Has this passage been satisfactorily explained since Tyrwhitt's time? The epithet "Dulcarnon" is mentioned in a note to the translation of Richard de Bury's _Philobiblon_, London, 1832. I give the note in full. It is in reference to the word "Ellefuga":-- "This word was a pons asinorum to some good Grecians,--but that is probably its meaning[4]; at least making it the name of a problem gets over all difficulty. The allusion is to the flight of Helle, who turned giddy in taking a flying leap, mounted on a ram, and fell into the sea;--so weak a head fails in crossing the pons. The problem was invented by Pythagoras, 'and it hath been called by barbarous writers of the latter time Dulcarnon,'--_Billingsley_. This name may have been invented after our author's time. Query [Greek: dolkarenon]." If we take the words "Dulcarnon" in this sense, it will help to explain the passage in the _Troilus and Creseide_. E.M.B. _Bishop Barnaby_.--The origin of the term "Bishop Barnaby," as applied to the Lady-bird, is still unexplained. I wish to observe, as having some possible connexion with the subject, that the word "Barnaby" in the seventeenth century appears to have had a particular political signification. For instance, I send you a pamphlet (which you are welcome to, if you will accept of it) called "_The Head of Nile, or the Turnings and Windings of the Factious since Sixty, in a dialogue between Whigg and Barnaby_," London, 1681. In this dialog, Whigg, as might be expected, is the exponent of all manner of abominable opinions, whilst Barnaby is represented as the supporter of orthodoxy. Again, in the same year was published Durfey's comedy, "_Sir Barnaby Whigg_," the union of the two names indicating that the knight's opinions were entirely regulated by his interest. Q.D. P.S. The pamphlet above alluded to affords another instance of the use of the word "Factotum," at page 41.: "before the Pope had a great house there, and became Dominus Factotum, Dominus Deus noster Papu." _Barnacles_.--In _Speculum Mundi, or a Glass representing the Face of the World_, by John Swan, M.A., 4th edit., 1670, is the following mention of the Barnacle goose (pp. 243, 244.):-- "In the north parts of _Scotland_, and in the places adjacent, called _Orchades_, are certain trees found, whereon there groweth a certain kind of shell-fish, of a white colour, but somewhat tending to a russet; wherein are contained little living creatures. For in time of maturity the shells do open, and out of them by little and little grow those living creatures; which falling into the water when they drop out of their shells, do become fowls, such as we call _Barnacles_ or _Brant Geese_; but the other that fall upon the land, perish and come to nothing." The author then quotes the passage from Gerard where mention is made of the Barnacle. HENRY KERSLEY.