256
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of our Indian Empire are now recognized. The book is equally valuable for self-instruction and as a text-book for schools.
Two Moods of a Man, with other Papers. By Violet Fane. (Nimmo.) ,
VIOLET FANE has reprinted from various periodicals a series of short articles, speculative, historical, or narrative, which may be read with amusement, if with no special advantage. On sexual matters she writes with an easy assurance that may or may not carry conviction. She is at times independent ol grammar, as when she says that a man is under th impression that he may select " whoever he likes, and she is not incapable of carelessness, as when she speaks of " les neiges d'autan" ! Errors of the kind are not numerous, however. One ol ner papers tells afresh the story of Prince Dj em or Zizim, the subject of many shameless Christian intrigues, and the victim, it is affirmed, of Borgian poison.
The Library. (Kegan Paul & Co.) THE latest number of the Library has for frontis- piece a portrait of Antonio Panizzi, accompanying a satisfactory biography. Mr. W. E. Axon has a curious and interesting article on ihe Licensing ol Montagu's "Miscellanea Spiritualia," ' a singular work, which will be strange to most of our readers. Mr. H. B. Wheatley gives the all-important results of consultations by committees on the best methods of preserving from destruction the bindings of books. Gas is the most deleterious influence. Mr. Cyril Davenport treats of 'Some Popular Errors as to Old Bindings.' Mr. W. H. Allnutt's ' English Pro- vincial Presses, 1750-1800,' is a useful contribution to bibliography. Papers of value and interest are supplied by Mr. Pollard, Mr. Plomer, and other writers.
Journal of the Royal Institution of Cormvall.
Vol. XIV. Part II. (Truro, Lake & Lake.) THE Royal Institution of Cornwall was founded upwards of eighty years ago ; it is still as energetic as if it were in the first bloom of youth. It devotes its energies to the physical sciences as well as to those relating to human history. Every volume contains interesting papers by the scholars of the West, and nearly every paper in the present issue is of permanent value. One of the most important is a contribution by Mr. Rupert Vallentin on a journey to and from the Falkland Islands, with notes on their flora and fauna which cannot fail to interest almost every naturalist. Among other things he gives an excellent account of the elephant seal, well illustrated by photographs of the animal in various positions. When these islands were first colonized, these strange creatures were common. They are now very rare, having been driven away from their quiet resting-places by the crews of whaling vessels, who seem to have indulged them- selves in promiscuous slaughter. The specimen which Mr. Vallentin captured was about eighteen feet long. We believe others have been encoun- tered elsewhere which were still larger. The Rev. S. Rundle publishes an account of some old Cornish chairs, of which he gives several illustra- tions. One which was formerly in the church of Lanlivery, but has now disappeared, is interesting as exhibiting mediaeval symbolism, although the general character of its ornamentation leads to the conclusion that it was made at a period after the
NOTES 'AND QUERIES. P*S.VIIL SEPT. 21,1001.
Reformation. On the large panel at the back an
arch is carved, near the top of which is a conven-
tional lily, the stalk of which is a sword-blade.
This the writer, referring to Luke ii. 35, thinks
undoubtedly has reference to Simeon's prophecy
concerning the Blessed Virgin.
In a report is given a good account ot the dis- coveries made in a burial-ground of the late stone and bronze ages which has recently been explored at Harlyn. Near the heads of some of the bodies were found small collections of charcoal, flint, and felspar. We know that in old days there was a cus- tom, very widely spread, of putting food, weapons, and ornaments in the graves of the dead. This was founded on the poetic belief that such things would be of service to those who had undertaken the perilous journey to the other world. It is therefore suggested, with high probability, that charcoal, with its accompaniments, was given to provide warmth and light for the spirit wayfarer. We have heard that in some countries the peasants still bury a candle with the dead, a custom which probably had its origin in a similar belief.
The paper by Mr. T. C. Peter on Cornish churches records some interesting facts. On a fragment of a fifteenth-century screen at St. Mylor is an inscrip- tion, clearly cut, which reads IABYS IONAI IESW CREST. The first two words have not hitherto been explained. A suggestion has been made that they are Cornish ; even if this be so, a satisfactory translation is still wanting. The Rev. S. Baring- Gould continues his catalogue of saints connected with Cornwall. It is not merely a list of names, but gives the churches dedicated to them and a short account of their lives. It will be found very useful by the student, but we trust he will not put implicit confidence in all the identifications.
to
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