NOTES AND QUEEIES. 69 



and had terribly corrupted the name by going by ear. Possibly he 

 had some idea of prefixing the French article. But even Camden 

 prints the name " Stidwall " on his map. " Meulx-iland " must be a 

 corruption of Mercross Island, used by Camden, but not used now. 

 I should be very glad if any reader of the ' Zoologist ' could suggest 

 what "Katones" can be. One's thoughts naturally fly to Shear- 

 waters ; but I have been unable to find in any old book a name 

 anything like " Katones." * Shearwaters are now called "Mackerel- 

 cocks," but no old name for the bird seems to have been preserved in 

 print for any part of England or Wales. Of Matholm the author 

 writes, "Repleta cum cuniculis." And his use of languages may be 

 judged from what he writes of Puffin Island : — " Insula Prestholm 

 proxima insulse Anglesey, . . . et ibi crescunt cuniculae et serpentes 

 addyrs snakes, et arbores vocat elders ; . . . et est ibi unum bay pro 

 navibus salvandis in le north side insulae vocat le round table." — 

 O. V. Aplin (Bloxham). 



A Letter from Thomas Pennant. — The following letter in my 

 possession, written by Thomas Pennant to William Borlase (author 

 of the 'Natural History of Cornwall,' 1758), endorsed 27th October, 

 176 — (last figure doubtful), is, I think, worth printing : — 



"Dear Sir, 



" I am obliged to you for your favors, and greatly so for 

 promising Mr. J. St. Aubyn's subscription to the Society. Mr. 

 Morris, our President, tells me He has not heard anything of it, so I 

 fear Mr. John's orders are neglected. I have received your valuable 

 present of the ' History of Cornwal,' and as soon as the first Part of 

 British Zoology appears I will send you an order for a copy of it. 

 I am quite happy that we have at last settled the Dispute about the 

 Identity of the Cornish Gannet. As you observe, the figure in 

 Willoughby is wretched ; but you will now see it finely executed 

 (from a fresh subject) in the work in hand. You will find in the 

 first Part three Birds that are styled Cornish, the Gannet Tarrock 

 and Daw. Pray send me a brief Nat. Hist, of the first. When does 

 it first appear : When go off : Are they very common with You 

 &c. ? Does the Tarrock breed with you ; in what sort of place. As 

 Birds go by different names I should still be glad to see all those 

 you mention ; for that is the only secure method of conviction. Be 

 so good as to tie a label to the Leg of each with its name and color 



'■'■' Might not " Katones " be a misreading for " Kahoues " ? " Cahow " 

 is a known West Indian word for a Shearwater. — Ed. 



