136 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



The Trustees of the present Earl, through the good offices of ilr. T. R. 

 Garvey, aud of our member, Mr. H. S. Upton, having recently lent these 

 bronzes to the ISTational Museum, this opportunity of illustrating them is 

 taken (figs. 1, 2, aud 3). The number at present extant (95) is less by 

 13 than stated by Eobinson. It can be well understood that in the inter- 

 vening years some should have disappeared. The surface of the bronzes has 

 considerably suffered, being affected some years ago by a fire at Birr Castle. 

 Fortunately none were destroyed : and it is hoped that careful handlLug will 

 do something to restore their original condition. 



The cauldron (fig. 1) measui'es 14 inches in depth, and 22 inches in 

 greatest internal diameter. It is composed of four plates of hammered 

 bronze riveted together. The upper plate, divided into two, is extended to 

 form the grooved band below the rim, and the rim itself. The rivets joining 

 the plates have circular heads. The centre of the base has a small patch 

 attached by six rivets. The remains of a wooden support, which was 

 contained inside the rim, can still be seen. The large solid ring-handles 

 are attached to the rim by grooved sockets. On one side there are three 

 patches below the handle ; this is in so frail a state as to be almost detached 

 from the cauldron. The whole vessel is in a much damaged condition. 



The axe-heads, which number 27, exhibit (as can be seen from 

 the illustrations, figs. 2 and 3) considerable variety. Some are oval at the 

 mouth ; others rectangular. Some have rounded, others sloping sides. The 

 cutting edges of some are much expanded. 



The spear-heads, 21 in number, all belong to the leaf-shaped type, 

 their sockets being pierced with a single rivet-hole. Only two are orna- 

 mented ; the longest (fig. 2, e) has a slight rib at each side of the mid-rib 

 extending below the wings as far as the rivet-holes, these being encircled by 

 a raised rim ; another specimen (fig. 3, 5) is similarly ornamented, but the 

 ribs do not reach as far as the rivet-holes, in this case plain. 



The trxunpets number 12, there being in addition the connecting 

 portion of another. Pive were blown from the side ; the remainder from 

 the end. One of the latter (fig. 1, 13), imperfect at both ends, is in two 

 parts ; it is peculiar in having loops opposite to each other above and below. 

 The small connecting piece (fig. 1, 7) is pierced for rivets at each end. One 

 of the specimens, blown from the end, is remai'kable in ha\ang four large 

 rounded rivet-heads cast in the surface of the metal on each side of the 

 central cui-ve of the trumpet. The discolouration of the bronze makes 

 examination of the surface of these trumpets difficult. 



The 31 crotals are, with one exception, gourd-shaped, and grooved at the 

 top. They are fitted with a staple and a ring for suspension. The exceptional 

 specimen (fig. 3, 21) is rounded at the base ; its upper portion is plain. 



