Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/272

 264 jumping feat, was called Learn (a leap); while it is said the marks of the giant's hands and the devil's paws were to be seen on one side of the stone, impressed while holding it on their backs.

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There are old Irish games very like σφαῖρα, or game of ball, mentioned in the Folk-Lore Journal of February, 1884, page 59.

There are three or more players on each side, two stones or holes as stations, and one lobber. The lobber lobs either a stick about three inches long or a ball—(the ball seems to be a new institution, as a stick was always used when I was a boy)—while the batsman defends the stone or hole with either a short stick or his hand. Every time the stick or ball is hit, the boys defending the stones or holes must change places. Each one is out if the stick or ball lodges in the hole or hits the stone; or if the ball or stone is caught; or if it can be put in the hole or hits the stone while the boys are changing places. This game is also played with two lobbers, that lob alternately from each end. The game is won by a certain number of runs.

This game is sometimes called cat; but the regular cat is played with a stick four inches long, bevelled at each end, called the cat. This bevelled stick is laid on the ground, and one end hit with a stick to make it rise in the air, when it is hit by the player, who runs to a mark and back to his station. The game is made by a number of runs; while the hitter is out if he fails three times to hit the cat, or if he is hit by the cat while running.

Another form of the first game is a circle of stones, according to the number of players, generally five or seven each side. One of the out party stands in the centre of the circle, and lobs at the different stones in rotation; each hit a player gives all his side must change stations, in some places going round to the left and in others to the right. The stones are defended by the hand or a stick, according as a ball or stick is lobbed. All the players are out if the stone is hit, or the ball or stick caught, or one of the players is hit while running. In different counties or places these games are more or less modified.

These games I have seen played over half a century ago, with a lobstick, but of later years with a ball, long before a cricket-club existed,