Origin of Harlequins.—In a note to his translation of Priscus' "History of the Embassy sent to Attila by Theodosius the Younger" (Hist. Civiliz. app. iii. vol. ii. p. 430., Bogue's edit. European Library), M. Guizot remarks, alluding to the appearance of Zercho, a Moor, at Attila's feast:

"Is it not singular to find an harlequin at the court of Attila? Yet such is the origin of these buffoons. The colour of the black slaves, the strangeness of their face and manners, caused them to be sought after as excellent ministers of mirth; to complete the singularity, Zercho asks his wife at the hands of Attila, closely paralleling Harlequin demanding Columbine."

Is this account of the origin of Harlequins generally acquiesced in? I should be obliged by any early notice of the character of Harlequin, and his introduction on the English or any foreign stage.

E. L. N.

Monosyllables.—Among the many correspondents who have sent you specimens of monosyllabic poetry, I have seen no one who has quoted this very singular passage from Phineas Fletcher's Purple Island. It is far more striking than anything you have yet inserted on this subject.

In seventy words only one of more than a syllable; the alliteration in the second line is likewise noticeable.

H. A. B.

The Breeches, or Geneva Bible (Vol. iii, p. 17.).—I have before me a copy of Christopher Barkar's edition of the "Breeches" Bible, 1576, small folio, in which, on the fly-leaf, is the following interesting note in the handwriting of the late Francis Douce:—

"It is generally conceived that the peculiarity, 'and they sewed fig tree leaves together, and made themselves breeches,' belongs exclusively to this Bible, but it is a mistake. The Saxon version of Ælfric has, 'and sewed fig-leaves, and worked them WEED-BREECH, or cloaths for the breech.' Wicliffe also translates 'and maden hem breechis;' and it is singular that Littleton, in his excellent Dictionary, explains perizomata, the word used in the Vulgate, by breeches. In the manuscript French translation of Petrus Comestor's Commentary on the Bible, made by Guiars des Moulins in the 13th century, we have 'Couvertures tout autres-sint comme unnes petites braies.'"

Edward F. Rimbault.

Etymology of Mushroom.—In the sixteenth century this word appears generally to have been spelt Mushrump. Nares, in his valuable Glossary, gives an instance from Marlow's play of Edward the Second, 1598; but there is an earlier example in Robert Southwell's Spirituall Poems, 1595:

It is also spelt Mushrump in Cockeram's Dictionary, 1632. These instances may possibly lead to a correct etymology of the word.

Edward F. Rimbault.

Curious Fact in Natural History.—There is in the Brazils a popular superstition to this effect. There is a tree called JapÉcarga, which is said to grow out of the body of the insect called Cigara. This is a very large tree, and the Cigara is an insect which makes an incessant chirping on the tree, and, as the saying goes, chirps till it bursts. When the insect dies, the tree is said to grow out of it, the roots growing down the legs. My explanation is this: The insect feeds on the seeds of the JapÉcarga, and occasionally, under advantageous circumstances, some of the seeds germinate, and cause the death of the insect, the tree shooting up through the softest part, the back, and the rootlets making their way down the only outlets, the legs. I wish to know whether any similar fact in Natural History has been noticed, and if not, how is it accounted for, since I can vouch for the skin of the insect having been found with the tree growing out of its back, and the roots growing down through the legs.

John Manley.

Hudibras in 1710.—On the back of the oldest register of the parish of Syston, Leicestershire, is the following memorandum:—

"July 19th, 1710. Borrow'd then of Mr. Hesketh Hudibrass in 3 parts, w^ch I promise to return upon demand; witness my hand, John Kilby."

A pretty strong proof of the value and interest of this work about a century and a half ago.

Arun.

The Great Exhibition.—It is well known that the vineyards of Switzerland have been long protected from hail by means of upright poles having copper wire attached to them, termed "paragrÊles," distant from each other from 60 to 100 feet. The formation of hail is an effect of which electricity is the cause, and the cloud being deprived of this agent by the conductors, descends in the shape of rain. Mr. John Murray, F.S.A., F.L.S., &c., in his work on Switzerland, speaks very decidedly of their utility. Has then this ingenious contrivance been considered with reference to the protection of the Great Exhibition and its valuable, or rather invaluable, contents? or why is it deemed inapplicable to the purpose?

C. T.