An explanation of the above passage is very earnestly desired by
_Ferns Wanted._--Specimens of the following rare ferns are much wanted to complete a collection:--_Woodsia ilvensis_, _Woodsia alpina_, _Cystopteris montana_, _Lastrea cristata_, _Lastrea recurva_, _Lastrea multiflora_, _Asplenium alterniflorum_, _Trichomanes speciosum_.
The undersigned will feel very much obliged to any charitable person, residing near the _habitat_ of any of the above-mentioned ferns, who would take the trouble to forward to him, if not a root, at least a specimen for drying, he need scarcely say that any expenses will be most cheerfully defrayed.
_Craton the Philosopher._--Two of the figures on the brass font in the church of St. Bartholomew at Liège are superscribed Johannes Evangelista et Craton Philosophus.--Can any reader of "N. & Q." say if anything is known about the latter, who is represented as being baptized by the Evangelist?
_The Solar Annual Eclipse in the Year 1263._--In the Norwegian account of Haco's expedition against Scotland, A.D. 1263, published in the original Islandic from the Flateyan and Frisian MSS., with a literal English version by the Rev. James Johnstone, I read as follows:
"While King Haco lay in Ronaldsvo, a great darkness drew over the sun; so that only a little ring was bright round the sun, and it continued so for some hours."--P. 45.
King Haco, according to the account, left Bergen on his expedition "three nights before the 'Selian' vigils ... with all his fleet," and, "having got a gentle breeze, was two nights at sea when he reached that harbour of Shetland called Breydeyiar Sound (Bressay Sound, I presume) with a great part of his navy." Here he remained "near half a month, and from thence sailed to the Orkneys; and continued some time at Elidarwick, which is near Kirkwall.... After St. Olave's wake (July 18, O. S.) King Haco, leaving Elidarwick, sailed south before the Mull of Ronaldsha, with all the navy;" and being joined by Ronald from the Orkneys, with the ships that had followed him, he "led the whole armament into Ronaldsha, which he left upon the vigil of St. Lawrence (July 30, O. S.)."
Now I wish to know, 1. On what day in August this eclipse took place, the day of the week, commencement of the eclipse, &c.