490 



getable physiologists — Professor Oliver, of the London University, and 

 Professor Harvey, of Trinity College ; and both agree that it is highly 

 probable that it is the wood of the alder." 



The accompanying illustration is a very faithful representation of 

 the shield when it first came into my possession. 



Ancient Irish shields are frequently mentioned in our annals and 

 histories, and several localities take their names from shields, such as 

 Dun-an-Sciath, the Dun or Portress of the Shields, in the county of Tip- 

 perary, and another near Lough Ennell, in the county of Westmeath ; 

 Sciath-Ghabra, now Lisnaskea, the Port of the Shields, in Permanagh ; 

 Sciath-an-Eegis, on the River Bandon, in Cork ; Sciath-lN'achtain, near 

 Castledermot, in Kildare ; and a number of other localities of like no- 

 menclature. In Christian times, objects emblematical of the religion 

 of the day were displayed upon the shield, and hence the name applied 

 to one of the O'Donnells of Donegal, of Conall Sciath Bhackall," or 

 Conall of the Crozier Shield, from the legend that St. Patrick inscribed 

 with the Bhachall Jesu a cross upon the shield of that chieftain, and 

 told him " to adopt the motto long retained by that clan of ' In hoc 

 signo Yinces.' " 



The word sciath, or shield, buckler, or target, is likewise applied to 



