12 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



[No. 88. 



termination zie suits a Scotch word perhaps. 

 I only wish to mention, that the form "prin" is 

 connected with the verb " to preen," which we 

 use of birds. Yet that again seems connected 

 v/iih jyruiie. Etymology is always in a circle. 



C. B. 



"In Print" (Vol. iii., p. 500.). — In confirmation of 

 the statement made as to the expression " in print" 

 meaning " with exactness," &c., I perfectly re- 

 member an old Somersetshire servant of our's, 

 who used to say, when he saw me romping after I 

 was dressed : " Take care, Sir, you'll put your 

 hair out of print." C. W. B. 



Introduction of Reptiles into Ii-eland (Vol. iii., 

 p. 491.). — The snakes introduced into the county 

 of Down in 1831, alluded to by Eirionnach, were 

 the very harmless and easily tamed species, Colu- 

 ber natrix of Linnasus, Natrix torqunta of Ray. 

 They were purchased in Covent Garden Market ; 

 and, to the number of six, were turned out in the 

 garden of Rath Gael House. One was killed at 

 Milecross, three miles distant, about a week after 

 its liberation ; and tln-ee others were shortly after- 

 wards killed in the same neighbourhood. The 

 fate of the remaining two is unknown, but there 

 can be little doubt that they were also killed, as 

 the country-people offered a considerable reward 

 for their destruction. The writer well remem- 

 bers the consternation and exceedingly angry 

 feelings caused by this novel importation. 



We may conclude, that though the snake is not 

 indigenous to Ireland, yet there is nothing in 

 either the soil or climate to prevent its naturalis- 

 ation. It is highly probable that an insular posi- 

 tion is unfavourable to the spread of the serpent 

 tribe. Other islands — New Zealand, for instance 

 — as well as Ireland, have no native Ophidiu. 



It is generally, but erroneously, believed that 

 there are no toads in Ireland. The Natter-jack 

 {Bufo calamita), a closely allied species to the 

 common toad, is found about Killarney. Can any 

 reader inform me if there is any record of its 

 introduction ? W. Pinkerton. 



Ancient Wood Engravijig of the Picture of Cebes 

 (Vol. iii., pp. 277. 436.). — Your correspondent 

 Tub Hermit of IIolyport having been informed 

 respecting the sidyecl of his wood-cut, may yet be 

 further satisfied to know its date, and where it is 

 to be found. It occurs in a Latin version of the 

 Pinax, with a commentary by Justus Velsiu.., 

 printed in 4to., at Lyons? (Lugduni) in 1551. 

 The title runs thus : Jmti Veheri Haguni, in 

 Cchetis Thehani Tdhnlam Commentario7-uni Lihri 

 Sex, Totius Moralis Philosophice llicsmirm. The 

 Pinax commonly accompanies that valuable little 

 manual the Enchiridion of Epictetus, of which 

 that excellent man John Evelyn, in a letter to 

 Lord Cornbury, thus speaks : 



" Besides the Divine precepts, I could never receive 

 anything from Philosophy that was able to add a graine 

 to my courage upon the intellectual assaults like that 

 Enchiridion and little weapon of Epictetus : ' Nun- 

 quam te quicquam perdidisse dicito, sed reddidisse,' 

 says he: * Filius obijt ? redditus est.' It is in his 

 15th chapter. You cannot imagine what that little 

 target will encounter. / never yo abroad without it in 

 my pocket. What an incomparable guard is that : 

 TO Se ovK i(p' Tifuv, cap. i., where he discourses of the 

 things which are, and are not in our power. I know, 

 my Lord, you employ your retirements nobly ; weare 

 this defensive for my sake, — I had almost said this 

 Christian Office." 



S. W. Singer. 



" The Groves of Blarney" (Vol. iii., p. 495.).— 

 In a little volume of the Songs of Ireland, forming 

 one of the series called Duffy's Library of Ireland., 

 Dublin, 1845, this song is given. In the intro- 

 ductory notice it is said to be by Mr. R. A. Mil- 

 liken, a native of Cork. The passage referred to 

 by your correspondent stands thus in this version, 

 which is said to be taken from Croker's Poptdar 

 Songs of Ireland : — 



" There's statues gracing 



This noble place in — 



All heathen gods, 



And nymphs so fair ; 



Bold Neptune, Plutarch, 



And Nicodemus, 



All standing naked 



In the open air !" 

 Mr. Maloney, in his late account of the " palace 

 made o' wiiulows," has evidently had these verses 

 iu liis mind ; and in his observations on the " sta- 

 tues gracing that noble place in," has adverted to 

 their like peculiar predicament with the charac- 

 teristic modesty of his nation. S. H. 



On this subject permit me to observe that a 

 change has " come o'er the spirit of its dream." A 

 later poet, in celebrating the praises of the lake 

 as the only place unchanged, says : 



" Sweet Blarney Castle, that was wanst so ancient. 



Is gone to ruin, och ! and waste, and bare 



Neptune and Plutarch is by Mrs. Deane * sent 



To Ballintemple, to watch praties there." 



Junior. 



Tennyson's Lord of Burleigh (Vol. iii., p. 493.). — 

 The poem of "The Lord of Burleigh" is founded 

 upon a supposed romance connected with the 

 marringe of the late Marquis of Exeter with his 

 second wife. Miss Hoggins. This marriage has 

 also formed the groundwork of a play entitled 

 The Lord of Burghley, published by Churton in 

 1845. The story of the courtship and marriage 

 perpetuated by this poem, may be found in the 

 Illustrated London News of the 16th November, 



* Now Lady Deane. 



