Reviews and Book Notices. 



Nunburnholme : its History and Antiquities, by the Rev. M. 

 C. F. Morris, B.C.L., M.A. London: Henry Frowde. 312 pp., 12/6 net. 



A volume dealing with Nunburnholme will particularly appeal to our 

 readers from the fact that for many years it was the home of F. O. Morris, 

 well known for his illustrated natural history works, which were printed at 

 Driffield, close by. His son. who is novv' the rector, has produced the present 

 volume. In his opening sentence the Rev. M. C. F. Morris says, * Like 

 one of the little " sykes " or rills that issues from the Wold above us, and 

 gives its narrowly contained waters to larger streams beyond our view, 

 the history of a small parisli like our own, far removed from the highways 

 of the world, may contribute something to the annals of our country.' 

 A.nd in this very readable and scholarly volume Mr. Morris has given a 

 reliable narrative of ' Brunham,' ' Burnholme,' and later, ' Nunburnholme.' 

 He begins at the beginning, and in the first chapter has a sketch of the ge- 

 ology of the district, and refers to the evidences of its occupation by Briton, 

 Eoman, and Angle. The ' Burnholme ' settlement is thought to date from 

 the sixth century. The account of the Manor is unusually complete, and in 

 view of the author's interest in the local dialect, that subject is dealt with 

 much more fully than is the general practice in parish histories. The 

 chapters on ' Field names,' a frequently neglected study, is also a very 

 useful one. Others deal with the Church and Benefice, the Nunnery, 

 Elizabethan Nunburnholme, Agricultural Notes, and Birds and Flowers. 

 The last named is rather brief, the portion devoted to the birds being the 

 more interesting. In it mention might ha.ve been made of a mallard nesting 

 upon a hay-stack in Nunburnholme, a somewhat unusual site, recorded 

 by the late F. O. Morris, There is a good map of the parish, upon which 

 many interesting features are shewn, including the old pathways across 

 fields. There are ten plates, those shewing the pre-Norman cross-shaft, 

 being of particular interest. Some of the others, being reprodutcions 

 from pencil drawings, are not so clear as they might be. The volume is 

 also worthy of a better cover. 



An Almanack for 1908, by .Joseph Whitaker, F.S.A., 12 Warwick 

 Lane, Paternoster Row. 1083 pp., 2/6. 



To attempt to refer to the nature of ' Whitaker,' or to its great value, 

 would be superfluous. It is perhaps sufficient to record that the 1908 

 volume contains many great improvements and additions. Amongst the 

 new articles are a precis of the amended Patent Law, a digest of the Em- 

 ployers' Liability Act, an estimate of the strength and cost of the Armies 

 of the World, etc., etc. A rough estimate shews that the index alone con- 

 tains about five thousand entries. That such a volume can be produced 

 at so low a figure is evidence of its usefulness and popularity. 



Seals, by Walter de Gray Birch. London: Methuen & Co., 

 237 pp., 25/- net. 



Unfortunately, there is not to-day the same enthusiasm for impressions 

 from seals that existed amongst collectors half a century and more ago. 

 In early Victorian days, it was quite the ' fashion ' for the gentry, and those 

 philosophically inclined, to possess long series of impressions from ancient 

 seals, and for those of local interest large prices were paid. It is due to 

 this fact that so many of our provincial museums are now so well equipped 

 in the matter of impressions from seals ; and in more than one instance 

 the collections then made contain the only examples now known. To-day, 

 however, perhaps even more than formerly, is the true antiquarian and 

 artistic value of seals appreciated. Amongst the antique gems, such as 

 those illustrated in Mr. De Gray Birch's volume, are examples of the en- 

 graver's art, which will hold a permanent position for all time. From 

 ancient Greek and Roman times onward, through medisevel to more 

 modern days, the best work of the artists was most faithfully preserved 

 in the various seals which were then executed. The numerous ' ups and 

 downs,' from an artistic point of view, can be well studied in a carefully 

 selected series of seals. Of course it will be borne in mind that the seal 



1908 March i. 



