A voided roundle is an annulet. Common charges are conventional representations of familiar objects that sometimes portray the history or character of the individual or family. One of the most important of such charges is the lion. Later it was adopted by the rulers of England, Scotland, and other European states. The earliest position of the heraldic lion was rampant, that is, erect and facing right and with only one foot on the ground.
Salient is similar to rampant, except that both hind feet are on the ground.
A beast of prey walking to the right is passant, and a beast of the chase, as a stag, is trippant. A crouching beast is couchant if the head is raised, and dormant if the head is resting on the forepaws. When looking toward the observer the beast is called gardant, and when looking backward, regardant. Two lions rampant placed face to face are called combatant, and back to back, addoss . Other animals used as heraldic charges include the bear, bull, boar, deer, goat, dog, fox, horse, and hedgehog, and occasionally the elephant, camel, mole, ape, cat, and mouse.