ment, or more commonly "THE TOOTH ORNAMENT." It is used with the greatest profusion, on arches, between clustered shafts, on the architraves and jambs of doors, windows, piscinas, and indeed in every place where such ornament can be introduced.

Tooth Ornament, North Transept, York Cathedral. A.D. 1240.

It is very characteristic of this style, for though in

This ornament is comparatively little used in France. Many of the finest French buildings of this period are entirely without it. Where it does occur is chiefly, if not entirely, in Normandy.

the Norman we find an approach to it, and in the Decorated various modifications of it, still the genuine tooth ornament may be considered to belong exclusively to the Early English.

Another peculiarity consists of THE FOLIAGE, which differs considerably from the Norman; in the latter it has more or

less the appearance of being imitated from that of the Classic orders, while in this it is entirely original. Its essential form seems to be that of a trefoil leaf, but this is varied in such a number of ways that the greatest variety is produced. It

is used in cornices,

F.M. DEL.

various other places, but particularly in capitals, to which it gives a peculiar and distinctive character. The foliage of these capitals is technically called "Stiff-leaf foliage," but this alludes only to the stiff stem or stalk of the leaf, which rises from the ring of the capital, the foliage itself is frequently as far removed from stiffness as any thing can be, as for instance in the capitals of Lincoln. The stiff stalk is however a ready mark to distinguish the Early English capital from that of the succeeding style. In pure Early English work, THE ABACUS is circular f, and

consists in the

earlier exam

ples simply of

two rounds, the

Lincoln Cathedral. A D. 1200

The general use of this feature is peculiar to England; even in the best early French work, the abacus is generally square, and as there can be no doubt that the round abacus is more consistent with pure Gothic work, the square one belonging more properly to the Classic styles, this circumstance is a strong argument in favour of the greater purity of English Gothic. Generally also the MOULDINGS are much more numerous and much richer in English work than in foreign work of the same period.

upper one the largest, with a hollow between them, but in later examples the mouldings are frequently increased in number and filleted.

THE BASES generally consist of two rounds, the lower one the largest, both frequently filleted, with a deep hollow between placed horizontally, but in later examples this hollow is not found, its place being filled up with another round moulding.

THE PILLARS are of various forms, round, octagonal, or clustered, but the most characteristic is the one with detached shafts, which are generally of Purbeck marble, frequently very long and slender, and only connected with the central shaft by the capital and base, and one or two bands at intervals.

THE ARCHES are frequently but not always acutely pointed, and in the more important buildings are generally richly moulded, either Iwith or without the tooth-ornament. In plain parish churches the arches are frequently without mouldings, merely recessed and chamfered, the only character being in the capitals and bases, or perhaps in the hoodmoulds, though these also are sometimes wanting.