_Philological Museum_, vol. i. p.
681. (See also Halliwell's Dict., in _Malkin_ and _Maulkin_.) The most
probable derivation of the word is, that _malkin_ is a diminutive of _mal_,
abbreviated from _Mary_, now commonly written _Moll._ Hence, by successive
changes, _malkin_ or _maukin_ might mean a dirty wench, a figure of old
rags dressed up as a scarecrow, and a mop of rags used for cleaning ovens.
The Scotch _maukin_, for a hare, seems to be an instance of an animal
acquiring a proper name, like _renard_ in French, and _jack_ for _pike_ in
English.

L.

_Mantelpiece_ (Vol. ix., p. 302.).--_French_, Manteau de cheminee.
_German_, Kamin Mantel. This is the moulding, or mantle, that serves to
hide (screen) the joint betwixt the wall and the fire-stove.

H. F. B.

_Mousehunt_ (Vol. ix., pp. 65, 135.).--A short time ago I was informed by a
gamekeeper, that this little animal is found in the Holt Forest. He told me
that there are three kinds of the weasel tribe in the woods: the weasel,
the stoat or stump, and the _mousehunt_ or _mousehunter_, which is also
called the _thumb_, from its diminutive size. It feeds on mice and small
birds; but my informant does not think that it attacks game.

White of Selbourne mentions that such an animal was supposed to exist in
his neighbourhood:

"Some intelligent country people have a notion that we have, in these
parts, a species of the genus _Mustelinum,_ besides the weasel, stoat,
ferret, and polecat: a little reddish beast, not much bigger than a
field-mouse, but much longer, which they call a _cane_. This piece of
intelligence can be little depended on; but farther inquiry may be
made."--_Natural History of Selbourne_, Let. 15.

FREDERICK M. MIDDLETON.

As I can completely join in with the praise your correspondent MR. TENNYSON
awards to Mr. Fennell's _Natural History of Quadrupeds_ (except as regards
some of its woodcuts, which I understand were inserted by the publisher in
spite of the author's remonstrance), I feel induced to protect Mr. Fennell
from the hypercritical commentary of your correspondent J. S.s. (p. 136.).

In the passage quoted and commented on, had Mr. Fennell used the word
_beach_, it would certainly have referred to the sea; but the word "shore,"
which he there uses, applies to rivers as well as seas. Thus Spenser,
speaking of the river Nile, says:

"... Beside the fruitful _shore_ of muddy _Nile_,
Upon a sunny bank outstretc