To this question the borough of Chippenham, Wilts, replied as follows:--"The corporation dine together twice a-year, and _pay for it themselves_!" (_Report of Record Commissioners_, 1837, p. 442.) J.E. _Kite_ (_French_, "_Cerf-volant_").--Some years ago, when reading Dr. Paris' popular work called _Philosophy in Sport made Science in Earnest_, 5th edition, London, J. Murray, 1842, I observed that the author could not explain the meaning of the French term "cerf-volant," applied to the toy so well known among boys in England as a "kite," and in Scotland as a "dragon." The following passages will solve this mystery: {517} "Cerf-volant. Scarabaeus lucanus. Sorte d'insecte volant qui porte des cornes dentelees, comme celles du cerf. "Cerf-volant. Ludicra scarabei lucani effigies. On donne ce nom a une sorte de joueet d'enfans qui est compose de quelques batons croises sur lesquels on etend du papier, et exposant cette petite machine a l'air, le moindre vent la fait voler. On la retient et on la tire comme l'on veut, par le moyen d'une longue corde qui y est attachee."--See _Dictionnaire de la Langue Francoise_, de Pierre Richelet; a Amsterdam, 1732. In Kirby and Spence's _Entomology_, vol. ii. p. 224., they mention "the terrific and protended jaws of the stag-beetle of Europe, the _Lucanus Cervus_ of Linnaeus." The "toothed horns" alluded to by Richelet are represented by the pieces of stiff paper fastened at intervals, and at right angles, to the string-tail of the toy kite, or dragon, so much delighted in by boys at certain seasons of the year in England and Scotland. G.F.G. Edinburgh. _Epitaph on John Randal._--As a counterpart to Palise's death, I have sent a Warwickshire epitaph, taken from Watford Magna churchyard, written about the same period: "Here old John Randal lies, who counting by his sale, Lived three score years and ten, such virtue was in ale; Ale was his meat, ale was his drink, ale did his heart revive, And could he still have drunk his ale, he still had been alive." J.R. _Playing Cards._--As a rider to THE HERMIT OF HOLYPORT'S Query respecting his playing cards (Vol. ii., p. 462.), I would throw out a suggestion to all your readers for notices of similar emblematic playing cards: whether such were ever used for playing with? what period so introduced? and where? as both France and Spain lay claim to their first introduction. I see that Mr. Caton exhibited at one of the meetings of the Archaeological Institute this season a curious little volume of small county maps, numbered so as to serve as a pack of cards (described more fully in the _Archaeological Journal_ for September, 1850, p 306.), and which I regret I did not see. W.H.P. Wanstead, Dec. 13. 1850. * * * * * Queries. DRAGONS: THEIR ORIGIN.