ii s. i. APR. 9, i9io.] NOTES AND QUERIES.
297
sacred building left behind this objectionable evidence of their presence. He and others at the time (about 1860-70) thought that this was done in the very wantonness of defiant sacrilege, but it no doubt had another explanation.
It is not easy to comprehend the crooked logic which actuates the practice. It seems to be an instance of that belief in sympathetic magic which establishes a vital connexion between a person and anything that belongs to or issues from his body, such as his saliva, hair, blood, or excrement. These retain some portion of his personality and consciousness, and may stand as his surrogates for good or for evil. They were consequently often used in the practices of witchcraft, e.g., by burning them the person could be injured. Thus in a Danish tale a maiden is enabled to escape from a kobold by leaving her spittle behind, which answers for her (see E. S. Hartland, 'The Legend of Perseus,' ii. 80, 61, 155 seq.). In a similar way the excreta left behind were probably considered to represent and stand for the burglar while he made his escape in safety. The same superstition is known among German criminals. Mr. J. G. Frazer gives references to Mennhardt, 'Mythologische Forschungen,' 1884, p. 49; Wuttke, 'Deutsche Volksaberglaube,' §400; Töppen, 'Aberglaube aus Masuren,' p. 57. See 'The Golden Bough,' vol. i. p. 380. A. Smythe Palmer.
[Reply also from G. K. testifying to similar practices in Germany. We cannot insert any more on this subject.]
George Cumberland (11 S. i. 249) was the second son of Richard Cumberland. He was born in 1762, entered the Royal Navy, and was killed at the siege of Charlestown, South Carolina, 1776. See Ward and Roberts's 'Romney: Catalogue Raisonné,' p. 38. I rather think we received the dates from a member of the family. W. Roberts.
THE HON. JOHN FINCH (11 S. i. 249) was
he fourth son of Heneage Finch, third Earl
Aylesford; he was born 22 May, 1755,
nd was killed in America 29 June, 1777, not,
s stated, 3 July, 1777. F. DE H. L.
WILKINSON LISTER KAYE (11 S. i. 249) s a gentleman cadet from 19 Jan., 1813, 11 Dec., 1815, when he entered the Royal u-tillery (No. 1621, Kane's List) as second eutenant, at the age of seventeen years months. He was promoted first lieu- 1 May, 1822 ; second captain,
12 July, 1836 ; captain, 26 Nov., 1842. He
served abroad (Gibraltar, Ionian Islands,
and Ceylon) for some ten years. He retired
on half -pay 4 May, 1843, and died at Bath
6 July, 1876.
This Wilkinson Lister Kaye could, obviously, not have been admitted to Westminster School in 1787. T. T. V.
Wilkinson Lister Kaye was the illegitimate son of Sir John Lister Kaye, 4th Bt, He died, I believe, at Bath in the seventies 5 but if G. F. R. B. is anxious to know any- thing more about him, I might perhaps be able to help him, if he would let me know. CECIL LISTER KAYE. Denby Grange, Wakefield.
Sir John Lister Kaye, Bt., M.P. for York, born 1697, died 1752, married, as his first wife, Ellen, daughter of John Wilkinson (Foster, * Pedigrees of Yorkshire Fam., J West Riding, 1874, under Kaye of Wood- some). W. C. B.
[MR. F. BOASE also thanked for reply."]
" COMBOLOIO (11 S. i. 129, 197). Can the Greek (modern) Ko/jiBos be traced to any Arabic root ? J. M.
GRINLING GIBBONS (11 S. i. 149). I think the querist will find what he is looking for in The Daily Telegraph of about three months ago. I am sorry I cannot give information more definite, but my copies have dis- appeared.
Some brief references to the life of Grinling Gibbons appear in Miss Lena Milman's ' Sir Christopher Wren,* pp. 135-9, &c. In a foot-note on p. 136 she cites John Evelyn as spelling in his ' Diary * the wood-carver's name without the s final.
R. A. H. UNTHANK.
Gibbons may have spelt his name without an s sometimes, for the s evidently signifies, as in similarly-ending surnames, the son of Gibbon. Walpole in his * Anecdotes of Painting,* however, always refers to him as "Gibbons." He says :
" Vertue had received two different accounts of his birth : from Murray the painter, that he was born in Holland of English parents, and came over at the age of nineteen ; from Stoakes (relation of the Stones), that his father was a Dutchman, but that Gibbons himself was born in Spur Alley, in the Strand. This is circumstantial ; and yet the former testimony seems most true, as Gibbons is an English name, and Grinling probably Dutch."
J. HOLDEN MACMlCHAEL.
