_miching mallecho_ was a mere misprint of the Spanish words _mucho
malhecho_, had been anticipated by DR. MAGINN. It now appears that he
had also been anticipated by MR. COLLIER.]

* * * * *

CROSSING RIVERS ON SKINS.

The mode of crossing a river on skins, mentioned by Layard (_Nineveh and
its Remains_, 5th edition, vol. i. p. 129., vol. ii. p. 381.) is also
referred to in the works of the following ancient writers. I quote
_Facciolati Lexicon Totius Latinitatis_, in vocibus _Uter_ et
_Utricularius_. [Edit. _Furlanetto_, 4to.]

"Frequens fuit apud veteres utrium usus ad flumina trananda, _Liv._ 21. 27.
Hispani, sine ulla mole, in utres vestimentis conjectis, ipsi cetris
suppositis incubantes, flumen tranavere, _Cæs._ B.G. i. 48. Lusitani,
peritique earum regionum cetrati citerioris Hispaniæ, consectabantur,
quibus erat proclive transnare flumen, quod consuetudo eorum omnium est, ut
sine utribus ad exercitum non eant, (Cf. _Herzog._, qui longam huic loco
adnotationem adscripsit), _Curt._ 7. 5. Utres quam plurimos stramentis
refertos dividit; his incubantes transnavere amnem, _Plin._ 6. 29. 35.
Arabes Ascitæ appellati, quoniam bubulos utres binos sternentes ponte
piraticam exercent, _h.e._ utribus junctis tabulas instar pontis
sternentes. Adde _Front. Strat._ 3. 13., et _Ammian._ 30. 1. _med._"

"Utricularii vocabantur qui utriculos, seu utres inflatos ratibus ita
subjiciebant, ut iisdem flumina transnare possent. Eorum collegium in
quibusdam urbibus ad flumen aliquod sitis habebatur, ideoque utricularii
sæpe cum nautis conjunguntur, _Inscr._ ap. _Mur._ 531, n. 4. Ex voto a solo