276 PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS OP brooch. 1 )r. O'Douovau, the transhtor of the Brehon Laws, remai-ks that culIi brooch was cawed or onianicuted according to the rank of each 9nl(lU^^J^ Fit;. 1. — r>p"X'1i ill the iio>sossion of A. O. "Gcoghcgnn, Es<i. t^cclions and omixiHcntation of back of Ikpss. khig. As none of those hitherto discovered bceni to exhibit anythinpf Hke aiTiiorial bearinj^s, it is jiossiblc that the brooches of the different ranks were distin<.'nishcd by the nature of the inlaying or variety of the carvin;r. 'I'lie foir interhxcing serpents on this brooch may have such a Hi"nifii-ation. We have soincthint,' like this idea in the lcno;th of the (h-css fonnerly worn in England, the Sovereign having the train ; the noble wore his dress to the ground ; the serf's dress was (|uite short, itc. Colours also indicate rauk, I believe. The date of this brooch, judging by analogies of onuunenlation, as wo have none inscribed, is i)crha].s about ll'M). The IJook of Kells is said to have been written in the seventh century, and this stylo of ornameut diedoiitin the twelfth century. The fn-st idea of a brooch is that of a ring with a jiin attacjjed, and wc (ind some very primitive objects in that fiushion. I have seen a small branch of a tree twined into a ijoo() do duty ; but if we take the Wj-called ring money, No. 1, lil)ula very comnn^nly fomid in Ireland, and flatten the rims, we would very soon get the form sliown, No. .'5. 'I'his ring numcy foiuid in Irdaml is formed of gold, and is not un<'ommon ; but I do not recollfit any in.stanre of a pin being found attached. On the Continent the same f<»rm is found in limn/e. The pin is in its ]ilace, and the object nn a brooch is f.nmd coniph-le. No. : is from a sketch I made in IHflO, of such a brooch in the lUrlin .Museum, II. 1 1 10, from CallK) on the Siude. Similar brooches are (igurcd in I'rofossor Worsaae's catdogue of the Hoy.d MuH<;um, (Jopcnliagen, p. Ol, No. I'.'U, aii<l in
