1 38 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



The two gouges (fig. 2, 24, 25) are of the ordinary socketed variety. 



In the British Museum are 77 pieces from Dowris, as well as a bucket- 

 shaped cauldron and 2 pan-shaped vessels of bronze.' 



That part of the find obtained by the Academy includes 2 trumpets, 

 8 crotals, 4 leaf-shaped spear-heads, and a gouge ; in all 15 pieces (PL III). 

 Of these the trumpets, 3 of the crotals, the gouge, and a spear-head appear 

 to have been given by Lord Oxmautown to Dean H. E. Dawson, and acquired, 

 with the remainder of the latter's collection, in 1840.^ The Dowris bronzes 

 are distinguished by a light golden colour. A large leaf -shaped spear-head 

 of similar hue has generally been shown as portion of the find ; but this, 

 which was deposited by the Eoyal Dublin Society, is stated both in the 

 Museum register and by Wilde^ to have been found near the old castle of 

 Streamstown, near Banagher. It cannot, therefore, be considered as 

 belonging to the Dowris hoard. 



The leaf-shaped spear-heads and socketed gouge (PI. Ill) belong to 

 ordinary types; they do not call for particular description. One of the 

 trumpets, shaped like a cow's horn, was blown from the end ; the other from 

 the side. The latter apparently failed in the casting some 7 inches from the 

 lower extremity, as here it shows an encircling repair nearly | of an inch in 

 breadth. This can be seen inside as well as on the outside. In both can be 

 observed on the outer surface small metal insertions, rectangular or irregular 

 in shape. Some of these may be patches to repair imperfections in the cast- 

 ing ; others are probably the remains of the pins that kept the core and hood 

 in place while the metal was being poured into the mould. The technical 

 methods used in casting bronze trumpets — a question of interest, indicating 

 considerable skill in metal work — has been recently dealt with by Hubert 

 Schmidt* in his memoir on the two hirer found at Daberkow. He has shown, 

 among other details, that the metallic composition of the pins to keep the 

 two parts of the mould in position was calculated to melt at a higher 

 temperature than that used in the body of the trumpet. This would prevent 

 the pins melting when the molten metal was poured into the mould. 



The raised spikes at both ends of the smaller trumpet probably recall an 

 older form, made of a cow's horn, with metal attachments at each end — the 

 spikes, retained as an ornamental feature, representing the nails which 

 fastened the mouth and end-piece to the horn. 



' Ex infm-m. R. A. Smith. 



2 Wilde, Catalogue (Bronze), 1861, pp. 511, 525, 613, G14, 626. 



^ Op. cit., p. 515. 



■* " Prashistorische Zeitschrift," vii, pp. 94-99. 



