974 The American Naturalist. [November, 
mortar. Hominy large or small and “ash” and “ hoe” cakes seemed 
unknown, and the interesting Mexican edible products of maize like 
* tortillas," (wafer like cakes of baked maize dough,) or the peppered 
dumplings called “ tomales " had no more place in the Lombard kitchen 
than the transatlantic art of crushing on metates the water soaked and 
softened grains. Near Castel Franco, I saw a large bunch of red ears 
hanging by their twisted husks on the wall of a roadside shrine. 
An etymology has been suggested for the name Grano Turco, in the 
antics of boys when bearded and moustached with maize silk, they 
mimic the fierce looks of Turks in the high “corn.” We cannot think 
that the Italian lad does not smoke the mock tobacco that must tempt 
him uponeach ear. If he does he apes a habit no less American in its 
origin than the maize itself. So the American lad playing with a 
“shoe string bow” on a “corn-stalk fiddle” would turn to Italy for 
his inspiration.—H. C. MERCER. 
