I may state here, that some parishes have a popular name, arising not unfrequently from very trifling circumstances; and this name has, in some cases, entirely superseded the more legitimate denomination, under which the church was consecrated and registered. Thus, to give one example, the parish at the Lizard is called _Landuwednac_, which signifies the _Black-and-white-church_. This appellation was suggested by the peculiar appearance of the church and tower, which are built of black and white stones, arranged alternately, in the manner of a chessboard. Amongst the names of our Cornish towns, there are three remarkable above the rest for having been very diligently examined, and very little understood. Upon these it may be proper to make a few observations. Of _Truro_ Tonkin says, that ‘it is so called from its three principal streets; for _Tri_, three, and _Ru_, a street, have been turned to _Truro_ merely _euphoniæ gratia_.’ Tonkin ought to have suspected, that _Tri_, occurring as the first syllable in the name of a town, was not likely to mean _three_, because _Tri_ or _Tre_ signifies a dwelling place, or an assemblage of dwellings, and therefore, a _town_. He might have supposed too, that the place was called _Truro_, before its three principal streets were built, or designed; since it does not appear to have ever had any other name, and we cannot believe, that it was so denominated by anticipation. For in those rude times, towns were not commonly laid out upon a definite plan: but the houses were erected according to the taste or convenience of the builders; and the streets seem to have been formed, almost as accident might determine. But Whitaker says, that Tonkin’s etymology, which was adopted from Camden, is altogether absurd; and he consequently undertakes to find a better. For this purpose he assumes, that Truro takes its name from its castle. Now he imagines, that the castle was denominated _Trevereu_, and that the name was subsequently familiarized to _Treuro_. In that way, he thinks, the etymon at once presents itself; and we are accordingly informed, that _Truro_ signifies the castle on the _Uro_. This, however, is to take a course the reverse of that pursued by etymologists in general: for they seek the meaning of a word in its primitive form, but Mr. Whitaker in its corruption. There is also another objection, which may be considered equally conclusive; for, as Mr. Polwhele says, we have no such river in Cornwall as the _Uro_.