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NOTES AND QUERIES.
Round about our Coal Fire.—In a tract of 1740 recently reprinted by Messrs. Fisher Unwin, it is related how the judges and benchers on Candlemas Day performed a very curious ceremony, which included dancing round the fire and singing an old song. The Gentleman's Magazine, 1734, p. 103, calls it an "old French song." Wynne, in his Eunomus: or Dialogues on Law, &c. 1774, vol. iv. p. 107, says "the ancient song." Would any reader of the Journal tell me where I can find the words of this song^ or where, other than the authorities I have quoted, I can find a description of the ceremony.
Mr. Nutt's Paper on Irish Mythology.—In the June number of the Journal, p. 180, Mr. Nutt remarks that M. de Jubainville has taken no notice of O'Curry's interpretation of Cromm Cruach (bloody worm or maggot). The word should be written Cruim, and is feminine. As the text in the Book of Leinster and elsewhere shows that cromm is used as a masculine word, the meaning of "worm" is untenable. He is also called cromm crin, "withered cromm."—L.L. 213b.
In the next page Mr. Nutt expresses his doubts as to the historical existence, among others, of Fionn and Oisin. There is a passage in the Book of Leinster, though I have unfortunately lost the reference, which inferentially bears him out. It states that with one exception the Feini left no descendants. As they were considered to be a very numerous body, they could, therefore, hardly have been mortals.
Maypoles.—I was passing through the village of Wellow, Notts, a day or two ago, and was attracted by the appearance of a very tall pole in the centre of the village-green. It would appear to be sixty or more feet in height, and had cross-bars, three in number, at inteiTals near the top. I found it was a real Maypole, and that the present one, which had been standing about a quarter of a century,
