only to be that _Murus ahaeneus_ which must defend
me, lett me tell you (what you knowe allready) that bookes are like the
Hungarians in Paules, who have a priviledge to holde out their Turkish
history for anie one to reade. They beg nothing: the texted past-bord
talkes all--and if nothing be given, nothing is spoken, but God knowes
what they thinke!"

An explanation of the above passage is very earnestly desired by

P. C. S. S.

_Ferns Wanted._--Specimens of the following rare ferns are much wanted to
complete a collection:--_Woodsia ilvensis_, _Woodsia alpina_, _Cystopteris
montana_, _Lastrea cristata_, _Lastrea recurva_, _Lastrea multiflora_,
_Asplenium alterniflorum_, _Trichomanes speciosum_.

The undersigned will feel very much obliged to any charitable person,
residing near the _habitat_ of any of the above-mentioned ferns, who would
take the trouble to forward to him, if not a root, at least a specimen for
drying, he need scarcely say that any expenses will be most cheerfully
defrayed.

HENRY COOPER KEY.

Stretton Rectory, near Hereford.

_Craton the Philosopher._--Two of the figures on the brass font in the
church of St. Bartholomew at Liege are superscribed Johannes Evangelista et
Craton Philosophus.--Can any reader of "N. & Q." say if anything is known
about the latter, who is represented as being baptized by the Evangelist?

R. H. C.

_The Solar Annual Eclipse in the Year 1263._--In the Norwegian account of
Haco's expedition against Scotland, A.D. 1263, published in the original
Islandic from the Flateyan and Frisian MSS., with a literal English version
by the Rev. James Johnstone, I read as follows:

"While King Haco lay in Ronaldsvo, a great darkness drew over the sun;
so that only a little ring was bright round the sun, and it continued
so for some hours."--P. 45.

King Haco, according to the account, left Bergen on his expedition "three
nights before the 'Selian' vigils ... with all his fleet," and, "having got
a gentle breeze, was two nights at sea when he reached that harbour of
Shetland called Breydeyiar Sound (Bressay Sound, I presume) with a great
part of his navy." Here he remained "near half a month, and from thence
sailed to the Orkneys; and continued some time at Elidarwick, which is near
Kirkwall.... After St. Olave's wake (July 18, O. S.) King Haco, leaving
Elidarwick, sailed south before the Mull of Ronaldsha, with all the navy;"
and being joined b