research for historical novel. Two questions

[Nathan Ross]

My guess is that it would be a scroll but it is badly eroded.

It actually looks like he's holding a bird (with his hand wrapped around its body and the head sticking up) mile:

[attachment=11801]pantera.jpg[/attachment]

But that would be fanciful. I agree with Michael - it's probably a scroll or other document relating to the citizenship he was granted on discharge from the army.

(* Unless he really was a standard bearer, and this is some part of the standard he's holding!...)