Welsh Journals

Oct. 31, 1900. BYE-GONES. 487 from the moat. The nest eventually assumed colossal proportions, and presented a most singular appearance. During the ensuing winter the huge structure was entirely swept away by rain, storms, and floods. Nothing daunted, this persevering old hen recommenced building in the spring, and kept adding material to the nest for many weeks. She never laid, however ; and this year the nest, although a large one, did not attain the extra¬ ordinary dimensions that it reached last year. A curious variety of the moorhen occurs every now and then. I saw two of them obtained last year in Shropshire, near Wem and near Shrewsbury, localities ten miles apart. It is known as the "hairy variety" because the feathers resemble bristles or hairs. The colour is a dirty yellowish brown, which prevails even on the legs. These birds are by no means beautiful; not nearly so pretty as the normal moorhen, with its slate, black, and white plumage, and green legs. There is a peculiarity in the structure of the moorhen that usually passes unnoticed. It has a sharp nail or spur on the point of the wing. This is well seen in a downy nestling now before me. The spur is not confined to the British species, but is found in all members of the genus gallinula. In Shropshire the moorhen is always called " coot;" the coot proper being distinguished by the prefix, " bald- headed." NOTICES OF BOOKS. We have received from the Welsh National Press (Carnarvon) Trydydd Llyfr Hanes (the Third History Book), edited by Professor J. E. Lloyd, in the Young Wales School Series. The history of Wales, told in simple language, is given in Welsh and English, and it is to^be hoped that the use of these little books will have the desired effect of teaching the natives of the Principality more of the interesting story of their native land. The manual is illustrated, and one of the illustra¬ tions, we see, is a view of Oswestry Castle. Mr W. P. W. Phillimore, truly an ex¬ pert in such matters, has published " Pedi¬ gree Work: A Handbook for the Genea¬ logist" (124, Chancery Lane.) It will be found of great use by all who are look¬ ing up their own pedigree or studying the gen¬ eral subject of genealogy. They will learn how to go to work, and what sources of information they should make use of. In dealing with sur¬ names, Mr Phillimore gives the five commonest in the four divisions of the kingdom. It is note¬ worthy that While one of them, Smith, is included in thelist for England. Scotland, and Ireland, and Brown in the first two, the five names given under Wales are confined (in the list) to that country — Jones, Williams. Davies, Thomas and Evans, to print them in their order. Smith comes first of the five in England and Scotland, and last in Ireland, where Murphv occupies the first place. The "Reliquary and Illustrated Archfeolosrst" for October contains papers on "The Old and New Churches of St, Michael, Barton-le-Street," "An Early Christian Chancel," "Bells," "A Bronze Bowl found at Needham Market." Notes on Archaeology and Kindred Subjects, Notices of New Publications, and News Items and Comments. In "An Early Christian Chancel " Mr Leader Scott describes the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazia at Rosciolo in the Abruzzi, a " district entirely unknown to the tourist," where is a tribune wlrch Mr Scott believes to be the only one in Italy left unaltered from before the tenth cen¬ tury. The illustrations give a very good notion of the singular interest of the chancel. The other articles are also usefully and abundantly illus¬ trated ; one, in the paper on Bells, being a photo¬ graph of a group of marriageable girls of Benin City, arrayed in aprons of small brass bells. The "History of Oysitermouth." by Alfred Hall (Swansea: Alexandra Printing Company), is one of those intelligent and painstaking attempts to write the parochial history of the kingdom which cannot be too highly praised. Mr Hall states in his preface that he can quote his authority for every statement. It would be well if all parochial historian? could do the same! Much labour has evidently been bestowed upon this little book, and it will interest many besides the inhabitants of the parish. We may note that "the old custom of going about with the Horse's Head is still kept up in this parish at Christmas. It is called going 'a-hodening.' " Mr Hall, who -gives a list of inns, says that the Nag's Head Inn may be so called from this custom. Among the epitaphs in the churchyard is this— Sleep on, fair form, and wait the Almighty's will, Then rise unchanged and be an angel still. Mr Ballinger always manages 'to make the "Public Library Journal" (of Cardiff) interesting and entertaining, although such periodicals eo easily become dull. The numbn- for October is illustrated with specimens of embroidered bind¬ ing, and it is stated that an effort is to be made by the Welsh Industries Association to introduce embroidery for book covers. In Museum Notes we are informed that the Rev J. J. Strutt Bird of Bath has presented a curious set of fifty-two cards. They bear copperplate engravings, some depicting concrete objects, as a church, a bottle, an equipage, etc., but most are personifications, as Fortune. Poverty, Industry, and the like._ the names being engraved below in bold capitals. Some of the pictures are _ very amusing. "^Economy," for instance, is a traveller sans breeches, which he carries on a stick over his shoulder. "Physician" is shown in all the bravery of bag wig, shoe-buckles, and sword, passing through his gate-way, on the one post of which is a skull and cross-bones, and on the other, a coffin. "Nobody" is a grotesque individual made up of head, arms, and legs, but is minus a body. These cards bear the date 1775, and their engraver was S. Hooper, the engraver of many of the plates in Grose's "Antiquities." We are glad to give a welcome to a new pro¬ vincial magazine, the "Eastern Counties Maga¬ zine and Suffolk Note-Book," edited by the Hon. Mary Henmiker and published by Messrs Janrold and Sons of Warwick-lane. London. One of the papers, on Home Industries, is illustrated wi+h photographs of spinning and weaving, and we are glad to see it stated that an attempt is being made to revive the old industry for which