Smith — Ancient Irish Gold and Silver Ornaments. 735 



in diameter. The colour of the gold was somewhat pale yellow. An 

 analysis of the frasrment gave the following result : — 





Fragment of 

 "Torque." 



Analyshs OF "Torques" in- 

 serted FOR Comparison.* 



No. I. 



No. II. 



Gold, per Cent., . . 

 Silver, „ „ 

 Copper, „ „ 

 Lead, ,, „ 



71-01 



24-09 



4-67 



71-54 



23-67 



4-62 



Trace. 



79-48 



18-01 



2-48 



99-77 



99-83 



99-97 



Fineness in Carats, 

 Specific Gravity, . . 



17-04 

 15-692 



17-17 19-07 

 15-377 15-444 



Number 2. — One end of an akmlet or bracelet. "The simplest 

 form of hracelet, found amongst the Irish antiquities, is that of a plain 

 ring, round or oval in shape, about two inches and three-quarters in 

 diameter, to fit the wrist, and either flat or circular in section, 

 unclosed at one side, and having the ends separated for about an inch, 

 for greater facility of adjustment. In most instances, the extremities 

 of the latter are enlarged or dilated into conical bulbs with flat 

 cymbal-shaped faces, or hollowed into cups, varying from slight, 

 shallow, saucer-like concavities, to those resembling a goblet or the 

 calyx of a flower. Most of these lings are thick in the centre, and 

 become gradually thinner towards their bulbous ends. The fragment 

 examined, differed from the generality of these ornaments in not 

 being cylindrical, but presenting a semi- circle in section. The extre- 

 mity was enlarged, being five-eighths of an inch in diameter, and 

 slightly cupped. 



* Trans, of Eoyal Irish Acad., vol. xxii., p. 315. Analyses Nos. I., II. It 

 wUl be seen that the result of the analysis agrees very closely with the results of 

 the analyses of ornaments of the same description, obtained by Mr. Mallet, which 

 are inserted for comparison. 



No. I. is the analysis of two end hooks of one of the twisted " torques." The 

 colour of the gold was a pale, rather sickly yellow. 



No. II. — Fragment of a torque similar to No. I. This specimen, which was 

 of a rather deeper yellow colour than the other was from the middle of the torque. 



