LABEL. The noblest of abatements serving as a difference between the eldest and the junior sons. See DIFFERENCE. LANGUED. A term derived from the French word _langue_, tongue. It signifies in Heraldry that the tongue of a bird or beast is of a different tincture from the body. LION. The strength, courage, and majestic deportment of this noble animal, has gained him the regal titles of monarch of the forest and king of beasts. Ancient heralds selected the figure of the lion as symbolic of command, strength, power, courage, and other qualities attributed to that animal. Armorists have introduced lions to denote the attributes of majesty, might, and clemency, subduing those that resist, and sparing those that yield to authority. The lion has been depicted in every attitude which could by any means be construed into a compliment to the person the sovereign delighted to honour, by raising him to a rank that enabled him to bear arms. Was it a warrior, who, though victorious, was still engaged in struggling with the foes of his sovereign, the lion rampant was considered a proper emblem of the hero. The warrior having overcome his enemies in the field, yet retaining his military command for the safety and honour of his country, was typified by the lion statant gardant. We might easily find examples to show the propriety of the emblem for all the positions of the lion introduced as charges in coats of arms; but the two given will be sufficient: the rest may easily be imagined by the intelligent reader. The following are the most usual positions in which the lion appears in shields of arms:-- [Illustration: Rampant] Rampant. [Illustration: Rampant gardant] Rampant gardant. [Illustration: Rampant regardant] Rampant regardant. [Illustration: Salient] Salient. [Illustration: Statant gardant] Statant gardant. [Illustration: Passant] Passant. When the lions' heads are placed in the same position as in rampant gardant and regardant, they are then said to be passant gardant and regardant. [Illustration: Sejant] Sejant. [Illustration: Couchant] Couchant. [Illustration: Dormant] Dormant. Thus far the lion is drawn in natural positions; these are considered the most honourable, as they have never been properly inserted in arms but for persons of high authority and pre-eminent courage and virtue. There are a great many deviations from the above, which are marks of great honour. It is considered that a lion cannot bear a rival in the field; therefore if two or more lions are introduced they are supposed to be lion's whelps, or in Heraldic terms lioncels. [Illustration: Two lioncels addorsed] Two lioncels addorsed or back to back. [Illustration: Lioncels combatant] Lioncels combatant. [Illustration: Lion rampant double-headed] Lion rampant double-headed. [Illustration: An incorporated lion gardant in the fess point] An incorporated lion gardant in the fess point.