Notes and Queries, Number 11, January 12, 1850 by Various
page 32 of 62 (51%)
page 32 of 62 (51%)
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them _girrinn_."
Martin, in his _Western Isles of Scotland_, says:-- "There are also the _cleek geese_. The shells in which this fowl is said to be produced, are found in several isles sticking to trees by the bill; of this kind I have seen many,--the fowl was covered by a shell, and the head stuck to the tree by the bill,--but never saw any of them with life in them upon the tree; but the natives told me that they had observed them to move with the heat of the sun."--See also Gratianus, Lucius, Ware's _Antiquities_, &c. Eating sea-birds on fast days is a very ancient custom. Socrates mentions it in the 5th century: "Some along with fish eat also birds, saying, that according to Moses, birds like fish were created out of the waters." Mention is made in Martin's _Western Isles_, of a similar reason for eating _seals_ in Lent. _Cormorants_, "as feeding only on fish," were allowable food on fast days, as also were _otters_. CEREDWYN. _Vondel's Lucifer_.--I cannot inform your correspondent F. (No. 9 p. 142.), whether Vondel's _Lucifer_ has ever been translated into English, but he will find reasons for its not being worth translating, in the _Foreign Quarterly Review_ for April, 1829, where the following passage occurs:-- "Compare with him Milton, for his _Lucifer_ gives the fairest means of comparison. How weak are his highest flights compared with those |
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