=Warner=, the old steward of Sir Charles Cropland, who grieves to see the timber of the estate cut down to supply the extravagance of his young master.--G. Colman, _The Poor Gentleman_ (1802). =Warning-Givers.= ALASNAM’S MIRROR. This mirror remained unsullied when it reflected a chaste and pure-minded woman, but became dim when the woman reflected by it was faithless, wanton, or light.--_Arabian Nights_ (“Prince Zeyn Alasnam”). ANTS. Alexander Ross says that the “cruel battle between the Venetians and Insubrians, and also that between the Liegeois and the Burgundians, in which 30,000 men were slain, were both presignified by combats between two swarms of ants.”--_Arcana Microcosmi._ BAHMAN’S KNIFE (_Prince_). When Prince Bahman started on his exploits, he gave his sister, Parizādê, a knife which, he told her, would remain bright and clean so long as he was safe and well, but, immediately he was in danger, or dead, would become dull or drop gouts of blood.--_Arabian Nights_ (“The Two Sisters”). BAY TREES. The withering of bay trees prognosticates a death. ’Tis thought the king is dead ... The bay trees in our country are all withered. Shakespeare, _Richard II_. (1597). N.B.--The bay was called by the Romans “the plant of the good angel,” because “neyther falling sicknes, neyther devyll, wyll infest or hurt one in that place whereas a bay tree is.”--Thomas Lupton, _Syxt Book of Notable Thinges_ (1660). BEE. The buzzing of a bee in a room indicates that a stranger is about to pay the house a visit. BIRTHA’S EMERALD RING. The Duke Gondibert gave Birtha an emerald ring which, he said, would preserve its lustre so long as he remained faithful and true, but would become dull and pale if he proved false to her.--Wm. Davenant, _Gondibert_. BRAWN’S HEAD (_The_). A boy brought to King Arthur’s court a brawn’s head, over which he drew his wand thrice, and said, “There’s never a traitor or a cuckold who can carve that head of brawn.”--Percy, _Reliques_ (“The Boy and the Mantle”). CANACE’S MIRROR indicated, by its lustre, if the person whom the inspector loved was true or false.--Chaucer, _Canterbury Tales_ (“The Squire’s Tale”). CANDLES. The shooting forth of a parcel of tallow, called a winding-sheet, from the top of a lighted candle, gives warning to the house of an approaching death; but a bright spark upon the burning wick is the promise of a letter. CATS on the deck of a ship are said to “carry a gale of wind in their tail,” or to presage a coming storm. When cats are very assiduous in cleaning their ears and head, it prognosticates rain. CATTLE give warning of an earthquake by their uneasiness. CHILDREN PLAYING SOLDIERS on a road is said to forebode approaching war.