Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 12.djvu/252

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NOTES AND QUEEIES. [11 s. XH. SEPT. 25, 1915.

Wood only records his election at Balliol in 1687 and some disparaging remarks about Wood's book. He died 21 Dec., 1704. He had matriculated from Balliol 30 March, 1666, aged 17, so must have been born in 1648 or 1649. He was born at Bricknoller, Somerset, and his father was Roger, pleb. JOHN R. MAGRATH. Queen's College, Oxford.

Dr. Mander was Master of Balliol College* Oxford, in 1687, and died in 1704. He made at least two bequests to the College : in 1692 he gave the advowson of Bere Regis, and at his death in 1704 bequeathed, besides a considerable number of books, the sum of 370Z. ARCHIBALD SPARKE, F.R.S.L.

MEDIJEVAL FUR-NAMES (11 S. xii. 183). I would suggest that " cole " may mean fur which is dyed, and made to appear something that it is not. (See ' N.E.D.') In these days rabbit often assumes the charm of seal ; and in earlier times furs were frequently coloured with a complete disregard of animal hues. " Minevere " was probably " menu- vair," i.e., alternate patches of the grey back of the squirrel of the North and of its white belly. " Calaber " is still a trade term for some kind of squirrel-fur. As 'The Drapers' Dictionary' points out, and as I have verified, Bailey gives " Calaber, the fur of a little creature in Germany of the same name." ST. S WITHIN:

" THE EIGHT VALYAUNTES " (11 S. xii. 139). This is a hard question, or J. T. F. would not need to ask it. I wonder if the hanging represented a selection of King David's valiant men, though it is difficult to find more than half-a-dozen who stand out before the rest, in the lists given in the Books of Samuel and Chronicles. Without a sight of the tapestry to which the inventory refers, it is not easy to make a good guess. May I be excused for hinting at any !

ST. SWITHIN.

PAYNE & Foss (11 S. xii. 139, 190). Since my query I have found the following in- formation. Thomas Payne' senior, who died on 2 Feb., 1799, was the proprietor of a famous bookshop at the Mew's Gate, Charing Cross. His son, Thomas Payne junior (1752-1831), succeeded to the business, which in 1806 was removed to Pall Mall. The firm existed until 1850. Henry Foss, who became a partner in 1813, was the second son of Edward Smith Foss, F.S.A., solicitor, who died on 13 May, 1830.

HORACE BLEACKLEY.

CAT QUERIES (11 S. xii. 183). All my life a lover of cats, I think I can answer some of MR. ACKERMANN'S queries.

1. That a cat loves the house more than the master is usually the case, but it is not by any means universally true. One cat here has followed us on several moves, and imme- diately settled down with extreme content in its new quarters. The other received us with perfect courtesy, refusing, as it had done several times before, to leave the building.

2. Putting butter on a cat's paws succeeds in a great many cases I find in most. Old countrywomen say it always does. I cart give one or two instances where it was in- effective. No sooner was the butter off than the cat followed the butter.

3. The eating of flies is a habit to be discouraged. Cats addicted to the habit become thin and ill. It is the morphia habit of the feline world. A great many cats will not touch milk, and demand water.

4. I have never seen a tortoiseshell torn, or even heard of one. Perhaps the gayer colours appeal to the gentler sex.

5. Deafness may be more prevalent among white cats than others. I have heard this stated often. My experience a large pne is that they can hear, when they w^ant to hear, quite as quickly as anybody else. But a cat never obeys or answers unless it is "so dispoged." A so- called cat -owner is only an owner by courtesy. He or she belongs to the cat ; and cats are loving, faithful, and considerate masters and mistresses.

I should like to discover how it is, as in our case, that dogs and cats of the same household are devoted friends, and yet so violently antagonistic to other dogs and cats, respectively, who boast, as they clearly think, a less aristocratic address. Cats and dogs are just as individual as we are. PERCY ADDLESHAW.

Hassocks.

Cats have many points of difference from other domestic animals : the queries of MR. ACKERMANN are illustrative instances.

1 . Cats are usually attached to a house, and not to the owner, much as wild felines lions, tigers, &c. are attached to their lairs. It is the survival of a homing instinct, and, though many instances may be adduced of attachment to the person, yet these are not sufficient to outweigh the general state- ment.

2. Buttering cats' feet to keep them from wandering appears to have no greater force