The elephant, having solid feet, is mentioned first, although the lion is really the only animal--if we except the boar's head--which occurs in the earliest armorial bearings. The Elphinstones charge their shield with an elephant passant, whilst the Prattes bear three elephants' heads _erased_. This term implies that they have been torn off and have ragged edges. [Illustration: PLATE 4. THE EARL OF SCARBOROUGH. _Arms._--Arg: a fesse gu: between 3 parrots vert collared of the second. _Crest._--A pelican in her piety. _Supporters._--Two parrots, wings inverted vert. _Motto._--Murus a[=e]n[=e]us conscientia sana. ] After describing this charge, Guillim rather comically gives us this story: "An elephant of huge greatness was once carried in a show at Rome, and as it passed by a little boy pried into its proboscis. Thereupon, very much enraged, the beast cast the child up to a great height, but received him again on his snout and laid him gently down, as though he did consider that for a childish fault a childish fright was revenge enough." [Illustration: FIG. 40.] Horses, of course, figure largely in armorial bearings. One, William Colt, bears three horses "at full speed" (Fig. 40). So also does Sir Francis Rush--probably in allusion to his name--whilst horses' heads _couped_--that is, cut off smoothly--occur very frequently. A demi-horse was granted as a crest to the Lane family in recognition of Mistress Jane Lane's heroism in riding from Staffordshire to the South Coast on a roan horse, with King Charles II. behind her, after the disastrous Battle of Worcester. Donkeys were evidently at a discount with heralds. The families of Askewe and Ayscough bear three asses passant charged on their shield, and there is an ass's head in the arms of the Hokenhalls of Cheshire. Oxen occur fairly often in heraldry. The Oxendens bear three oxen; three bulls occur in the arms of Anne Boleyn's father, the Lord of Hoo, whilst the same arms were given by Queen Elizabeth to her clockmaker, Randal Bull of London. The Veitchs bear three cows' heads erased, a rather uncommon charge, as female beasts were generally deemed unworthy of the herald's notice. The Veales bear three calves passant (Fig. 41), anent which Guillim adds: "Should these calves live to have horns, which differ either in metal or colour from the rest of their body, there must be special mention made of such difference in blazoning them." Hereby, he reminds us of the important rule for blazoning animals with horns and hoofs. Goats and goats' heads are often used in heraldry. A single goat passant is borne by one, Baker; three goats _salient_--leaping--occur in the Thorold arms, whilst the Gotley family--originally Goatley--charge a magnificent goat's head on their shield. [Illustration: FIG. 41.]