The somewhat singular charge of a _Chart_ appears in the arms of Christopher, and also as the crest of a Scottish family of Cook. [Illustration: FIG. 524.--Chess-rook.] [Illustration: FIG. 525.--Crescent.] [Illustration: FIG. 526.--Increscent.] _Chess-Rooks_ (Fig. 524) are somewhat favourite heraldic devices, and are to be met with in a shield of Smith and the arms of Rocke of Clungunford. The _Crescent_ (Fig. 525) figures largely in all armories, both as a charge and (in English heraldry) as a difference. Variations, too, of the form of the crescent occur, such as when the horns are turned to the dexter (Fig. 526), when it is termed "a crescent increscent," or simply "an increscent," or when they are turned to the sinister--when it is styled "decrescent" (Fig. 527). An instance of the crescent "reversed" may be seen in the shield of the Austrian family of Puckberg, whose blazon was: "Azure, three crescents, those in chief addorsed, that in base reversed." In English "difference marks" the crescent is used to denote the second son, but under this character it will be discussed later. Independently of its use in conjunction with ecclesiastical armory, the _Crosier_ (Fig. 528) is not widely used in ordinary achievements. It does occur, however, as a principal charge, as in the arms of the Irish family of Crozier and in the arms of Benoit (in Dauphiny) ["Gules, a pastoral staff argent"], while it forms part of the crest of Alford. The term "crosier" is synonymous with the pastoral or episcopal staff, and is independent of the cross which is borne _before_ (and not _by_) {290} Archbishops and Metropolitans. The use of pastoral staves as charges is also to be seen in the shield of Were, while MacLaurin of Dreghorn bears: "Argent, a shepherd's crook sable." The _Palmer's Staff_ (Fig. 529) has been introduced into many coats of arms for families having the surname of Palmer, as has also the palmer's wallet. [Illustration: FIG. 527.--Decrescent.] [Illustration: FIG. 528.--Crosier, or pastoral staff.] [Illustration: FIG. 529.--Palmer's staff.] [Illustration: FIG. 530.--Shuttle.] [Illustration: FIG. 531.--Woolpack.] [Illustration: FIG. 532.--Escarbuncle.] _Cushions_, somewhat strangely, form the charges in a number of British shields, occurring, for example, in the arms of Brisbane, and on the shield of the Johnstone family. In Scottish heraldry, indeed, cushions appear to have been of very ancient (and general) use, and are frequently to be met with. The Earls of Moray bore: "Argent, three cushions lozengewise within a double tressure flory-counterflory gules," but an English example occurs in the arms of Hutton. _The Distaff_, which is supposed to be the origin of the lozenge upon which a lady bears her arms, is seldom seen in heraldry, but the family of Body, for instance, bear one in chief, and three occur in the arms of a family of Lees.