500 • NOTES AND QUERIES. 



The sexton went round to the houses of the principal inhabi- 

 tants, opening the doors, and calHng out '"I'm going to ring the bell. 

 Sir!" 



After completing the circuit of the town, he tolled the bell in 

 the tower of the Market Place for a few minutes, then proceeding 

 to the parish church of Cuby at the head of the street and ringing 

 the bell until the service began. 



This custom may be connected with the former existence of St. 

 James' Church in Tregony which stood in the moor below the 

 Castle. The bell alluded to in the Market Tower is peculiar in 

 being hung with a half- wheel, this being the only example of this 

 old mode of hanging that I am acquainted with in the county. 



At Truro in the last century, before St. Mary's steeple was 

 built, the congregation was summoned to church by the sexton ring- 

 ing a bell around the town, and the same practice was followed at 

 Mevagissey much more recently. 



No. 7. 

 The Variable Star R. Leonis 



This star has been under observation during the spring months 

 of 1889 5 on March 8th, it was of the 8th magnitude 3 on the 11th, 

 of the 7th ; and it attained its maximum on March 27th, when it 

 was 5-5 in magnitude 5 its decrease was gradual and slower than its 

 increase, it being 6-3 in magnitude on May 2nd. 



The date of the maximum of this Variable as given in the 

 " Companion to the Observatory " is March 23rd. In colour the 

 star was orange-red in Frank's notation. My wife's description of 

 it as " copper-colour " exactly describing it. 



No. 8. 

 2he Planet Venus. 



This planet being favourably situated during the spring of 

 1889, has been constantly observed. 



The blunting of the South Horn and the projection of the 

 North were well seen on February 1 5th, and the terminator was at 



