Among the most
prevalent charges to be found are beasts. It is important to remember
that the heraldic depiction of an animal does not always match the
natural appearance of the beast. A good example of this is the tiger:
in ancient armorial examples one will find only the heraldic tyger,
a stylized creature which bears little resemblance to a tiger's natural
appearance. In more recent coats-of-arms, however, one finds the Bengal
tiger, a much more naturalistic presentation of the animal.
When describing
an animal it is necessary to blazon not only the creature's type but
also the position in which it is presented. These positions are illustrated
by the lion
and by the stag,
for which the various positions are differently named.
Other animals
which are occasionally encountered in heraldry but for which we
have no illustration currently include:
ibex
camel
crocodile
panther
(rarely found other than as a supporter)
porcupine
rhinoceros
tortoise
sprinbok
(or South African antelope)
zebra
oxen
cows
calves
bloodhound
mastiff
foxhound
(Note:
If a dog is shown to be chasing another animal it is said to
be, "in full chase" or "in full course."
A dog with it's nose to the ground is described as, "on
scent.")