Bristoliensis.
House-marks, &c. (Vol. vii., p. 594.).—It is very well known that the sign of the "Swan with two Necks," in London, is a corruption of the private mark of the owner of the swans, viz., two nicks made by cutting the neck feathers close in two spaces. It is also a common custom in Devon to mark all cattle, horses, &c., with the owner's mark when sent out on Exmoor, Dartmoor, and other large uninclosed tracts for summering: thus, Sir Thos. Dyke Acland's mark is an anchor on the near side of each of his large herd of ponies, on Exmoor.
W. Collyns.
Harlow.
Bibliography (Vol. vii., p. 597.).—The following may assist Mariconda:
Fischer: Beschreibung einiger Typographischer Seltenheiten nebst Beyträgen zur Erfindungsgeschichte der Buchdruckerkunst, 8vo. Mainz, 1800-4.
Origin of Printing, in Two Essays; with Remarks and Appendix, 8vo. 1776.
The Typographical Antiquities of Great Britain, by J. Johnson, Dr. Dibdin, Dr. Wilkins, and others, Longmans, 1824.
He will also find a list of works under the head Printing in the Penny Cyclopædia.
Getsrn.
Parochial Libraries (Vol. vi., p. 432. Vol. vii. passim.).—A parochial library was for many years deposited in the room over the south entrance of Beccles Church. The books consist chiefly of old divinity, &c., and appear to have been gifts from various persons; among whom were Bishop Trimnel (of Norwich), Sir Samuel Barnardiston, Sir Edmund Bacon of Gillingham, Sir John Playters, Mrs. Anna North, and Mr. Ridgly of London. There is a copy of Walton's Polyglot Bible, 1655-7, besides an odd volume of the same work (Job to Malachi), 1656, uncut. It is probable that many of the books have been lost, as the room in which they were kept was used as a repository for discarded ecclesiastical appliances, and, latterly, for charity blankets during summer. In 1840, with the consent of the late bishop of Norwich, and of the rector and churchwardens of the parish, the remaining volumes (about 170) were removed to the public library room, and placed under the care of the committee of that institution. A catalogue of them was then printed. The greater part have been repaired, with the aid of a donation of 10l. from a former inhabitant, who had reason to believe that some of the works had been lost in consequence of their having been in his hands many years ago. Are there not numerous instances elsewhere in which this example might be copied with propriety?
S. W. Rix.