Effectus impediret ne segnis mora,
Finxere antiqui talem effigiem temporis."

T. C.

Durham, Jan. 20. 1851.

_Cross between a Wolf and a Hound_ (Vol. iii., p. 39.).--There is no doubt
that a dog and a wolf are capable of breeding together. The fact is well
known, and has been long ascertained. See _Penny Cyclopaedia_, art. "Dog."
The only question is whether the offspring of this cross is a mule, and,
like other mules, incapable of continuing its race; or whether it is
prolific? The latter position is maintained by Mr. Bell, in his _History of
British Quadrupeds_. "The dog and wolf will readily breed together (he
says), _and their progeny is fertile_." But query, can any authentic
instance be produced of a cross between a dog and a wolf, which has
produced a prolific animal?

L.

Professor Thomas Bell states that the dog and wolf will readily breed with
each other, and that their progeny thus obtained will again mingle with the
dog.

W. J. BERNARD SMITH.

Temple, Jan. 19. 1851.

I have read somewhere (in Kohl's _Russia_, if I mistake not) that this
cross is not uncommon in the southern portions of European Russia, but I
have not the book at hand to refer to.

DISS.

Your correspondent, T----N, will find this fact referred to in Sir John
Franklin's _Narrative of a Journey to the Shores of the Polar Sea_, vol.
i., p. 268., 2nd edition, London. Murray, 1824. Lieutenant Hood says--

"On our way to the tent a black wolf rushed out upon an Indian, who
happened to pass its den. It was shot, and the Indians carried away
three black whelps, to improve the breed of their dogs."

W. H. H. K.

Drayton Beauchamp, Jan. 22. 1851.

_Touching for the Evil_ (Vol. iii., p. 42.).--I have seen an illuminated
MS. containing the form of prayer in use previous to the Reformation. As
far as I remember, the MS. in question must have been of the fifteenth
century. Where it may now be found I am not aware. At the time of my seeing
it, it was in the possession of Mr. Toovey of Piccadilly.

A somewhat curious field for inquiry on this subject is opened by a passage
in Voltaire's _Siecle de Louis XIV_. Speaking of James II. touching for the
evil while in exile at the French court, he says--

"Soit que les Rois Anglais se soient attribue ce singulier privilege,
comme pretendans a la couronne de la France; soit que cette ceremonie
soit etablie chez eux depuis le temps du premier Edouard."

Have we any