Ancient Legends of Ireland. By Lady Wilde (" Speranza.") 2
vols. (Ward and Downey.)—StAents of folk-lore will recognise some of these legends ; the " charms " and " superstitions " have also their resemblances among the beliefs, traditions, and practices of other countries. But some seem peculiar to Ireland. In this, for instance, one may trace a certain national peculiarity —" If the nearest rela- tive touches the hand of a corpse, it will utter a wild cry if not quite dead." It must not be supposed, however, that Lady Wilde's book is one to be laughed at. It is a careful and praiseworthy effort to collect a highly interesting class of facts. In these days no time should be loot in making such collections ; for the progress of educa- tion and the spread of cheap literature have a strong effect in driving these things out of the popular mind. It is only an intellectual people that is rich in oral tradition.
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