5 SEPTEMBER 1914, Page 16

HOWLERS.

[To THE EDITOR OF TEE "SPECTATOR."] Sus—Everybody knows the description of the first sea fight between Romans and Carthaginians, and how Duilius flung overboard the fowls which had offered bad omens, saying as he did so : "If they won't eat, they may drink, anyhow " (biberent salient). A " sweet girl" undergraduate once put "let them drink salt water" on her paper for biberent saltem. I was the examiner, and it may amuse you to be told that I gave her full marks, in spite of her " howler." The rest of the paper was of quite unusual merit. The "howler" was obviously the merest Blip.—I am, Sir, &c., Ex-SCHOLAR THIN. Cows, DUB.