Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 7.djvu/119

 12 s. vii. JULY si, i92o.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 95 in consequence of peace having taken place was not appointed to any other ship. On Sept. 21, 1790, he was advanced to be .a Rear-Admiral of the Blue, and became Admiral of the White, Jan. 1., 1801. He Jield no command as flag-officer, and died 1808 A. G. KEALY, Chaplain, R.N. (retired.) .Anglesey Road, Gosport. " A RED RAG TO A BULL " (12 S. vi. 230). - It is quite true that red excites the anger of a bull more than any colour, and the zealous experimenter will be wise to see that there is a strong and impassable barrier Jbetween. him and the infuriated animal .before he tests the truth of this statement. It is probable that the expression " a <red rag to a bull," signifying something which Carouses wrath, has been imported from .Spain, where red cloths are used in the bull rings, in order to infuriate the bulls before -the matador makes his appearance. But bulls are not the only animals affected by Ted. Many horses, especially stallions, are drritated by red ; and. turkeycocks attack .the wearers of red most ferociously, as do Physiologically, red is a colour which drritates and fatigues the optic nerves ; and
 * ganders.
 * so it arouses temper and produces a quarrel-

papered walls are not soothing to the nerves or reposeful ; and red lights have a similarly irritating influence. Bright reds are more irritating than the softer shades. According to the theories upon which jthe affinity between colours and sounds are .'based, red is equivalent to discord and a "dash of sounds. Hence it has become a .-symbol of conflict, or war ; and this is said
 * some frame of mind. Rooms with red-
 * to bo the explanation of the red coats of

^soldiers. Red it was argued, made the men more pugnacious than any other -colour ; and this theory is .supported by 4;he fact that among many primitive races sit is the custom to use red for war paint. A very curious instance of the effect of red upon human boings is supplied by the -experiences of the famous French photo - .graphic firm of Lumiere. It was observed that the plate-makers, who worked by red lights, were exceptionally quarrelsome ; and bhjs state of affairs continued until it became very serious matter to know how to deal dth the furious workers. It was then iggested that the red lights should be abolished, and that green lights should be used in their place. The effect was imme- diate and satisfactory ; for the plate -makers, most of whom were girls, became most amicable. It is also true that red strongly arouses the sexual instincts. In most cases, the effect of red is more pronounced upon males than upon females. ARTHUR J. IRELAND. CURIOUS SURNAMES (12 S. vi. 68, 115, 196, 238, 282, .302, 321 ; vii. 15, 34). I do not think that Mr. Ratcliffe can prove that these lines belong exclusively to Derbyshire. The Cheshire version has long been current and will be found in fairly old collections. There is also a Lancashire version. There is no doubt that Mr. Ratcliffe is right in using " Wick " and not " waak." JOSEPH C. BRIDGE. Christ Church Vicarage, Chester. I have come across the following names in different parts of Essex. In the church- yard at the top of North Hill, Colchester, are M. I. bearing the patronymics Secrett and Shave. At Eastwood Church (which deserves a visit from all itinerant antiquaries) are inscriptions to the Stallibrass family. The name of Beehag occurs in connection with a business in the Rochford Hundred. F. GORDON ROE. SAILORS' CHANTIES (12 S. vii. 48). If your correspondent consults the Transactions of the Devonshire Association for the year 1911, which contains the report of the Annual Meeting held at Dartmouth in that year, he will find on p. 30 a reference to a recital of folk-songs and chanties by Mr. C. Coombes with which the association was entertained at a conversazione. The Town Clerk of Dartmouth would no doubt supply Mr. Coomb es's present address. The songs in question are not, perhaps, quite of the character of those in which your corres- pondent is interested, but Mr. Coombes's repertoire is possibly more extensive than the demands of a conversazione would exhaust. H. TAPLEY-SOPER. University College, Exeter. These were dealt with in a useful, interest * ing way by Laura Alexandrine Smith in a volume called ' The Music of the Waters ' (London : Kegan Paul, French & Co., 1888). Music is given as v/ell as words and S. C. may feel sure of finding something that will pleano him. ST. SWTTHIN. ,