commencement of last
century. The word _Dronte_ is apparently neither Portugese nor
Spanish, though in Connelly's _Dictionary_ of the latter language
we have--

"_Dronte_, cierto paxaro de Indias de alas muy cortas--an
appellation given by some to the Dodo."

It seems to me to be connected with _Drone_; but this can only be
ascertained from the period and the people by whom it was applied.

That the bird once existed there can be no doubt, from the notice
of Sir Hamon L'Estrange, which there is no reason for questioning;
and there seems to be as little reason to suppose that Tradescant's
stuffed specimen was a fabrication. He used to preserve his own
specimens; and there could be no motive at that period for a
fabrication. I had hoped to have found some notice of it in the
_Diary_ of that worthy virtuoso Zacharias Conrad von Uffenbach, who
visited the Ashmolean Museum in 1710; but though he notices other
natural curiosities, there is no mention of it. This worthy remarks on
the slovenly condition and inadequate superintendence of our museums,
and especially of that of Gresham College; but those who recollect
the state of our great national museum forty years since will not be
surprised at this, or at the calamitous destruction of Tradescant's
specimen of the Dodo. That the bird was extinct above 150 years ago I
think we may conclude from the notices I have extracted from La Roque,
and the letter of the Jesuit Brown. Mr. Strickland has done good
service to the cause of natural science by his monograph of this very
curious subject; and to him every particle of information must be
acceptable: this must be my excuse for the almost nothing I have been
able to contribute.

S.W. SINGER.

March 26. 1850.

* * * * *

THE WATCHING OF THE SEPULCHRE.

Inquired about by "T.W." (No. 20. p. 318.), is a liturgical practice,
which long was, and still is, observed in Holy Week. On Maundy
Thursday, several particles of the Blessed Eucharist, consecrated
at the Mass sung that day, were reserved--a larger one for the
celebrating priest on the morrow, Good Friday; the smaller ones for
the viaticum of the dying, should need be, and carried in solemn
procession all round the church, from the high altar to a temporary
erection, fitted up like a tomb, with lights, and the figure of an
angel watching by, on the north side of the chancel. Therein the
Eucharist was kept till Easter Sunday morning,