I was at school, some years ago, with two brilliant twins called DUFF, who between them captured, amongst other trifles, the Porson, two Trinity scholarships, a Fellowship, and first place in the examination for the Indian Civil Service. I mention them here as an example of the minute care with which ALISTAIR and HENRIETTA TAYLER have compiled _The Book of the Duffs_ (CONSTABLE). For I find their names and achievements duly recorded in the list of (I should think) every male Duff born of the stock of ADAM OF CLUNYBEG, _temp_ 1590, from, whom the present Duchess of FIFE is ninth or tenth in descent. And that is only one branch of the clan, only one of the numerous family-trees that make these two bulky volumes a perfect forest of Duffs. I know now exactly how _Macbeth_ felt when he saw Birnam Wood descending on Dunsinane. No wonder he exclaimed, "The cry is still, _They come_." When I looked at all these genealogies and lifelike portraits I had an appalling vision of this great army of Duffs of Clunybeg and Hatton and Fetteresso and the rest advancing towards me solemnly waving their family-trees. In the van, with his Dunsinane honours thick upon him, marched MACDUFF--MACDUFF, you know, who was also "Thane of Fife, created first Earl, 1057, _m._ Beatrice Banquo." Then followed a long train of other warriors--General Sir ALEXANDER, who fought in Flanders; Captain GEORGE, who was killed at Trafalgar; Admiral NORWICH and Admiral ROBERT, also contemporaries of NELSON; General PATRICK, who slew a tiger in single combat with a bayonet; General Commander-in-Chief Sir BEAUCHAMP of our own day--and I was afraid. Not, you understand, of their swords, but of their trees. And then suddenly the spirit of _Macbeth_ came upon me again. With him I shouted, "Lay on, Macduff; and damn'd be he that first cries, _Hold, enough_." But, luckier than he, I have lived to tell the tale, or rather to tell about it, and to recommend it to all those who have arborivorous tastes. I can promise them that they will heartily enjoy a good browse in the Forest of Duff. * * * * *