Minor Notes.
A Bit o' fine Writin'.—In the Preface to certain Lectures on Ecclesiastes, recently published, there occurs a choice scientific illustration, the "intellectual vastitude" whereof "necessitates a certain catholicity" of acquirements possessed by few readers. The author is referring to Jerome, and says:
"The most painful thing in his writings is the tone of litigious infelicity by which they are pervaded. It is a sort of formic acid which flows from the finger-points not of our good father alone, but of a whole class of divines; and, like the red marks left by the feet of ants on litmus-paper, it discolours all his pages."
There are two vignettes in the work: one illustrates "Consider the lilies," concerning which the artist had the benefit of an eminent botanist's opinion, to ensure correctness in the design. The other represents Solomon in all his glory, driving his own chariot, holding the reins in his right hand, and a sceptre or "morning-star" in his left hand. Methinks this illustration would not have passed muster with Mr. Scharf or Dr. Braun.
An Uplondishe Manne.
Custom of Cranes in Storms.—Some of your readers may be able further to illustrate the customs which I mention:
"Ex avibus est præsagium cœli. When the crane taketh up a stone and flies with it in his foot, it is a sign of a storm."—Bishop Andrewes' Orphan Lectures, p. 92.: Lond. 1657, fol.
Nonnus describes cranes as carrying stones in their mouths to prevent them from being carried hither and thither by the violence of winds and storms.—Dyonysiacks, lib. xii. p. 689.: Antwerp, 1569.
Bishop J. Taylor mentions a similar custom in the case of geese, but there is a different reason assigned for it:
"Ælian tells of the geese flying over the mountain Taurus: ὥσπερ ἐμβαλόντες σφίσι στόμιον διαπέτονται; that for fear of eagles nature hath taught them to carry stones in their mouths till they be past their danger."—Sermon XXIII. The Good and Evil Tongue. Part II. ab init., p. 168.: Lond. 1678, fol.