ii. p 271., note 9., you
will see that I propose the Spanish word _malhecho_ as the origin of
"mallecho." I did not think this point worth notice at the time, and I
doubt whether it is worth notice now. If you leave out this postscript, as
you are at perfect liberty to do, I shall conclude that you are of my
opinion.

J.P.C.

[The passage to which our valued correspondent refers is in our Second
Volume, p. 358., where J.M.B. points out that the suggestion of a
writer in the _Quarterly Review_ for March 1850, that Shakspeare's
_miching mallecho_ was a mere misprint of the Spanish words _mucho
malhecho_, had been anticipated by DR. MAGINN. It now appears that he
had also been anticipated by MR. COLLIER.]

* * * * *

CROSSING RIVERS ON SKINS.

The mode of crossing a river on skins, mentioned by Layard (_Nineveh and
its Remains_, 5th edition, vol. i. p. 129., vol. ii. p. 381.) is also
referred to in the works of the following ancient writers. I quote
_Facciolati Lexicon Totius Latinitatis_, in vocibus _Uter_ et
_Utricularius_. [Edit. _Furlanetto_, 4to.]

"Frequens fuit apud veteres utrium usus ad flumina trananda, _Liv._ 21. 27.
Hispani, sine ulla mole, in utres vestimentis conjectis, ipsi cetris
suppositis incubantes, flumen tranavere, _Caes._ B.G. i. 48. Lusitani,
peritique earum regionum cetrati citerioris Hispaniae, consectabantur,
quibus erat proclive transnare flumen, quod consuetudo eorum omnium est, ut
sine utribus ad exercitum non eant, (Cf. _Herzog._, qui longam huic loco
adnotationem adscripsit), _Curt._ 7. 5. Utres quam plurimos stramentis
refertos dividit; his incubantes transnavere amnem, _Plin._ 6. 29. 35.
Arabes Ascitae appellati, quoniam bubulos utres binos sternentes ponte
piraticam exercent, _h.e._ utribus junctis tabulas instar pontis
sternentes. Adde _Front. Strat._ 3. 13., et _Ammian._ 30. 1. _med._"

"Utricularii vocabantur qui utriculos, seu utres inflatos ratibus ita
subjiciebant, ut iisdem flumina transnare possent. Eorum collegium in
quibusdam urbibus ad flumen aliquod sitis habebatur, ideoque utricularii
saepe cum nautis conjunguntur, _Inscr._ ap. _Mur._ 531, n. 4. Ex voto a solo
templum ex suo fecerunt collegio utriculariorum."

JANUS DOUSA.

Manpadt House, near Haarlem.

* * * * *

FOLK LORE OF SOUTH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, NO. 3.

_Hedgehog._--Among other animals looked upon in a superstitious light,