308 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy . 



brass ring 1^ inches in length and 1\ | inches in diameter, which had about 

 four rectangular opes about |- inch by f inch, and elevated bands at both top 

 and bottom running into cross bands which separated each pair of opes, the 

 opes and adjoining portions of the ring appearing to have held some additional 

 ornament now wanting. To one of the compartments of the barrel-shaped 

 portion, and adjoining the existing cross band, is attached by a brass nail an 

 ornament with its surface decorated by an interlaced pattern, and evidently 

 that from which sprung whatever class of embellishment was placed outside 

 the convex surface of the crook which formed the continuation of the crosier 

 from the last described ring, as the curve of the pointed shaft denotes. The 

 central wood of the article to within about If inches of its top is surrounded 

 by thin sheet-copper, not the same as that of brass which surrounds the shaft, 

 making it doubtful whether this boss and the shaft (no. 8) ever formed parts 

 of the same crosier. The wood of both should be microscopically examined. 

 The complete crosier is figured E. I. A. Celtic Christian Guide, 2nd ed., p. 59, 

 %• 57. 



10. Ancient Irish crosier-head supposed to be the remains of the crosier 

 of St, Blathmac, of Rath Blathmac near Corofin, in the county Clare. 

 Purchased December 2, 1830, from the Rev. Stephen Walsh. See Proceedine/s 

 R.I. A., vol. v, pp. 85-6. This consists of a barrel-shaped portion which 

 measures, with the attached ornament below, 5 inches in length and 2| inches 

 in greatest diameter (and is a brass casting, several various-shaped apertures 

 over its body having had the solid surface inlaid with silver), and of a crook 

 14J, inches in length over convex surface and front, formed of two correspond- 

 ing divisions attached side by side, and having their surfaces divided by raised 

 bands with circles at the crossings into lozenge-shaped compartments. The 

 ornamentation of the front is not forthcoming. This crosier is figured E. I. A. 

 Celtic Christian Guide, 2nd ed., p. 60, fig. 58. 



11. Ancient crosier-head of copper measuring in convexity 14£ inches. It 

 consists, like no. 10, of a barrel-shaped portion 3 inches or 3| inches long and 

 1| inches in greatest diameter, having on its surface twelve circular sunken 

 indentations, most likely for holding glass or other settings, each hole originally 

 surrounded by an inlaid circle of silver, a straight inlaid band of silver con- 

 necting each adjoining circle; the indentations placed in three rows round the 

 body of the portion — one of four round the greatest diameter, and two of four 

 more each at either side of last, half way between it and the ends, each pair 

 above and below corresponding to the centre between each pair of those in the 

 first central row. October, 1866, Mr. Clibborn says it was purchased from 

 Underwood. It is figured E.I. A. Celtic Christian Guide, 2nd ed., p. 62, 

 tier. 61. 



