or four were joined at their bases, if the alliance
admitted of so many. Dimidiation, accollation, and impalement succeeded
each other at short intervals. But the modern practice of placing the
arms of females upon a lozenge appears to have originated about the
middle of the fourteenth century, when we have an instance of five
lozenges conjoined upon one seal; that of the heir female in the centre
impaling the arms of her husband, and surrounded by those of her
ancestors."--P. 400.

I think this quotation from so learned a writer goes far towards settling
the whole question. I confess myself willing to have my theory placed
second to this, while I must discard the "distaff" {450} notion, unless
better substantiated than by the French saying from their Salique law,
which I here give for P. P.'s information: "Nunquam corona a lance
transibit ad fusum." I am willing to admit the antiquity of this notion;
for while the shape of the man's shield is traced by Sylvanus Morgan to
Adam's spade, he takes the woman's from Eve's spindle!

"When Adam delved, and Eve span,
Who was then the gentleman?"

In Geoffry Chaucer's time the lozenge appears to have been an ornament worn
by heralds in their dress or crown. In describing the habit of one, he
says:

"They crowned were as kinges
With crowns wrought full of lozenges
And many ribbons and many fringes."

As for the difference between the lozenge and fusil, I could multiply
opinions and examples, but hope those given will be sufficient.

I cannot conclude these few hasty remarks without expressing a wish that
one of your correspondents in particular would take up this subject, to
handle which in a masterly manner, his position is a guaranty of his
ability. I refer to the gentleman holding the office of York Herald.

BROCTUNA.

Bury, Lancashire.

* * * * *

THE MYRTLE BEE.

(Vol. viii., p. 173.)

From a very early period, and throughout life, I have been accustomed to
shooting, and well remember the bird in question, but whether the term was
local or general, I am unable to state, never having met with it save in
one locality; and many years have elapsed since I saw one, although in the
habit of frequenting the neighbourhood where it was originally to be seen.
I attribute its disappearance to local causes. I met with it during a
series of years, ending about twenty-five years since, at which period I
lo