The practical functions of the herald devel oped into blazoning, historifying, passing judg ment on, and marshaling coats of arms. Blazoning is the methodical description of a bearing. In the first place the shield is de scribed according to its tinctures, figures and partitions. The other parts of a coat are then blazoned— the helm with its crest which are trumpet, wings and plumes, men and ani mals, or their members; then the wreath and its tinctures; after which the cornet, cap, etc.; finally the supporters, the mantling, the device or motto and other secondary addenda. To his torify in heraldry is to explain the history of a coat of arms, its origin, and the changes it has undergone. If the herald is to explain a hear ing historically, he must show that this figure is the proper emblem of the family or country. He derives, for instance, from historical sources the proof that the double-headed eagle of the German Empire was first introduced by Charlemagne (A.D. 802); and he records the privilege given to wear that eagle on a private escutcheon. So he shows that the three leopards (lions passant gardant) in the English arms were first derived in 1127 under Henry I from the Norman house. The mar shaling of arms is especially important in the preparation of new escutcheons. In this mat ter, the herald either follows the orders of the sovereign, or he invents the coat, and makes the charges on the escutcheon according to his own judgment, or he composes a new es cutcheon from several coats of arms.
When color is not used, a system of conven tional drawing is substituted; thus, argent is left white, or is white with black dots, azure try horizontal black lines on white, gules by vertical black lines, sable by crossing black lines horizontal and vertical, vent by lines from the dexter chief to the sinister base, purpure by lines from the sinister chief to the dexter base. The furs have peculiar patterns and surfaces of their own.
The crest is the uppermost part of achieve ments of arms and is set above the escutcheon. It is called crest from the Latin word crista, which signifies a comb or tuft, such as many birds have upon their heads. Crests were an ciently marks of honor, because they were worn only by heroes of valor and high rank that they might be the better distinguished in an engagement, and thereby rally their men if dis persed; or else they were of the nature of badges worn by all the followers of a chieftain and serving to identify them. They are at
present considered as mere ornaments; and they may be assumed without authority; obvi ously they should not be used by women. Supporters are figures placed on each side of the shield and perhaps originated from the cus tom of pages in fantastic dresses guarding the achievements of arms of their masters while the latter were taking part in the exercises of the tournament. The scroll is an ornament usually placed below the shield and supporters, containing a motto or short sentence alluding to the crest, or to the bearing or to the bearer's name. The motto had its origin in the war cries of knights, though in some instances mottoes were borne differing from the war cry of the wearer. The badge does not belong to heraldry, though it may be a part of the heraldic achievement, used separately. The por cupine was the 'badge of Louis XII of France, and the salamander was chosen by Francis I when he came to the throne, but neither of these was included in the escutcheon or worn as a crest. The reader may consult Palliser, 'Historical Devices, Badges and War Cries' (London 1870). The most recent large and important book on heraldry in English is 'The Art of Heraldry,' by Arthur Charles Fox Davies, which is based upon the 'Heraldischer Atlas' of H. G. StrOhl. An excellent book for persons who are making a serious study of the matter is Berry's 'Encyclopmdia Heraldica,' in three volumes, n. d. (about 1820). The treatise on Heraldry by Woodward and Burnett (2 vols., 1892), is a very full and up-to-date manual. Smaller books are numerous. To name English ones alone Cussan's 'Handbook of Heraldry,' Planche's 'The Pursuivant at Arms,' Worthy's 'Practical Heraldry,' and especially Charles Boutell's two books, 'Eng lish Heraldry' (2d ed., 1871), and the very re markable essay, 'Heraldry, Historical and Popular> (3d ed., 1864), now scarce, but never theless the most suggestive book that can be