744 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



Conclusions. 



Erom the results of the analyses of these silver articles the compo- 

 sition does not seem so varied as in the case of the gold ornaments, nor 

 is there the same agreement between the analyses of the particular 

 specimens destined for the same use. Two of the silver armlets in the 

 Royal Irish Academy collection were examined by Mr. Mallet, but 

 their composition varies somewhat from that given above. The 

 results were as follows: — 







No. 3. 



No. 5. 



Silver, per cent., . 



37-05 



94-01 



Copper, 



)> 



60-26 



4-34 



Gold, 



>> 



Ml 



.1-31 



Lead, 



n 



•10 



•06 



Tin, 



" 



•61 



— 





99-13 



99-72 



Specific 



gravity, . 



8-770 



10-335 



Number 3, was the end of a taper bangle or penannular bracelet 

 of very rude workmanship, also, perhaps, occasionally, used for money. 

 It was very hard, and rather brittle, breaking with a finely granular 

 fracture of a yellowish white colour. 



Number 5. — Fragments of a flat armlet, broken across at the ends, 



and stamped with small square indentations, f Museum mark, -— ) 



There were traces of silver chloride upon the surface, which was much 

 worn.^ 



After examining eight of the silver ornaments of the Eoyal Irish 

 Academy Collection, Mr. Mallet found ^that, with the exception of 

 two of the articles (analyses No, 2 and No. 3), the whole set con- 

 tained from 92 per cent, to 96 per cent, of silver, with from 7 per 

 cent, to 3 per cent, of copper, and a little gold ; it will be seen, 

 therefore, that although there is no apparent agreement between the 

 analyses of the same kind of articles, yet the results obtained for the 

 two articles examined come within the above limits. 



1 It may be remarked here that Mr. Mallet also examined a counterfeit flat 

 bracelet or armlet composed of a core of iron covered with a thin plate of silver, 

 which, on being analysed, was found to have the following composition percent. : — 

 Silver, 94-69; Copper, 311; Gold, 1-80; Iron, -04; Sulphur, trace; Specific 

 Gravity, 10-379. See Irans. Eoyal Irish Acad., vol. xxii., p. 319. Analyses 

 No. 4. (Museum Mark, -^). 



