At the council of Greek generals, held after the death of Cyrus, Xenophon rose and made a speech. He set before his comrades the treachery of their late associate Ariæus; the serious difficulties attendant upon the position of the Greeks; and the necessity for immediate and vigorous action. Just as he had alluded to the probability of a severe conflict, and had invoked the aid of the gods, one of the company _sneezed_. He paused for a moment in his harangue, and every one present did reverence ([Greek: prosekonêsan]) to Jupiter. The circumstance seemed to give new spirit and fortitude to the whole assembly; and when Xenophon resumed, he said, "Even now, my comrades, while we were talking of safety, Zeus the saviour has sent us an omen; and I think it would become us to offer to the god a sacrifice of thanksgiving for our preservation." He then, in the manner of a modern chairman at Exeter Hall, invited all of that opinion to hold up their hands. This appeal having met a unanimous response, they all made their vows, sung the pæan, and the orator proceeded with his discourse. The adoration of the god, or the use of some auspicious words or religious formulary, appears to have been designed to avert any evil which might possibly be portended by the omen. It seems by no means certain that it was always regarded as favourable. Xenophon, in the case referred to, contrived very adroitly to turn the incident to good account, and to interpret it as a sign of the divine favour. The form of one of the sentences I have translated-- "[Greek: Epei peri sôtêrias hêmôn legontôn oiônos tou Dios tou Sôtêros ephanê]." affords a little illustration of the benediction in current use among the Greeks on such occasions, "[Greek: Zeu sôson]." J. G. F. _Does "Wurm," in modern German, ever mean Serpent?_ (Vol. viii pp. 465. 624.).--F. W. J. is quite right as regards his interpretation of the word _Wurm_, used by Schiller in his _Wallenstein_ in the passage spoken by Butler. _Wurm_ is not used in German to mean a serpent. Serpents (_Schlangen_) are vertebrata, and are therefore not confounded with _Würmer_ by the Germans. The language of the people frames proverbs, not the language of science. The Germans apply the word _Wurm_ to express pity or contempt. The mother says to her sick child, "Armes _Würmchen_!" signifying poor, suffering, little creature. Man to man, in order to express contempt, will say "Elender _Wurm_!" meaning miserable wretch; an application arising out of the contemplation of the helpless state and inferior construction of this division of the animal kingdom. The German proverb corresponds to the English. C. B. d'O.