As for its institution by Cæsar Augustus, which rests on the authority of Isidorus; that suggestion, even if free from anachronism, had probably no better foundation than an accidental similitude in sound, and a wish to compliment the bishop of CÆSARAUGUSTA, to whom the epistle containing it was addressed by him of Hispalis. The latter appears to have dealt largely in conjecture in framing his Origines--as, for example, in hora,-- "Hora enim finis est temporis sic et oræ, sunt fines maris, fluminorum, et vestimentorum"-- an analogy which reminds one of the cockney--hedge from edge, because it _edges_ the field. With respect to the initial-letter method of derivation, of which, in the case of era, there are three or four different versions, something has been already said upon that subject, with reference to the alleged derivation of N. E. W. S. in the first volume of "N. & Q." Scaliger called such suggestions puerile and ridiculous, and doubtless they are little better; his castigation of Sepulveda's version was so complete that it may well serve for its modern imitations. The original meaning of era has been, like our own word _day_, expanded into a period of indefinite duration; in that sense it is particularly useful as a general denomination for a running account of years. It is an elegant and convenient expression, and its service to chronological and historical language could be ill dispensed with--it has, moreover, the prescription of long usage in its favour. But a modern and far more indefensible attempt has been made in the opposite extreme, to deprive era of all duration, and to restrict its meaning to that of a mere initial point--such a meaning, already well supplied by the word epoch, is, in the case of era, opposed alike to reason, analogy, usefulness, and usage. A. E. B. Leeds. SINGING OF SWANS. (Vol. ii., p. 475.) Amongst the Egyptians, the SWAN was an emblem of music and musicians: _Cygnus_ with the Latins was a common synonym for _poeta_, and we sometimes use the expression ourselves; thus, Shakspeare is called "the _swan_ of Avon." This bird was sacred to Apollo, as being endued with DIVINATION, "_because, foreseeing his happiness in death, he dies with singing and pleasure_:" "Cygoni non sine causa Apolini dicati sint, quod ab eo divinationem habere videantur, qua providentes quid in morte boni sit, cum cantu et voluptate moriantur."--Tull. _Quæst. Tusc._ 1. c. 30. "The dying swan, when years her temples pierce, In music-strains breathes out her life and verse, And, chanting her own dirge, tides on her wat'ry hearse." Phineas Fletcher's, _Purple Island_, Canto I. Giles Fletcher, in his _Temptation and Victory of Christ_, speaks of-- "The immortal swan that did her life deplore." An American poet has the following beautiful lines: