342 
NOTES AND QUERIES. 
[No. 21. 
under marginal lemma, ‘“‘ The memory of Commo- 
dus declared infamous.” 
These “ tumultuary votes” are recorded, not by 
Capitolinus, but by lius Lampridius, in his Life 
of Commodus. Vide Historie Auguste Scriptores. 
ZElii Lampridii Commodus Antoninus, capita 18, 
19: 
Capitolinus wrote the life of his immediate suc- 
cessor, Pertinax; hence perhaps the mistake, 
“ Keregio in corpore nevus!” Let those who 
wish to know what passion really is, read the 
tiger-like yells of the Roman senate in Lampri- 
dius ! C. Forzss. 
Temple, Feb. 27, 
Jew’s Harp. — The late Mr. Douce always 
maintained that the proper name of this instru- 
ment was the Jaw’s Harp, and that the Jews had 
no special concern with either its invention or its 
use. J.H.M. 
Havior.— The word “havior” is probably of a 
hybrid character; partly of Anglo-Saxon, and 
partly of British origin. If so, the first syllable is 
obvious enough, “half” being generally pronounced 
as if the liquid were considered an evanescent 
quantity, “ha’f, heif, hav’,” &c. and “iwrch” is 
the British word for a roe-buck. Dropping the 
guttural termination, therefore, and writing “ior” 
instead of “iwrch,” we have the significant desig- 
nation of the animal described by Lord Bray- 
brooke, whose flesh, like that of the capon, may 
afford a convenient variety among the delicacies 
of the season, if well cooked according to the re- 
condite mysteries of the gastronomic art. 
HyPomaGirus. 
Trinity College, Oxford, Feb. 14. 
N.B. “Heifer” has already been explained as 
“heif-ker, half-cre,” A.-S., “ anner,” Br. 
Haviour, Haver, Hyfr (No. 15. p. 230., and No. 
17. p.269.). — If I may throw out a question where 
I cannot give an explanation, I would ask, are we 
not approaching very near to the word “ heifer” 
(from the Saxon) in these, but especially in the 
last of the above terms? ‘They seem to me to be 
identical. The introduction of the sound of y be- 
tween the sounds of v and wr, is not uncommon in 
the vernacular or corrupted pronunciation of many 
words; nay, it is sanctioned by general usage, in 
“behaviour” from “behave,” “Saviour” from 
“save,” &c. If the words are identical, still the 
history of the appropriation of the one to male 
animals of the class described, and of the other to 
females, must be curious and worth investigating. 
May not the aver and averium, like irreplegibilia 
and other barbarous law terms, be framed (rather 
than derived) from one of our English terms, as 
well as from the French avoir ? G. W. 
America known to the Ancients. —I have a note 
of the following references, as illustrating the 
passage quoted by “C.” (No. 7. p. 107.), and 
countenancing the idea that the existence of 
America was at least suspected by the ancients. 
As I have not had an opportunity of consulting 
the authorities myself, I cannot tell how far they 
may affect the point in question; and I fear the 
references are not as accurate as might be wished, 
but I shall be truly glad if they prove at all ise- 
ful: — Diodorus Siculus, Bibl. lib. iv. pp. 299, 
300. edit. Rhodoman; Apuleius, De Mund. Oper. 
vol. ii. p. 122.; Avitus in Senec. Suasor.; Horn, 
De Origin. Americ. lib. i. c. 10. p. 57. 
G. Witt1am SKyYRING. 
Error in Meyrich’s Ancient Armour (No. 17. 
p- 266.).—‘In the second edition of Meyrick’s 
Armour, the error pointed out by Mr. Hudson 
Turner has not been corrected. ‘The passage is, 
“Item a gamboised coat with a rough surface of 
gold embroidered on the nap of the cloth;” and 
with the note, “ Like a thicket.” 
i: CB. 
Nomade.—'The last Indian mails brought me 
the following derivation of the word Nomade, in a 
letter from a friend, who was, when he wrote, 
leading a nomade life among the Ryots of Guze- 
rat. — 
“ Camp, Kulpore, Jan. 30. 1850. 
« The natives use [for their tents] a sort of woollen 
stuff, about half an inch thick, called ‘numbda.’ * * * 
* * * By the bye, this word ‘numbda’ is said to be 
the origin of the word nomade, because the nomade 
tribes used the same material for their tents. When I 
was at school, I used to learn nomde, from veuw.” 
Metanton. 
NOTES ON BOOKS, SALES, CATALOGUES, ETC. 
A view of the Exhibition of the Works of 
Ancient and Medieval Art has convinced us that 
fame had done no more than justice to its merits 
and interest. We dare not attempt to enumerate 
one tithe of the gems in Glass, Enamel, Metal- 
work, Carving in Wood and Ivory, Porcelain, &c., 
now gathered together in the Adelphi to justify 
the enthusiasm of the antiquary, and to show, in 
the words of Marlowe, 
“Oh! what a world of profit and delight, 
Of power, of honour, of omnipotence, 
Is promis’d to the studious artizan !” 
and how small, after all, is our boasted advance. 
We must therefore be content with recommending 
our readers to visit, again and again, this match- 
less collection. Mr. Hailstone, the originator of 
the exhibition, must be highly gratified at the 
manner in which, thanks to the liberality of the 
owners, and the zeal and good taste of the com- 
mittee, his idea has been carried out. If, too, at 
this time, when there is so much unemployed 
labour among us, this exhibition should have the 
