h betokens (_sic_) a
plentiful year, but not without some diseases."

"If, in the fall of the leaf in October, many of them wither on the
bows, and hang there, it betokens a frosty winter and much snow."

Under "The Signs of Rain in Creatures" we have the following:

"When the hern or bitron flies low, the air is gross, and thickening
into showers."

"The froggs much croaking in ditches and pools, &c., in the evening,
foretells rain in little time to follow: also, the sweating of stone
pillars or tombs denotes rain."

"The often doping or diving of water fowl foreshows rain is at hand."

"The peacock's much crying denotes rain."

There is a list given of Lucky Days, which contains all the red letter
saints' days of the Reformed English kalendar. We are also informed that
there are other days in each month which "are successful enough." Thus--

"In January there are three, viz. 16. 18. 26.
In February there are four, viz. 10. 19. 27. 28.
In March there are two, viz. 14. 18.
In April there are three, viz. 13. 22. 27.
In May there are five, viz. 3. 5. 7. 11. 19.
In June there are four, viz. 10. 17. 20. 27.
In July there are six, viz. 1. 13. 19. 21. 27. 30.
In August there are three, viz. 3. 7. 9.
In September there are five, viz. 4. 8. 11. 15. 19.
In October there are three, viz. 1. 8. 13.
In November there are four, viz. 3. 9. 11. 15.
In December there are three, viz. 9. 13. 17."

EDWARD PEACOCK.

Bottesford, Messingham, Kirton-in-Lindsey.

* * * * *

ON THE MODERN PRACTICE OF ASSUMING ARMS.

"If any person be advanced into an office or dignity of publique
administration, be it eyther ecclesiasticall, martiall, or ciuill: so
that the same office comprehendeth in it _dignitatem vel dignitatis
titulum_, either dignitie or (at the least) a title of dignitye: the
Heralde must not refuse to devise to such a publique person, upon his
instant request and willingnes to beare the same without reproche, a
coate of armes: and thenceforth to matriculate him, with his {51}
intermarriages, and issues descending, in the register of the Gentle
and Noble."

Thus wrote Sir John Ferne in _The Blazon of Gentrie_, printed in the year
1586. So also Coates, in his additions to Gwillim, writing in 1724, says:

"For though arms, in their first acceptation, were (as is shewed) taken
up at an