It occurs to me that an interesting collection might be formed of the various forms and methods by which the ownership of books is sometimes found to be asserted on their fly-leaves. _Borrowers_ are exhorted to faithful restitution; and consequences are threatened to those who misuse, or fail to return, or absolutely steal the valued literary treasure. I forward a few such Notes as have fallen in my way, thinking they may interest your readers, and shall be obliged by any additions. The first is an admonition to borrowers, by no means a superfluous one, as I know to my cost. It is _printed_ on a small paper, about the size of an ordinary book-plate, with blank for the owner's name, to be filled up in manuscript: "THIS BOOK Belongs to . . . . . . "If thou art borrowed by a friend, Right welcome shall he be To read, to study--not to lend, But to return to me. {128} "Not that imparted knowledge doth Diminish learning's store; But books, I find, if often lent, Return to me no more. . . . . . . "Give your attention as you read, And frequent pauses take; Think seriously; and take good heed That you no _dog's-ears_ make. "Don't wet the fingers, as you turn The pages, one by one. Never _touch_ prints, _observe_: and learn Each idle gait to shun." On the fly-leaf of a Bible I find the following, which, however, is taken from _The Weekly Pacquet of Advice from Rome_, vol. ii. p. 198. No 15., dated Friday, Dec. 26, 1679: "Sancte Liber! venerande Liber! Liber optime, salve! O Animæ nostræ, Biblia dimidium!" A very common formula, in works of a devotional nature, is as follows: "This is Giles Wilkinson his book. God give him grace therein to look." We now come to some of a menacing description: "Si quis hunc furto rapiet libellum, Reddat:--aut collo dabitur capistrum, Carnifex ejus tunicas habebit, Terra cadaver." And again: "Si quis hunc librum rapiat scelestus, Atque furtivis manibus prehendat, Pergat ad tetras Acherontis undas Non rediturus." These last partake somewhat of the character of the diræ and anathemas which are sometimes found at the end of old MSS., and were prompted, doubtless, by the great scarcity and consequent value of books before the invention of printing. BALLIOLENSIS. * * * * * FOLK LORE. _Baptismal Custom._--In many country parishes the child is invariably called by the name of the saint on whose day he happens to have been born. I know one called _Valentine_, because he appeared in the world upon the 14th of February; and lately baptized a child myself by the name of Benjamin _Simon Jude_. Subsequently, on expressing some surprise at the strange conjunction, I was informed that he was born on the festival of SS. Simon and Jude, and that it was always _very unlucky to take the day from a child_. RT. Warmington.