I think, therefore, we cannot doubt that what is intended to be expressed by the A.-S. laerig is empty, hollow, concave.  But if we wanted further confirmation, leer, leery, leary are still in use in Devonshire, Dorsetshire, and perhaps elsewhere, for empty, hollow, as the provincial Glossaries will show.  Skinner has the word leer, vacuus, and says, “foeliciter alludit Gr. [Greek:  lagaros], laxus, vacuus.”  In Layamon we have (244, 16.), “the put waes i-laer.”  I have found but one instance in Middle English, and that is in the curious old Phrase-Book compiled by William Horman, Head Master of Eton School in the reign of Henry VIII:—­

“’At a soden shyfte leere barellis, tyed together, with boardis above, make passage over a streme.’  Tumultuario opere, inanes cuppae colligatae et tabulatis instratae fluminis transitu perhibent.”—­Hormanni Vulgaria, Lond. 1519, f. 272 b.

Instances of the word are not frequent, possibly because we had another word for empty (toom) in common with the Danes; but perhaps there was no necessity for dwelling upon it in the sense of empty; it was only its application as an epithet to a concave or hollow shield that your question could have had in view. {293}

Once more thanking you most heartily for the pleasure and profit I have derived from the Deutsche Grammatik, and all your other important labours, I am, sir, your grateful and obliged servant,

S.W.  SINGER.

Mickleham, Nov. 23. 1849.

* * * * *

FOLK LORE.

ST. VALENTINE IN NORWICH—­COOK-EELS, &c. &c.

The day appropriated to St. Valentine is kept with some peculiarity in the city of Norwich.  Although “Valentines,” as generally understood, that is to say billets sent by means of the post, are as numerously employed here as in other places, yet the custom consists not in the transmission of a missive overflowing with hearts and darts, or poetical posies, but in something far more substantial, elegant and costly—­to wit, a goodly present of value unrestricted in use or expense.  Though this custom is openly adopted among relatives and others whose friendship is reciprocated, yet the secret mode of placing a friend in possession of an offering is followed largely,—­and this it is curious to remark, not on the day of the saint, when it might be supposed that the appropriateness of the gift would be duly ratified, the virtue of the season being in full vigour, but on the eve of St. Valentine, when it is fair to presume his charms are not properly matured.  The mode adopted among all classes is that of placing the presents on the door-sill of the house of the favoured person, and intimating what is done by a run-a-way knock or ring as the giver pleases.