prognosticate a great famine or mortality when great flocks of Jays and Crows forsake the woods; because these melancholy birds, bearing the characters of Saturn, the author of famine and mortality, have a very early perception of the bad disposition of that planet."

In the "Secret Memoirs of Mr. Duncan Campbell," p. 60, it is said: "Some will defer going abroad, though called by business of the greatest consequence, if, happening to look out of the window, they see a single Crow."

Ramesey, in his "Elminthologia," Svo. Lond. 1668, p. 271, says: "If a Crow fly but over the house and croak thrice, how do they fear, they, or some one else in the family, shall die?"

(*) In the Dialogue of "Dives and Pauper," fol. 1493, first precepte, 46th chapter, we read: "Some bileve that yf the Kyte or the Puttock fle ovir the way afore them that they should fare wel that daye, for sumtyme they have farewele after that they see the Puttock so fleynge; and soo they falle in wane by leve and thanke the Puttocke of their

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welfare and nat God, but suche foles take none hede howe often men mete with the Puttok so fleynge and yet they fare nevir the better for there is no folk that mete so oft with the Puttoke so fleynge as they that begge their mete from dore to dore."

(5) Nash, in his "Christ's Teares over Jerusalem," 4to. Lond. 1613, p. 185, speaking of the plague in London, says, "The vulgar menialty conclude therefore it is like to encrease, because a Hearnshaw (a whole afternoone together) sate on the top of Saint Peter's church in Cornehill. They talk of an Oxe that told the bell at Wolwitch, and how from an Oxe he transformed himselfe to an old man, and from an old man to an infant, and from an infant to a young man. Strange prophetical reports (as touching the sicknes) they mutter he gave out, when in truth they are nought els but cleanly coined lies, which some pleasant sportive wits have devised to gull them most grossely."

Werenfels says, p. 6, "If the superstitious man has a desire to know how many years he has to live, he will enquire of the CUCKOW."

THE chattering of a Magpie is ranked by Bourne, p. 71, among Omens.(1) It is unlucky, says Grose, to see first one Magpie, and then more: but to see two, denotes marriage or merriment; three, a successful journey; four, an unexpected piece of good news; five, you will shortly be in a great company.

The ancient augurs foretold things to come by the chirping or singing of certain birds, the Crow, the Pye, the Chough, &c.: hence perhaps the observation, frequent in the mouths of old women, that when the Pye chatters we shall have strangers.

It is very observable, that, according to Lambarde, in his "Topographical Dictionary," p. 260, Editha persuaded her husband to build a monastery at Oseney, near Oxford, upon the chattering of Pies. Magpies are ranked among Omens by Shakspeare. (*) Regi

VOL. III.

nald Scot, in his "Discovery of Witchcraft," p. 95, says, that to prognosticate that guests approach to your house, upon the chattering of Pies or Haggisters (Haggister in Kent signifies a Magpie) is altogether vanity and superstition.

In Lancashire, among the vulgar, it is accounted very unlucky to see two Magpies (called there Pynots, in Northumberland Pyanots) together: thus, in Tim Bobbin's "Lancashire Dialect," 8vo. 1775, p. 31, "I saigh two rott'n Pynots (hongum) that wur a sign o bad fashin; for I heard my gronny say hoode os leef o seen two owd Harries (Devils) os two Pynots."

The Magpie continues to be ominous in Scotland. "The Glossary to the Complaynt of Scotland," 8vo. Edinb. 1801, v. PIETT, a Magpie, observes that "it is, according to

I

popular superstition, a bird of unlucky omen. Many an old woman would more willingly see the Devil, who bodes no more ill luck than he brings, than a Magpie perching on a neighbouring tree." The same Glossary, v. THUESNEK, the cry of the Lapwing, tells us that "in the south and west of Scotland this bird is much detested, though not reckoned ominous. As it frequents solitary places, its haunts were frequently intruded upon by the fugitive Presbyterians, during the persecution which they suffered in the disgraceful and tyrannical reigns of Charles the Second and James the Second, when they were often discovered by the clamours of the Lapwing."

The quaint author of "A strange Metamorphosis of Man transformed into a Wildernesse, deciphered in Characters," 12mo. Lond. 1634, speaking of the Goose, says: "She is no witch, or astrologer, to divine by the starres, but yet hath a shrewd guesse of rainie weather, being as good as an almanack to some that beleeve in her."

We read in Willsford's "Nature's Secrets," p. 132, that "the offspring or aliance of the capitolian guard, when they do make a gaggling in the air more than usual, or seem to fight, being over greedy at their meat, expect then cold and winterly weather."

Also, ibid. P. 134: "PEACOCKS crying loud and shrill for their lost Io does proclaim an approaching storm."(3)

As also, ibid.: "DOVES coming later home to their houses than they are accustomed to do presages some evil weather approaching."

So, ibid. p. 133: "JACK-DAWS, if they come late home from foraging, presages some cold or ill weather neer at hand, and likewise when they are seen much alone."

So, ibid. p. 132: "Ducks, Mallards, and all water-fowls, when they bathe themselves much, prune their feathers, and flicker, or clap themselves with their wings, it is a sign of rain or wind." The same with "Cormorants and Gulls." (4)

'I neither tattle with Jackdaw

Or Maggot-pye on thatch'd house straw.""

Magot-pie is the original name of the bird; Magot being the familiar appellation given to Pies, as we say Robin to a Redbreast, Tom to a Titmouse, Philip to a Sparrow, &c. The modern Mag is the abbreviation of the ancient Magot, a word which we had from the French. See Reed's edit. of Shaksp. 1803, vol. x. p. 187.

In the Supplement to Johnson and Steevens's Shakspeare, 8vo. Lond. 1780, vol. ii. p. 706, it is said that the Magpie is called, in the West, to this hour, a Magatipie, and the import of the augury is determined by the number of the birds that are seen together: "One for sorrow; two for mirth; three for a wedding; four for death." Mr. Park, in a note in his copy of Bourne and Brand's "Popular Antiquities," p. 88, says that this regulation of the Magpie Omens is found also in Lincolnshire. He

adds that the prognostic of sorrow is thought to be averted by turning thrice round.

Gaule, in his "Mag-astromancers posed and puzzel'd," p. 181, notices among vain Observations, "the Pyes chattering about the house."

Dr. Nathaniel Home, in his "Dæmonologie," Syo. Lond. 1650, speaking of popular Superstitions, p. 59, tells us: "By the chattering of Magpies they know they shall have strangers. By the flying and crying of Ravens over their houses, especially in the dusk evening, and where one is sick, they conclude death the same they conclude by the much crying of Owles in the night, neer their houses, at such a time."

Alexander Ross, in his Appendix to the "Arcana Microcosmi," p. 219, tells us that "in the time of King Charles the Eighth of France, the battle that was fought between the French and Britans, in which the Britans were overthrown, was foreshewed by a skirmish be-tween the Magpies and Jackdaws."

The following is from "Glossarium SuioGothicum, auctore I. Ihre," fol. Upsaliæ, 1769, v. SKATA, tom. ii. p. 565:

"SKATA, Pica. Quum illius plurimus in Auguriis usus fuerit, v. Plinii Hist. Nat. lib. x. 18, interque aves sinisterioris Ominis semper locum invenerit, unde etiam videmus, veteris Superstitionis tenacem plebem nostram volucrem hanc Stabulorum portis expansis alis suspendere, ut, quod ait Apuleius, suo corpore luat illud Infortunium quod aliis portendit: arbitror a scada nocere, A.S. scathian, nomen illi inditum fuisse. Vocatur alias

Skjura, forté a garritu, ut etiam Latiné Garrulus nuncupabatur." Such is the opinion of the common people in Sweden.

(3) We read in the eleventh book of "Notable Things," by Thomas Lupton, Svo. Lond. 1660, No. 10, p. 311, that "the Peacock, by his loud and harsh clamor, prophesies and foretells rain, and the oftener they cry, the more rain is signified." Theophrastus and Mizaldus are cited :-" and Paracelsus saies, if a Peacock cries more than usual, or out of his time, it foretells the death of some in that family to whom it doth belong."

(*) In Sir John Sinclair's "Statistical Account of Scotland," vol. iii. 8vo. Edinb. 1792, p. 478, the minister of Arbirlot, in the county of Forfar, informs: "The Sea-Gulls are considered as ominous. When they appear in the fields, a storm from the south-east generally follows; and when the storm begins to abate, they fly back to the shore."

Ibid. vol. i. p. 32, parish of Holywood, Dumfriesshire: "During the whole year the SeaGulls, commonly called in this parish SeaMaws, occasionally come from the Solway Frith to this part of the country; their arrival seldom fails of being followed by a high wind and heavy rain, from the south-west, within twenty-four hours; and they return to the Frith again as soon as the storm begins to abate.

Willsford, in his "Nature's Secrets," p. 134, says: "Sea-Mews, early in the morning making a gaggling more than ordinary, foretoken stormy and blustering weather."

MORESIN ranks the unseasonable crowing of the Cock among Omens. As also the sudden fall of Hens from the house top.(1) These Fowl Omens are probably derived to us from the Romans, at whose superstitions on this account Butler laughs in his "Hudibras."(2)

Pennant, in his "Zoology," vol. i. p. 258,

speaking of the HOOPOE, tells us that the country people in Sweden look on the appearance of this bird as a presage of war: Facies armata videtur. And formerly the vulgar in our country esteemed it a forerunner of some calamity.

The same writer, ibid. vol. ii. p. 508, tells

following trait of his character before: "When he goes out of doors, he fears nothing so much as the glance of an envious eye."

"Mischiefs are like the cockatrice's eye; If they see first, they kill; if seen, they die." Dryden.

(2) "A flam more senseless than the roguery Of old aruspicy and aug'ry, That out of garbages of cattle Presag'd th' events of truce or battle; From flight of birds or chickens pecking Success of great'st attempts would reckon."

P. ii. canto iii. 1. 29.

I recollect nothing at present which seems to have been derived into modern superstition from the ancient mode of deducing omens from the inside of animals, unless it be that concerning the Merry Thought, thus noticed by the Spectator." "I have seen a man in love turn pale and lose his appetite from the plucking of a Merry Thought."

In the "British Apollo," fol. Lond. 1708, vol. i. No. 84, is the following query: "For what reason is the bone next the breast of a fowl, &c., called the Merry Thought, and when was it first called so?-A. The original of that name was doubtless from the pleasant fancies that commonly arise upon the breaking of that bone, and 'twas then certainly first called so, when these merry notions were first started."

In Lloyd's "Stratagems of Jerusalem," p. 285, we are told, "Themistocles was assured of victory over King Xerxes and his huge army by crowing of a Cocke, going to the battle at Artemisium, the day before the battell began, who having obtained so great a victory, gave a Cocke in his ensigne ever after."

Ibid. we read: "The first King of Rome, Romulus, builded his kingdom by flying of Fowles and soothsaying. So Numa Pompilius was chosen second King of Rome by flying of Fowles. So Tarquinius Priscus, an Eagle tooke his cappe from his head and fled up on high to the skies, and after descended, and let his cappe fall on his head againe, signifying thereby that he should be King of Rome."

Ibid. p. 290: "So superstitious grew the Gentils, with such abhominable idolatry, that in Persia by a Cock, in Egypt by a Bull, in Ethiope by a Dog, they tooke soothsaying; in Beotia by a Beech Tree, in Epyre by an Oake, in Delos by a Dragon, in Lycia by a Wolfe, in Ammon by a Ramme, they received their oracles, as their warrant to commence any warre, to enter any battell, or to attempt any enterprize."

The Earl of Northampton's " Defensative against the Poison of supposed Prophecies," 4to Lond. 1583, signat. T 2 b, says, "The Romaines tooke the crowing of a Cocke for an abode of victory, though no philosopher be ignorant that this proceedeth of a gallant lustinesse uppon the first digestion."

In Morier's Journey through Persia," 4to. Lond. 1810, p. 62, we read, Among the Superstitions in Persia, that which depends on the crowing of a Cock is not the least remarkable. If the Cock crows at a proper hour, they esteem it a good omen; if at an improper season, they kill him. I am told that the favourable hours are at nine, both in the morning and in the evening, at noon, and at midnight."

(3) "Halcyon," says Willsford, ut supra, p. 134, "at the time of breeding, which is about fourteen days before the winter solstice, foreshows a quiet and tranquil time, as it is observed about the coast of Sicily, from whence the proverb is transported, the Halcyon Days. Pliny."

Dallaway, in his "Constantinople, Ancient and Modern," 4to. Lond. 1797, p. 137, speaking of the Bosphorus, says, "Scarcely a minute passes but flocks of aquatic birds, resembling Swallows, may be observed flying in a lengthened train from one sea to the other. As they are never known to rest, they are called Halcyons, and by the French 'Ames damnées.' They are superstitiously considered by all the inhabitants."

In Smith's Travels, 8vo. Lond. 1792, p. 11, it is said, "On sailing along the coasts