used
by the man who saw his favourite puddings devoured before his face. To
_clink_, means to "beat smartly", to "rivet the point of a nail," to
"propagate scandal, or any rumour quickly;" none of which significations
could be substituted for _clunk_ in the ballad.

HENRY STEPHENS.

_Picts' Houses_ (Vol. viii., p. 392.).--Such buildings underground as those
described as Picts' {209} houses, were not uncommon on the borders of the
Tweed. A number of them, apparently constructed as described, were
discovered in a field on the farm of Whitsome Hill, Berwickshire, about
forty years ago. They were supposed to have been made for the detention of
prisoners taken in the frays during the Border feuds: and afterwards they
were employed to conceal spirits, smuggled either across the Border, or
from abroad.

HENRY STEPHENS.

_Tailless Cats_ (Vol. ix., p. 10.).--The tailless cats are still procurable
in the Isle of Man, though many an unfortunate pussey with the tail cut off
is palmed off as genuine on the unwary. The real tailless breed are rather
longer in the hind legs than the ordinary cat, and grow to a large size.

P. P.

Though not a Manx man by birth, I can assure your correspondent SHIRLEY
HIBBERD, that there is not only a species of tailless cats in the Isle of
Man, but also of tailless barn-door fowls. I believe the latter are also to
be found in Malta.

E. P. PALING.

Chorley.

"_Cock-and-bull story_" (Vol. v., pp. 414. 447.).--DR. MAITLAND, in his
somewhat sarcastic remarks respecting "cock-and-bull stories," extracted
from Mr. Faber's work, has, no doubt, given a true account of the "cock on
the church steeple, as being symbolical of a doctor or teacher." Still I
cannot see that this at all explains the expression of a "cock-and-bull
story." Will DR. MAITLAND be so good as to enlighten me on this point?

I. R. R.

_Market Crosses_ (Vol. v., p. 511.).--Does not the marriage at the market
cross allude simply to the civil marriages in the time of the Commonwealth,
not alluding to any religious edifice at all? An inspection of many parish
registers of that period will, I think, prove this.

I. R. R.

"_Largesse_" (Vol. v., p. 557.).--The word _largesse_ is not peculiar to
Northamptonshire: I well remember it used in Essex at harvest-time, being
shouted out at such time through the village to ask for a gift, as I always
understood. A. B. may be referred to _Marmion_, Canto I. note 10.

I. R. R.

_Awkwa