2^ S. Ko 60., Dec. 13. '56.] 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



477 



How do Oysters make their Shells f (2"^ S. ii. 

 228.) — In answer to Mr. A. H. White I bej? to 

 refer him to Animal Physiology, by Dr. W. B. 

 Carpenter, p. 137. par. 168., where he says, — 



" The thickness of the shells of the aquatic mollusca 

 depends greatly upon the quantity of lime in the sur- 

 rounding -water. Those which inhabit the sea find in its 

 waters as much as they require." 



And in Beautiful Shells, by H. G. Adams, speak- 

 ing of shells in the introduction, p. v., he writes : 



" Truly these mollusks, some of them live in gorgeous 

 palaces, and the most curious part of the matter is, that 

 from the fluids or juices of their own bodies, and from the 

 chalky matter collected from the water, they are enabled 

 to secrete or deposit such wonderfully constructed habit- 

 ations, which after all are little more than chalk. Burn 

 a heap of oyster shells, or any other testaceous coverings, 

 and you get lime the same as that produced by burning 

 the white lumps from the chalk pit ; which lumps, by the 

 wa}', are said to be composed wholly, or for the most 

 part, of marine shells." 



See also Cuvier, Animal Kingdom, vol. xii. 

 p. 166. : 



" The shells of oj^sters contain much less animal matter, 

 and this matter resembles more a gelatinous substance. 

 M. Vauquelin has found there, besides the organic matter, 

 some subcarbonate and phosphate of lime, subcarbonate 

 of magnesia, and oxide of iron." 



Jos. Llotd Phelps. 



48. Lee Crescent. 



"Coot" (_2"^S.il 307.) — 



" And also the mad coote." 

 " As mad as the coot." 



This is the Fulica altra, the bald Coot or common 

 Coot, Cute, Queet, bald duck, &c. 



There is something in the habits of the bird 

 which warrants the diaracter above given of it. 

 This bird is extremely shy and vigilant, and uni- 

 formly takes flight when approached ; and by this, 

 and its cries, it hinders the sportsman in his ap- 

 proaching other birds occupying the same pools 

 or marshes. The same habits which are natural 

 to the hare, particularly in the month of March, 

 has, I conclude, given rise to the proverbial say- 

 ing, " Mad as a March hare." Vectis. 



Milborne Port (2°^ S. ii. 111.) — See Douglas's 

 Election Cases, I think vol. i., on the petition 

 against the return for Milborne Port ; it explains 

 the whole mystery of the wheel and seven spokes. 



C. K. 



Importance of Ballads (2"'* S. ii. 211.) — These 

 sayings, with reference to a nation's ballads, not 

 improbably originated with the influence which 

 the songs of Tyrtgeus were said to have had with 

 the Spartans, when animated by them in their 

 wars with their neighbours, the ill-used Messe- 

 nians. Henry T. Rilet. 



Regatta (2"^ S. ii. 410.) — The Ital. regatta for 

 reguta (old form) is probably a contraction of 



remigdta (act of rowing), from remigure. Thus, 

 epfTnos, remus, remus-ago, remigo, remigure, remi- 

 gdta, regdta, regatta. According to Virgil (jSHn., 

 lib. v.), regattas would seem to be of somewhat 

 ancient origin. I am not aware that they have 

 any connexion with royalty, except so far as they 

 appear to have been patronised by Pius ^neas. 



E. S. Chabnock. 

 Gray's Inn. 



There seems to be little doubt that regattas were 

 first held at Venice. Drummond says in his Travels 

 (p. 84.), in a passage quoted, under the word "re- 

 gatta," in Todd's Johnsoris Dictionary : 



"This diversion seems to have taken its rise from a 

 custom introduced by the Doge Pietro Landi in the vear 

 1539." 



And in the article " regatta " in the Encyclopae- 

 dia Britannica, we are informed that a " regata " 

 or " regatta " is " a species of amusement peculiar 

 to the Republic of Venice." 



As N. G. T. inquires what connection there is 

 between regattas and royalty, I may add (on the 

 authority of the Encyclopcedia Britannica) that, — 



" The grand regata is only exhibited on particular oc- 

 casions, as the visits of foreign princes and kings to 

 Venice." 



Vespertilio. 



Mayors Re-elected (2°^ S. ii. 384.) — Y. J. asks 

 if there is any instance of mayors being elected 

 more than three times. 



Simon de Bourton was six times Mayor of 

 Bristol, between 1291 and 1305. 



William Canynges, Sen., was six times mayor of 

 the same city in the fourteenth century ; and his 

 grandson, William Canynges, Jun. (like his grand- 

 father a great helper in the erection of the church 

 of St. Mary RedcliiFe), five times. 



And lastly. Sir John Kerle Haberfield has filled 

 the civic chair six times between 1838 and 1851. 



Barrett, in his History of Bristol, mentions one 

 Roger Turtle enjoying the dignity seven times. 

 But as a period of forty-six years elapses between 

 his first and his last election to the office, it seems 

 likely that at the later period it was filled by an- 

 other person of the same name, probably his son. 



There have been several Lord-Provosts of Edin- 

 burgh elected more than three times to the office. 



J. K. R. W. 



Derivation of Pamphlet (2°'^ S. ii. 409.) — The 

 following curious notice concerning pamphlets is 

 from the Philobiblion, ascribed to Richard de 

 Bury, Bishop of Durham ; but written by Robert 

 Holkot, at his desire, as Fabricius says, about the 

 year 1344 (Fabr. Bibl. Medii j3Evi, vol. i.) ; it 

 occurs in the eighth chapter : 



" Sed revera libros non libras maluimus ; codicesque 

 plus dileximus quam florenos : ac Panfletos exiguos 

 phaleratis prsetulimus palescedis." 



Edward F. Rimbault. 



