Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/135

Rh sented to us many curious examples of parallel beliefs between savage and civilised. There are some parts of the book which might with advantage have been extended, and we must confess to a little disappointment that Mr. Friend has not given something like a summary of his results—some key to the anthropological importance which flower-lore must undoubtedly possess. But perhaps this is expecting more than Mr. Friend intended in this first study of a very big subject. He seeks to be popular rather than exhaustive, and in this he has thoroughly succeeded. The reader has much to please him throughout the whole of these interesting pages, and also much to learn, for Mr. Friend's labours have been directed chiefly to the work of collecting materials both from literary sources and from the peasantry themselves. There can be no doubt of the great value of Mr. Friend's collection, many items of which are, we think, entirely new and have never yet been printed; but still the student will miss many things that are requisite in books of this sort, which must inevitably find their way to students' shelves. For instance, the quotations from authors are rarely accompanied by full references, although ample acknowledgment is given in the notes, and a very useful and tolerably complete bibliography is printed at the beginning. For all this extra care and labour on Mr. Friend's part we are most grateful, and if we have appeared somewhat to grumble it is that we have learnt just sufficient from this book to make us wish to learn more.

Spain bids fair to take the first rank in the study of folk-lore. On the 1st of February was held a meeting in Corunna, under the presidency of the celebrated novelist, Sra. Da. Emilia Pardo Bazan, to initiate the Gallician Folk-Lore Society. The lady president delivered an eloquent address on folk-lore, first showing what it is not, and then what it is, and then who can give a helping hand in the work.

Another society has been formed in Madrid for Castile, with Sr. Don Gaspar Nuñez de Arce as president, and a strong executive. There are eleven sections in the society, viz. the literary, law, fine arts, botany, zoology, geology, mathematics, education, physical and chemical, geographical and medical. There are now three societies in Spain, or rather three branches of one society, "El Folk-Lore