ON THE 80-CALLED BOW-PULLER OF ANTIQUITY. 157 



present time. I fail to see any relation between these two 

 forms and the enigma under discussion. Charvet urges 

 that the implement worn in the way suggested by Strobel 

 wouid wound and ruin the horse. Strobel says that in any 

 case the chain did not press down the implement ; the rein 

 or cord which he believes was attached to it was pulled at 

 the will of the trainer. He believes that his first idea of 

 the nse of this object is correct, though it mighthave been 

 used under the nose as suggested by Charvet. Strobel 

 says that no object preceding the bit has been found in 

 pre-historic times. He contends that there must have 

 been an evolution of the bit, and if this object is not a 

 stage in that development then nothing has been discovered 

 to fill the gap. He finally expresses the opinion that all 

 the twin rings were similar in function and that was the 

 Controlling of horses. I have quoted the views of these 

 authors at some length as the object certainly suggests an 

 association with harness and possibly with that of a curb 

 or snaffle. 



(In Fig. 10 some of Strobel's figures are reproduced 

 half-size.) Opposed to this idea may be properly urged 

 the great Variation in the length of the spines. In some 

 we find long, sharp points, in others short, Square knobs. 

 Nothing would be effected by forcing such short blunt 

 knobs against a horse's nose either above or below, and as 

 to the long-spined ones it would be impossible to hold the 

 object in place ; the object would be tipped or pulled over 

 on its side however it were worn. As to its formin£ a 

 stage in the evolution of the bit we find the linked bit in 

 Etruscan tombs associated with this object. If this were 

 a curb or snaffle of any kind it would certainly appear on 

 some one of the many ancient bronzes, marbles or vase 

 paintings of horses. Now an extended examination of 

 these various representations has failed to reveal any 



ESSEX INST. BULLETIN, VOL. XXVI 20 



