This is a boys’ game, and requires seven players. One boy, the Block, goes down on all fours; another, the Nail, does the same behind the Block, with his head close to his _a posteriori_ part. A third boy, the Hammer, lies down on his back behind the two. Of the remaining four boys one stations himself at each leg and one at each arm of the Hammer, and he is thus lifted. He is swung backwards and forwards three times in this position by the four, who keep repeating “Once, twice, thrice.” When the word “Thrice” is repeated, the _a posteriori_ part of the Hammer is knocked against the same part of the Nail. Any number of knocks may be given, according to the humour of the players.—Keith (Rev. W. Gregor). A fellow lies on all fours—this is the Block; one steadies him before—this is the Study; a third is made a Hammer of, and swung by boys against the Block (Mactaggart’s _Gallovidian Encyclopædia_). Patterson (_Antrim and Down Glossary_) mentions a game, “Hammer, Block, and Bible,” which is probably the same game. Blow-point Strutt considers this to have been a children’s game, played by blowing an arrow through a trunk at certain numbers by way of lottery (_Sports_, p. 403). Nares says the game was blowing small pins or points against each other, and probably not unlike “Push-pin.” Marmion in his _Antiquary_, 1641, says: “I have heard of a nobleman that has been drunk with a tinker, and of a magnifico that has played at blow-point.” In the _Comedy of Lingua_, 1607, act iii., sc. 2, Anamnestes introduces Memory as telling “how he played at blowe-point with Jupiter when he was in his side-coats.” References to this game are also made in _Apollo Shroving_, 1627, p. 49; and see Hawkins’ _English Drama_, iii. 243. See “Dust-Point.” Bob Cherry A children’s game, consisting in jumping at cherries above their heads and trying to catch them with their mouths (Halliwell’s _Dictionary_). It is alluded to in Herrick’s _Hesperides_ as “Chop Cherry.” Major Lowsley describes the game as taking the end of a cherry-stalk between the teeth, and holding the head perfectly level, trying to get the cherry into the mouth without using the hands or moving the head (_Berkshire Glossary_). It is also mentioned in Peacock’s _Manley and Corringham Glossary_. Strutt gives a curious illustration of the game in his _Sports and Pastimes_, which is here reproduced from the original MS. in the British Museum. [Illustration] The Staffordshire St. Clement Day custom (Poole’s _Staffordshire Customs, &c._, p. 36) and the northern Hallowe’en custom (Brockett’s _North-Country Words_) probably indicate the origin of this game from an ancient rite. Boggle about the Stacks A favourite play among young people in the villages, in which one hunts several others (Brockett’s _North-Country Words_). The game is alluded to in one of the songs given by Ritson (ii. 3), and Jamieson describes it as a Scottish game. See “Barley-break.” Boggle-bush