Would "JARLZBERG" kindly favour me with a reference to his interesting anecdote of the lion's whelps? J. EASTWOOD. Ecclesfield, May 9. 1850. * * * * * Your correspondent "JARLZBERG" (No. 24. p. 385.) inquires for the origin of the Evangelistic symbols. The four living creatures, in Ezekiel, i. 10., and Revelations, iv. 7., were interpreted from the earliest times to represent the four Gospels. Why the angel is attributed to St. Matthew, the lion to St. Mark, and so on, is another question: but their order in Ezekiel corresponds with the order of the Gospels as we have them. Durandus would probably furnish some information. The fabulous legend of the lion savours of a later origin. Some valuable remarks on the subject, and a list of references to early writers, will be found in Dr. Wordsworth's _Lectures on the Canon of Scripture_ (Lect. VI. p. 151.), and his _Lectures on the Apocalypse_ (Lect. IV. pp. 116, 117.) C.R.M. * * * * * _Symbols of the Evangelists_ (No. 24. p. 385.).--The symbols of the four Evangelists are treated of by J. Williams, _Thoughts on the Study of the Gospels_, p. 5--22. Lond. 1842. M. Oxford. * * * * * With regard to the symbols of the four Evangelists, "JARLZBERG" may consult a Sermon by Boys on the portion of Scripture appointed for the Epistle for Trinity-Sunday. (_Works_, p. 355. Lond. 1622.) R.G. [To these Replies we will only add a reference to Mrs. Jameson's interesting and beautiful volume on _Sacred and Legendary Art_, vol. i. p. 98., _et seq._, and the following Latin quatrain:-- "Quatuor haec Dominum signant animalia Christum, Est _Homo_ nascendo, _Vitulus_que sacer moriendo, Et _Leo_ surgendo, coelos _Aquila_ que petendo; Nec minus hos scribas animalia et ipsa figurant."] * * * * * COMPLEXION. _Complexion_ is usually (and I think universally) employed to express the _tint of the skin_; and the hair and eyes are spoken of separately when the occasion demands a specific reference to them. "NEMO" (No. 22. p. 352.), moreover, seems to confound the terms "white" and "fair," between the meanings of which there is considerable difference. A white skin is not fair, nor a fair skin white. There is no close approach of one to the other; and indeed we never see a white complexion, except the chalked faces in a Christmas of Easter Pantomime, or in front of Richardson's booth at Greenwich or Charlton Fair. A contemplation of these would tell us what the "human face divine" would become, were we any of us truly _white-skinned_.