s by
this circumstance, in connexion with its well-known ominous character,
actually frightened into a state of wretched nervous depression, which
induced physical want.

S. R. P.

_African Folk Lore._--The following curious piece of folk lore is quoted
from an extract in _The Critic_ (of April 1, 1853, p. 172.), in the course
of a review of Richardson's _Narrative of a Mission to Central Africa,
&c._:

"To avert the evil eye from the gardens, the people (of Mourzak) put up
the head of an ass, or some portion of the bones of that animal. The
same superstition prevails in all the oases that stud the north of
Africa, from Egypt to the Atlantic, but the people are unwilling to
explain what especial virtue there exists in an ass's skull."

W. SPARROW SIMPSON, B.A.

_Funeral Custom._--In some parts (I believe) of Yorkshire, and perhaps
elsewhere, it is customary to send, immediately after a death, a paper bag
of biscuits, and a card with the name, &c. of the deceased, to his friends,
be they many or few. Can any of your readers explain the matter? I have
more than once seen the card, but not the biscuits.

ABHBA.

* * * * *

SHAKSPEARE READINGS, NO. VII.

"What are 'Aristotle's checks?'"

This is the question that MR. COLLIER proposed in support of the alteration
of _checks_ into _ethics_, at p. 144. of his _Notes and Emendations_. He
terms _checks_ "an absurd blunder," and in the preface he again introduces
it, passing upon it the same unqualified sentence of excommunication, as
upon "bosom multiplied," viz. "it can never be repeated." In this opinion
he is backed by most of the public scribes of the day, especially by the
critic of the _Gentleman's Magazine_ for April, who declares "we should be
very sorry to have to discover what the editors have understood by the
_checks_ of Aristotle." Furthermore, this critic thinks that "it is
extremely singular that the mistake should have remained so long
uncorrected;" and he intimates that they who have found any meaning in
_checks_, have done so only because, through ignorance, they could find no
meaning in _ethics_.

Hence it becomes necessary for those who do find a meaning in _checks_, to
defend that meaning; and hence I undertake to answer MR. COLLIER'S
question.

Aristotle's _checks_ are those _moral adjustments_ that form the
distinguishing feature of his philosophy.

They are _the eyes of reason_, whereb