1663 and 1689.

H. P.

_Divining-rod_ (Vol. viii., p. 293.).--For a full account of the divining
rod see _La Physique occulte, ou Traite de la Baguette Divinatoire, &c._,
par Pere L. de Vallemont, a work by no means uncommon, having passed
through several editions. Mine is "a Paris, chez Jean Boudot, avec priv.
1709, in 12^o. avec figures," with the addition of a "Traite de la
Connoissance des Causes Magnetiques, &c., par un Curieux."

A Cornish lady informs me that the Cornish miners to this day use the
divining-rod in the way represented in fig. 1. of the above-mentioned work.

R. J. R.

In the 351st number of the _Monthly Magazine_, dated March 1st, 1821, there
is a letter to the editor from W. Partridge, dated Boxbridge, Gloucester,
giving several instances of his having successfully used the divining-rod
for the purpose of discovering water. He says the gift is not possessed by
more than one in two thousand, and attributes the power to electricity.
Those persons in whose hands it will work must possess a redundancy of that
fluid. He also states that metals are discovered by the same means.

K. B.

_Slow-worm Superstition_ (Vol. vii., p. 33.).--The belief that the
slow-worm cannot die until sunset prevails in Dorsetshire. In the New
Forest the same superstition exists with regard to the brown adder. Walking
in the heathy country between Beaulieu and Christ Church I saw a very large
snake of this kind, recently beaten to death by the peasant boys, and on
remarking that the lower jaw continued to move convulsively, I was told it
would do so "till the moon was up."

An aged woman, now deceased, who had when young been severely bitten by a
snake, told me she always felt a severe pain and swelling near where the
wound had been, on the anniversary of the occurrence. Is this common? and
can it be accounted for?

W. E.

Pimperne, Dorset.

_Ravailliac_ (Vol. viii., p. 219.).--The destruction of the pyramid erected
at Paris upon the murder of Henry IV., is mentioned by Thuanus, _Hist._,
lib. 134. cap. 9. In your correspondent's Query, _Thesaur._ is, I presume,
misprinted for Thuan.

B. J.

_Lines on the Institution of the Garter_ (Vol. viii., p. 182.).--A. B. R.
says, "as also from the proverbial expression used in Scotland, and to be
found in Scott's _Works_, of 'casting a leggin girth,' as synonymous with a
female 'faux pas.'" I may mention to your correspondent (if he is not
already aware) that the express