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NOTES AND QUERIES. [9* s. IL A. 20, i.

" Nightingale " or " nightertale " would have been simpler, and "cushie-doo" would have been more appropriate, as the question re- garding the singing of the nightingale in Scot- land is one that at the best is still sub jiidice. But are the editor's reasons for changing the text adequate and defensible in themselves 1 If Burne chose to speak of the swallow as " Progne," he was surely quite entitled to do so, for men arid poets in his day said and sang many things that were even more complex and pedantic than this utterance of his. Further, as a minstrel, much in the open air and finding companionship among the beasts and birds that he encountered in his wander- ings, he would not fail to note the song of the swallow. In spring and early summer the period in which the fancy of youth " lightly turns to thoughts of love" the swallow is too deeply absorbed in affairs to devote much of his energy to song. But like the lint- white, whom Minstrel Buriie fitly links with him in verse, he sings later in the year, and is particularly tuneful from July onwards. Minstrel Burne would hear him on the eaves of farm-steadings, on wayside fences coigns of vantage on both of which he spends many consecutive minutes of his autumn day and he would be struck with the sweetness and richness of his measures. We have all given ourselves up too readily to the fascination of Gray's " Swallow twittering from the straw- built shed," which, while delightful in itself, is, perhaps, prone to make us overlook alto- gether the bird's undoubted gift of song. The swallow's voice is not powerful and may readily pass unnoticed, but it is full, engaging, and pathetic. It seems to speak of summer departed ; and yet, as Minstrel Burne sug- gests, the bird is probably " proud," for it has accomplished its task, and it is on the point of starting for a brighter clime. Apart, however, from sentiment and theory, there can be no question that the swallow sings a considerable song, and that at a time when the majority of other birds are silent.

THOMAS BAYNE. Helensburgh, N.B.

EAST BARSHAM MANOR HOIJSE. This place, now in a ruinous condition, is situated on the banks of the Stiffkey, about three miles from Fakenham, and is supposed to have been built by Sir Henry Fermor in the reign of Henry VII. It is one of the richest examples of ornamental brickwork now in existence. It is about five miles distant from Walsing- ham Priory.

Henry VIII. came to East Barsham in 1511, and thence walked a distance of five

mile barefooted to Walsingham in order to implore the tenderness of Our Lady of Wal- singham, and to beseech her powerful patron- age for his infant son by Catherine of Aragon, following the example of David, as recorded in ib> book of Samuel. The infant prince, however, died when only seven weeks old. According to Hepworth Dixon, on the birth of the infant "a stone seemed rolled away, a yoke seemed lifted from all necks " (' History of Two Queens,' vol. iii. p. 115).

The gateway at East Barsham forms the frontispiece of the ' Mansions of England in the Olden Time,' by Joseph Nash, 1839. In the engraving are represented the arms of England, supported by a dragon and a grey- hound collared, and in the corners the port- cullis, the badge of the house of Tudor. Beneath is an angel holding a shield, on which are some arms quartered, and in the spandrels of the doorway below two shields impaling shields of arms, but it is impossible to decipher any of them. In the foreground the artist has represented a cavalier on horse- back, richly dressed, with a hawk upon his gloved hand, and a couple of dogs in a leash. The manor house was once the abode of the Fermors. JOHN PICKFORD, M.A.

SHROPSHIRE NAMES. In a district of Shrop- shire lying from north-east to south-east of the Wrekin, about seven miles long by three miles broad, there is a group of place-names interesting by reason of identity of termina- tion. They are Hadley, Ketley, Priorslee, Randlee, Lawley, Malinslee, Dawley, Langley, Brandlee, Portley, Doseley, Stirchley, Made- ley, Broseley, Willey, Linley. There are but few other names in this district so ancient perhaps only Arlescott, Horsehay, Hinkshay, Charleshay. Most others are distinctly modern Pool Hill, Stone Row, Iron Bridge, Old Park. Perhaps it would be difficult to find another district so small with so many instances of identical terminations. To the south-east of this group there is another, but not so large, of place-names ending in -ton. H. H.

" BIG AN' BUG." I never hear these words in conjunction except from the lips of those "Darby born an' Darby bred." They are used mostly when speaking of a person who by some stroke of fortune has been raised above the common lot, and has assumed " airs " in consequence : " Hey 's booth big an' bug ! " Big is great or high, and bug is conceited or proud. "Hey's as feig as bull beyf, an' as prewd as a dog wi' tow teels ! "

THOS. RATCLIFFE.

Worksop,