among the Scotch and Irish, the custom of ringing at funerals, anciently prevalent in those countries, and still practised in several parts. Of this custom Mr Pennant gives the following account. "I had not the fortune to be present at any in North Britain; but formerly assisted at one in the south of Ireland, where it was performed in the fulness of horror. The cries are called by the Irish the ulaghne and hul-lule; two words very expressive of the sound uttered on these occasions; and being of Celtic stock, etymologists would swear to be the origin of the oboeans of the Greeks and ululatus of the Latins. Virgil is very fond of using the last whenever any of his females are distrest; as are others of the Roman poets, and generally on occasions similar to this. It was my fortune to arrive at a certain town in Kerry at the time that a person of some distinction departed this life; my curiosity led me to the house, where the funeral seemed conducted in the purest classical form.

Quodcumque aspiceret luctus, gemituque sonabant, Formaque non taciti funeris intus erat.

In short, the concilamatio was set up by the friends in the same manner as Virgil describes that consequential of Dido's death;

Lamentis, gemituque, et flamino ululatu Tecla fremunt.

Immediately after this followed another ceremony, fully described by Camden in his account of the manners of the ancient Irish; the earnest expostulations and reproaches given to the deceased for quitting this world, were the enjoyed so many blessings, so good a husband, and such fine children. This custom is also of great antiquity, for Euryalus's mother makes the same address to her dead son.

Tunc illa senectae Sera meae requies? potius reliquere solam, Crudelis?

But when the time approached for carrying out the corpse, the cry was redoubled,

Tremulis ululibus aethera complent;

a numerous band of females waiting in the outer court to attend the hearse, and to pay in chorus the last tribute of their voices. The habit of this sorrowing train, and the neglect of their persons, were admirably suited to the occasion; their robes were black and flowing, resembling the ancient pall; their feet naked, their hair long and dishevelled: I might truly say,

Ut qui conduti plorant in funera, dicunt; Et faciunt prope plura dolentibus exanimis.

The corpse was carried slowly along the verge of a most beautiful lake, the ululatus was continued, and the the whole procession ended among the venerable ruins of an old abbey."