"The mediæval interpretation of this symbol is given as follows by Sir David Lindsay of the Mount, Lion King (nephew of the poet), in his MS. Collectanea, preserved in the Advocates' Library, Edinburgh:-- "'The Pellican is ane foule in Egipt, of the quhilkis auld men sayis that the litill birdis straikis thair fader in the face with thair wingis, and crabis him quhill (till) he slayis thame. And quhen the moder seis thame slane, scho greitis (weeps) and makis grit dule thre dayis lang, quhill scho streikis hirself in the breist with hir neb (beak), and garris the blude skayle (flow) vpone hir birdis, quhairthrow thai restoir and turnis to lyf agane. Bot sum folkis sayis thai ar clekkit swown and (hatched swooning), lyk as thai war bot (without) life, and that thair fader haillis (heals) thame agane with his blude. And this maner haly kirk beiris witnes, quhair our Lord sayis that he is maid lyk the Pelican.'" I wish Lord L. had translated "crabis." F. W. J. _Church_ (Vol. v., p. 79.).--Can it be that MR. STEPHENS is not aware that there is a long dissertation on the subject of his Query in Ihre's _Glossarium Suio-Gothicum_ voce "Kyrka?" The Welsh still retain the derivative from the Latin, _Eglwys_. B. WILLIAMS. _Donkey_ (Vol. v., p. 78.).--C. W. G. asks, "What is the origin of _donkey_?" Perhaps he may consider the following (from the great authority) as satisfactory. Porson was introduced to a _Danish_ archæologist of celebrity, who, thinking it necessary to say something to Porson, rather abruptly addressed him thus: "I dink, Mr. Porson, that you vil agree wid me, that asses is derived from Asia." Porson eyed the learned Dane, and observed: "Yes, Sir, about as much as that _donkey_ is derived from Denmark: and that is a thought that never struck me till now." ÆGROTUS. _Moravian Hymns_ (Vol. v., p. 113.).--Dr. Pusey's _Letter to the Bishop of London_ (Epiphany, 1851), § vi., forms a curious comment on the almost blasphemous lines quoted on this page. A. A. D. Miscellaneous. NOTES ON BOOKS, ETC.