Devon with that of other cider counties, where the Devonshire colic was almost unknown. His description of the method of cider-making in his time (1767) in Devon is as follows: "The large circular trough, in which the apples are ground, is generally composed of several pieces of moorstones, cramped together with iron, some melted lead being poured into the interstices. It frequently happens that these stones which are thus to be joined are unequal, and do not correspond with each other, so that considerable chasms are left between them; and these chasms are filled up with lead. In this case the apples ground by the pressure of the roller immediately come in contact with no small quantity of this poisonous mineral. It is likewise common in several parts of the county either to line the cyder presses entirely with lead, in order to prevent their leaking, or to make a border of lead quite round the press, in order to receive the juice of the apples, and to convey it into a vessel, made of wood or stone, placed underneath. And in many other places where these methods are not used, it is common to nail sheet lead over any cracks or joints in the presses; and likewise to convey the juice of the apples from the presses in leaden. pipes.' Baker enquired further into the methods of cider-making in other counties, as in Hereford, Gloucester, and Worcester, where no bad effects were attributed to cider, and found that there no lead was used in any part of the apparatus for grinding or pressing the apples, or during fermentation. To put the matter entirely at rest, he, in 1766, while near Exeter, tested the apple juice as it flowed from a cider press lined with lead, and satisfied himself that the must contained an appreciable quantity of the metal. This fact he subsequently confirmed in many other instances. According to Polwhele, "the leaden theory" of Sir George Baker was at first received with much opposition. Its truth, however, became rapidly recognized, and lead has now for many years been entirely discarded from the Devonshire cider-making apparatus. My friend Dr. Christian Budd, of North Tawton, whose wide experience of the ailments of the county is well known, has kindly favoured me with the results of his own observations on this subject. He informs me that in the early part of his career, some forty years ago, he occasionally saw cases of lead colic produced by drinking cider made in a lead press. * An Essay concerning the cause of the Endemial Colic of Devonshire, George Baker, M. D., F.R.S., pp. 29-30. The deleterious effects resulting from the use of lead were then generally acknowledged, and lead presses only remained in a few remote places and among small growers. They have now entirely disappeared, and Dr. Budd has not for many years seen any case of lead poisoning produced by cider. He further adds that he believes there is no more wholesome drink than pure cider, and considers it, from its composition, to be eminently adapted to the other food of the Devonshire labourer. I may, in conclusion, best sum up the enormous influence which Sir George Baker's discovery produced in the health of Devon by the following quotation from the introduction to his collected writings, which was written by his son in 1818:* "Being a native of Devonshire, he had occasion to observe that the inhabitants of that county were generally subject to a fatal disease of a peculiar character, the symptoms of which had a strong affinity to those produced by a solution of lead; and he exerted himself in a most, zealous manner to combat the rooted prejudices and customs of a great majority of his countrymen, and to prevent, if possible, the use of that deleterious mineral in the machinery employed in the process of making cider. It is a fact, well ascertained, that a malady, which from its former prevalence in the county had acquired the name of the Devonshire Colic, is at this time hardly known to exist there. Thus, by the acuteness of his observation, he discovered the cause of a most afflicting and fatal disorder; and by his perseverance in recommending the discontinuance of a long and generally prevailing usage, he was the fortunate means of preserving the health and lives of thousands." *Medical Tracts, read at the College of Physicians between the years 1767 and 1785. Sir George Baker, Bart., M.D., F.R.S., 1818. I Ir may not be altogether uninteresting briefly to record a remarkable migration of insects, which I witnessed at Teignmouth, on the morning of the 12th of August, 1879. should mention that an east wind had been blowing during the night of the 11th of August, and that my time of observation was from 9 to 11 a.m. on the 12th, the day being fine and bright. Passing through West Teignmouth Churchyard, where clover was in bloom, myriads of the Gamma Moth (Plusia gamma) were hovering round the flowers; and continuing my walk through Bitton Street towards Bishopsteignton, I found the moths in countless numbers everywhere, every little patch of garden-ground in front of the houses being full of them; indeed, a hundred might be seen flying round one veronica. On the seashore the moths were equally abundant, and I was informed that swarms had been seen at sea, about three miles from land. They were progressing in a continuous stream from east to west, and were accompanied by many Painted Lady Butterflies (Cynthia Cardui), which, owing to their beauty, were more conspicuous, but by no means so numerous, as the moths. My son, who walked to Bishopsteignton, two miles west of Teignmouth, found the moths in the same profusion during the whole of that distance, and saw several hundred specimens of the Painted Lady Butterfly. The moths and butterflies all consisted of these two species, were in perfect condition, and had evidently only recently been evolved from their pupæ. Previously to this day I had seen only two or three Gamma Moths, and had not noticed (as in some years had been the case) that the larvæ and pupæ of that moth were numerous in gardens. On the 13th of August there was a shower in the morning; but although it became clear and bright afterwards, there were but few of the insects remaining. I have not noticed the Gamma Moth to be more common in this neighbourhood since 1879 than theretofore; but the Painted Lady Butterfly (which generally appears very irregularly) has certainly occurred in the vicinity in larger numbers than was the case before this influx of visitors, and has been not uncommon ever since. This butterfly, which is very strong on the wing, has often been recorded as a migrant. In that most interesting work, Kirby and Spence's Introduction to Entomology, several wellauthenticated accounts are given of the emigration of insects, and a swarm of butterflies (apparently Cynthia Cardui) is mentioned, in a quotation from Reaumur, as having occurred at Aix, in Provence. In Rennie's Insect Miscellanies there is an account of a very numerous flight of this species of butterfly, which was observed at Grandson, on the Lake of Neufchatel; and a similar flight is stated to have been seen by Professor Bonelli, of Turin. In these cases the course taken by the insects was from south to north, and their numbers were so immense that at night the flowers were literally covered with them. Should it be asked whence these adventurous insects came, and whither they were wending their way, I can only reply that, ill-adapted as they may seem for so bold a flight, they must have crossed the sea, that they were systematically travelling from east to west, and that a moth 66 Qui siccis oculis monstra natantia, must be a very wonderful creature. It may be that, like Ulysses and "Their purpose held To sail beyond the sunset and the baths Of all the Western stars," "To touch the Happy Isles;" but perhaps it is best to say that, in sooth, I do not know; that there are other beings higher in the scale of creation, whose proceedings cannot always be explained, and that"There are more things in heaven and earth Than are dreamt of in our philosophy." ON THE SUBSTITUTION OF FIREARMS FOR THE LONG-BOW, AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NATIONAL ARMAMENT AT CHAGFORD, IN THE COUNTY OF DEVON, DURING THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. BY G. WAREING ORMEROD, M.A., F.G.S. (Read at Seaton, July, 1885.) THE period contained in the following narrative extends from 1542 (34 Henry VIII.) to 1599 (42 Elizabeth). Before giving particulars of the above change, it will be well to notice the state of the weapons in general use in warfare at the periods preceding and subsequent to, as well as at that abovementioned. For much of this information I am indebted to Strutt's Sports and Pastimes (edition 1810). Early in the reign of Henry VII. the use of the cross-bow was forbidden by law; but the use of that weapon and hand-guns became so general, that twenty years afterwards a penalty of £10 was imposed for keeping a cross-bow in the house. (STRUTT, p. 48) In 29th Henry VIII. (1537), however, a patent was granted to Sir Charles Morris, Anthony Knevyt, and Peter Mewtas to be overseers of the science of artillery, meaning thereby long-bows, cross-bows, and hand-guns; and other persons were appointed masters and rulers of the same science, with powers to establish a Corporation, to be called the Fraternity of St. George. (STRUTT, p. 52.) With these exceptions the use of the cross-bow and hand-gun was prohibited, and every male was obliged to exercise himself in shooting with the long-bow, and to keep a bow with arrows in his house; and masters were ordered to find bows for their apprentices, and compel them to shoot with them upon holidays. (STRUTT, p.51.) In the reign of Edward IV. an ordinance was established which compelled the bowyers of London to sell the best bowstaves at 3s. 4d. each, and this was confirmed in the 3rd |