_Drachmarus_ (Vol. iii., p. 105.).--If your correspondents (Nos. 66 and 67.) who have inquired for a book called _Jartuare_, and for a writer named "Drachmarus," would add a little to the length of their questions, so as not by extra-briefness to deaden the dexterity of conjecturers, perhaps they might be nearer to the reception of replies. Many stranger things have happened than that _Drachmarus_ should be renovated by the context into Christian _Druthmar_. _Averia_ (Vol. iii., p. 42.).--I have long desired to know the exact meaning of _averia_, but I have not met with a good explanation until lately. It is clear, however, from the following legal expression, "_Nullus distringatur per averia carucae._" _Caruca_ is the French _charrue_, and therefore _averia_ must mean either cart-horses or oxen which draw the plough. P. _Dragons_ (Vol. iii., p. 40.).--I think the _Draco_ of the Crusaders' times must have been the _Boa constrictor_. If you will look into St. Jerome's _Vitas Patrum_, you will find that he mentions the trail of a "draco" seen in the sand in the Desert, which appeared as if a _great beam_ had been dragged along. I think it not likely that a crocodile would have {158} ventured so far from the banks of the Nile as to be seen in the Desert. P. * * * * * Miscellaneous. NOTES ON BOOKS, SALES, CATALOGUES, ETC. The members of the Percy Society have just received the third and concluding volume of _The Canterbury Tales of Geoffrey Chaucer, a new Text, with Illustrative Notes, edited by Thomas Wright, Esq_. It is urged as an objection to Tyrwhitt's excellent edition of the _Canterbury Tales_, that one does not know his authority for any particular reading, inasmuch as he has given what he considered the best among the different MSS. he consulted. Mr. Wright has gone on an entirely different principle. Considering the Harleian MS. (No. 7334.) as both "the oldest and best manuscript he has yet met with," he has "reproduced it with literal accuracy," and for the adoption of this course Mr. Wright may plead the good example of German scholars when editing the _Nibelungen Lied_. That the members of the Society approve the principle of giving complete editions of works like the present, has been shown by the anxiety with which they have looked for the completion of Mr. Wright's labours; and we doubt not that, if the Council follow up this edition of the _Canterbury Tales_ with some other of the collected works which they have announced--such as those of Hoccleve, Taylor the Water Poet, &c.--they will readily fill up any vacancies which may now exist in their list of members.