Magpies.—­To see one magpie alone bodes bad luck; two, good luck; three, a “berrin;” four, a wedding.  This is our version of the saying:  Grose gives it differently.

Spiders.—­When a spider is found upon your {4} clothes, or about your person, it signifies that you will shortly receive some money.  Old Fuller, who was a native of Northamptonshire, thus quaintly moralises this superstition: 

“When a spider is found upon our clothes, we use to say, some money is coming towards us.  The moral is this:  such who imitate the industry of that contemptible creature may, by God’s blessing, weave themselves into wealth and procure a plentiful estate.”—­Worthies, p.58.  Pt. 2. ed. 1662.

Omens of death and misfortune are also drawn from the howling of dogs—­the sight of a trio of butterflies—­the flying down the chimney of swallows or jackdaws; and swine are sometimes said to give their master warning of his death by giving utterance to a peculiar whine, known and understood only by the initiated in such matters.  Gaule, in his Mag-astromancers Posed and Puzzled, Lond. 1652, p. 181, ranks among evil omens “the falling of swallows down the chimney” and “the grunting of swine.”

T.S.

* * * * *

MINOR NOTES.

Kentish Town in the last Century—­

“Thursday night some villains robbed the Kentish Town Stage, and stripped the passengers of their money, watches, and buckles.  In the hurry they spared the pockets of Mr. Corbyn, the druggist; but he, content to have neighbour’s fare, called out to one of the rogues, ’Stop, friend, you have forgot to take my money’.”—­Morning Chron. and Land Advertiser, Jan. 9. 1773.

Murray’s Hand-book for Devon and Cornwall.—­The author does not mention Haccombe Chapel or the Oswell Rocks, both near Newton; the latter is a most picturesque spot, and the view near and far most interesting!—­A notice of the tiles, and of the 2ft. 2in effigy at Haccombe, appears in the Arch.  Journal, iii. 151. 237.—­The monuments are in fine preservation up to the last of the “Haccombes” ante 1342, which is perfect.  The chapel would be improved by the removal of the two pews and of the family arms from the velvet cloth on the communion-table!—­Tavistock Church has an east window by Williment; pattern, and our Saviour in the centre.—­The church by Dartmouth Castle contains a brass and armorial gallery; the visitor should sail round the rock at the harbour entrance, it’s appearance from seaward is fine.—­Littleham Church has a decorated wooden screen, very elegant.—­A work on the Devonshire pulpits and screens would be valuable.

A.C.

Judges Walk, Hampstead.—­A friend of mine, residing at Hampstead, has communicated to me the following information, which I forward to you as likely to instruct your readers.