In blazoning a coat of arms, the tincture of the field must be first stated; and if it be not of a simple tincture, whether it be party of any of the ordinaries, then the principal object charged upon it, which lies next the shield; and if that charge be formed of any irregular lines, such as invected, ragulée, &c., it must be stated; if an inanimate object, and it be not in its usual position, it must be described as bar-wise, bend-wise, &c.; if an animal, rampant, couchant, &c., then its tincture; and, lastly, any peculiar features, such as armed, gorged, &c. Having described the principal charge (or that which occupies the centre of the shield), the subordinate charges, also lying on the shield itself, follow. Should any of the before-mentioned charges be themselves charged, the secondary charges so lying on them must not be mentioned until every object in direct contact with the field has been described.
By counterchanging is implied a reciprocal changing of a metal or fur for a colour, or vice versâ. Thus Fig. 174 would be blazoned, Party per pale, az. and arg.; a lion passant, counterchanged. In this example it will be seen that part of the lion tinctured azure rests upon an argent field and the part which is argent upon an azure field.
Instances of counterchanging are more frequently to be met with in foreign than in English Heraldry, though in the latter they are not uncommon. The arms of Wales are Quaterly, gu. and or; four lions rampant, contercharged. The arms borne by the Paumure and Lane families afford examples of counterchanging.
