Though not a Manx man by birth, I can assure your correspondent Shirley Hibberd, that there is not only a species of tailless cats in the Isle of Man, but also of tailless barn-door fowls. I believe the latter are also to be found in Malta.
E. P. Paling.
Chorley.
"Cock-and-bull story" (Vol. v., pp. 414. 447.).—Dr. Maitland, in his somewhat sarcastic remarks respecting "cock-and-bull stories," extracted from Mr. Faber's work, has, no doubt, given a true account of the "cock on the church steeple, as being symbolical of a doctor or teacher." Still I cannot see that this at all explains the expression of a "cock-and-bull story." Will Dr. Maitland be so good as to enlighten me on this point?
I. R. R.
Market Crosses (Vol. v., p. 511.).—Does not the marriage at the market cross allude simply to the civil marriages in the time of the Commonwealth, not alluding to any religious edifice at all? An inspection of many parish registers of that period will, I think, prove this.
I. R. R.
"Largesse" (Vol. v., p. 557.).—The word largesse is not peculiar to Northamptonshire: I well remember it used in Essex at harvest-time, being shouted out at such time through the village to ask for a gift, as I always understood. A. B. may be referred to Marmion, Canto I. note 10.
I. R. R.
Awkward, Awart, Awalt (Vol. viii., p. 310.).—When fat sheep roll over upon their backs, and cannot get up of themselves, they are said to be lying awkward, in some places awalt, and in others awart. Is awkward, in this sense, the same word that treated by H. C. K.?