C.
Hand giving the Blessing (Vol. iii, p. 477.).
—In blessing the people, the clergy of the Church of Rome raise the thumb and two forefingers, and close the others, to represent the three persons of the Trinity; and they give this some divine origin; but it is really an adoption of a pagan symbol in use long before the introduction of Christianity, not only by the Romans, but the Egyptians also. In Akerman's Archæological Index, p. 116., is an engraving of a silver plate of Roman workmanship, in which the figures representing Minerva and Juno have their hands elevated with the thumb and finger so disposed, and the figure of Vesta has the left hand in the same position. I wish some of your correspondents who are familiar with the classics and Egyptian antiquities, would further illustrate the origin of this curious and ancient custom, which hitherto has been regarded as originating with the Church of Rome only.
W. W.
The Oldenburg Horn (Vol. ii., pp. 417, 516.).
—There is a good engraving of this Horn, and the tradition about it is related, in p. 264, of the curious Dissertatio de admirandis mundi Cataractis of Johannes Herbinius, Amstelodami, 1678, of which book there is a copy in the library of the Geographical Society.
W. C. TREVELYAN.
Athenæum, June 16. 1851.
Covey (Vol. iii., p. 477.).
—How could such a question be asked? Covey is couvée, French for a brood, a hatching, from couver, to hatch eggs.