VAIR is the other principal fur in heraldry. From what its name is derived seems perfectly uncertain. The Latins certainly blazon it, " Arma variata," &c. Its pieces arc always argent and azure, disposed in the manner of rows of little figures, resembling shields or bells, so placed that the point of the bells in the second row is between the base of those of the first. (See Fig. 17.) The grand vair of the French is that wherein the rows of these figures are only three in number. In menu vair the rows are above four, and this is the common vair of our heraldry. For countre vair, see Fig. 18.
The species of fur represented in Fig. 19. which con sists of pieces alternately arranged of azure and argent. resembling cups, goblets, &c. is variously named meirre, vairy cuppy, vairy tassy, or potent contre potent azure et argent. Potent is derived from potence, a gallows, the top of which these figures are supposed to resemble. These furs may all be used in the same manner as the er mines.
Of the Points of the Shield.
24. For the convenience of blazoning, the different parts of the shield have received particular names, taken from the parts of the human body ; of these a scheme is given in Fig. 20. ABC represents the highest part of the shield, which the French called chef, and we the chief D is call ed the collar or honour point, because badges of honour are worn on the breast, as those of the garter, thistle, &c. E is called the cur point, as also the centre or fess F, the nombril, or navel point. GH, by the French, thefianque points, by the English, the base points. I, the base point. A is the dexter chief point, or canton. B, the middle chief point. C, the sinister chief point. G, the right base point. H, the sinister base point.
When arms are blazoned without relation to, or ex pression of, the point wherein the figures are placed, they are then supposed to occupy the centre of the shield. When figures are ranged as ABC, they are said to be in chief. When ranged so as to reach from the dexter chief point to the sinister base point, to be in bend ; from the si nister base point to the dexter chief point, in bend sinister ; when placed between the base points, they are said to be in. base or in point.
Of the Lines of Partition.
24. The field or surface of the escutcheon is divided into parts by various lines.
It must be observed, that indented and dancette are lines of the same form, differing, however, in the size and num ber of the cuts or indents ; those of the former being more numerous and smaller than those of the latter. For ex
ample, a Fess dancette should be composed of three in dentations and no more, whereas the Fess indented may have double that number. These lines are all engraved in Plate CCXCI. from Fig. 21—Fig. 40.
When a shield is by a horizontal line divided into two equal parts, it is said to be coupe, or parted per fess. See Fig. 41.
\Vhen a shield is by a perpendicular line divided into two equal parts, it is said to be party, or party per pale. See Fig. 42.
\Vhen a shield is divided into two equal parts by a dia gonal line drawn from the dexter point chief to the sinister point base, it is said to be tranche, or party per bend dexter. See. Fig. 43.
When it is so divided by a diagonal line from the sinis ter point chief to the dexter point base, it is said to be taille, or party per bend sinister. See Fig. 44.
\Vhen the partition line is straight, as in Fig. 21. above mentioned, it has then no additional denomination in the blazon. But if it has any of the other twenty forms, then the term of that form must be added in the blazon, and is of frequent use for the distinction of cadets.
When the first two lines, parted per pale, and parted per fess, (in French coupe and parti,) meet in a field, they di vide it into two equal parts, or quarters, which are of dif ferent tinctures, the first as the fourth, and the second as the third. 'Thus we say, quarterly gules and argent : the French, ecartile de gueules et d'argent ; Gerard Leigh and his followers, parted per cross. See Fig. 45.
Whentrancbe and taille meet in a field, they divide it into four areas, which is blazoned parted per saltier argent and azure. The French would say d'argent jlanque d'azure, or L'ecartile en sautoir. See Fig. 46.
When coupe, tranche, and taille meet in a field, they make six triangular areas-blazoned girony of six. Fig. 47.
\Vhen the whole four lines, coupe, party, tranche, and tail.e, meet in one field, they divide it intq eight tonal parts blazoned girony of eight.
When two half diagonal lines, rising from the dexter and sinister points base, meet in the collar points, it is party per chevron. See Fig. 48.
When a shield is divided into three equal parts, it is said to be tierce. See Fig. 49.
If by perpendicular lines, tierce per pale. See Fig 49.
If by horizontal lines, . . tierce per fess. Fig. 50.
If by diagonal lines from right 5 tierce per bend dex to lctt, ter. See Fig. 51.
If by diagonal lines from left per bend sinis to right, ter,or tierce en bar.
See Fig. 52.