_Custom of Cranes in Storms._--Some of your readers may be able further to illustrate the customs which I mention:
"Ex avibus est præsagium coeli. When the crane taketh up a stone and flies with it in his _foot_, it is a sign of a storm."--Bishop Andrewes' _Orphan Lectures_, p. 92.: Lond. 1657, fol.
Nonnus describes cranes as carrying stones in their _mouths_ to prevent them from being carried hither and thither by the violence of winds and storms.--_Dyonysiacks_, lib. xii. p. 689.: Antwerp, 1569.
Bishop J. Taylor mentions a similar custom in the case of geese, but there is a different reason assigned for it:
"Ælian tells of the geese flying over the mountain Taurus: [Greek: hôsper embalontes sphisi stomion diapetontai]; that for fear of eagles nature hath taught them to carry stones in their _mouths_ till they be past their danger."--Sermon XXIII. _The Good and Evil Tongue._ Part II. ab init., p. 168.: Lond. 1678, fol.
_Aldress._--This word signifies the wife of an alderman. It is found on a brass plate in the following epitaph, in the church of St. Stephen, Norwich, as given by Blomefield, _Hist. Norw._, 1739, vol. ii. p. 595. Where else may it be met with? It is assuredly a better designation than that of "Mrs. Ald. A.," or "The Lady of Ald. B.;" and, from its occurrence in this place, seems to be a term once in use:
"Here ly buried Misstresse Maud Heade, Sometyme an Aldress, but now am deade, Anno MCCCCCLX and Seaven, The XIII Day of April, then My Lyf I leafte, as must all Men, My Body yelding to Christen Dust, My Soule to God the faithfull and Just."
_How the Ancient Irish used to crown their King._--
"A White cow was brought forth, which the king must kill, and seeth in water whole, and bathe himself therein stark naked; then, sitting, in the same cauldron, his people about him, he must eat the flesh and drink the broth wherein he sitteth, without cup or dish, or use of his hand."
Cited by Sir R. Peel in the debate on the Union with Ireland, April 25th, 1834. (_Mirror of Parliament_, p. 1311.)
_One of Junius's Correspondents identified._--It has often appeared to me that a portion of the pages of "N.& Q." would be usefully employed in supplying information relative to works either anonymous, or by authors of whom little is known. The French have one or two works expressly on this subject, but we have not any of the kind.
