Know Your Lion Rat

All content taken from The Handbook to English Heraldry by Charles Boutell, M.A. (11th edition, 1914).

Rampant: erect, one hind paw on the ground, the other three paws elevated, the animal looking forward and having his tail elevated.

Lion Rampant. Rat Rampant.
No. 171. Rampant.

Rampant Guardant: as before, but looking out from the Shield.

Rampant Reguardant: as before, but looking backwards.

Lion Rampant Guardant. Rat Rampant Guardant.
No. 172. Rampant Guardant.

Passant: walking, three paws on the ground, the dexter fore-paw being elevated, looking forward, the tail displayed over the back.

Lion Passant. Rat Passant.
No. 173. Passant.

Passant Guardant: as before, but looking out from the Shield.

Passant Reguardant: as before, but looking backwards.

Lion Passant Guardant. Rat Passant Guardant.
No. 174. Passant Guardant.

Statant: standing, his four paws on the ground, and looking before him.

Lion Statant. Rat Statant.
No. 175. Statant.

Statant Guardant: as before, but looking out from the Shield.

Lion Statant Guardant. Rat Statant Guardant.
No. 176. Statant Guardant.

Couchant: is at rest, the fore legs stretched on the ground.

Lion Couchant. Rat Couchant.
No. 177. Couchant.

Sejant: sitting down with his head elevated. If he looks out from the Shield, the word Guardant is to be added.

Lion Sejant. Rat Sejant.
No. 178. Sejant.

Dormant: asleep, head resting on fore paws.

Lion Dormant. Rat Dormant.
No. 179. Dormant.

Salient: in the act of springing, the hind paws on the ground, both the fore paws elevated.

Lion Salient. Rat Salient.
No. 180. Salient.

Queue fourchée: having a forked tail.

Double-queued: two tails, as No. 181, which is a lion rampant double-queued.

Lion Double-queued. Rat Double-queued.
No. 181. Double-queued.

Coward: passant reguardant, his tail between his legs.

Lion Coward. Rat Coward.
No. 182. Coward.

MiSTing of “Coming Home hints”
MiSTing of “In the Stars”
MiSTing of “Alonzo and Melissa”
Why I Like Rats
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Know Your Lion / created September 2007 / revised May 2009