 

 ive thickness of the nail, and the very short hold it had 

 of the hoof, are easily accounted for. The shoe has evi- 

 dently been for the near (left) fore foot, and the inner 

 branch towards the heel is narrower than the outer one; it 

 shows faint traces of a calkin, but the outer heel has a well- 

 defined calkin formed by doubling over the extremity, 

 as in the other specimens of this period, though this has 

 been more clumsily done than in some of those we have 

 noticed. The foot-surface is slightly concave from the 

 outer to the inner rim. 



In the large collection of undoubted Roman remains 

 brought to light in this castra, are three spurs of antique 



