The other nonsense-poems are all good, but we have no space for further quotation, and will take leave of our subject by propounding the following set of examination questions which a friend who is deeply versed in Mr. Lear’s books has drawn up for us:—­

  1.  What do you gather from a study of Mr. Lear’s works to
     have been the prevalent characteristics of the inhabitants of
     Gretna, Prague, Thermopylae, Wick, and Hong Kong?

  2.  State briefly what historical events are connected with
     Ischia, Chertsey, Whitehaven, Boulak, and Jellibolee.

  3.  Comment, with illustrations, upon Mr. Lear’s use of the
     following words:  Runcible, propitious, dolomphious, borascible,
     fizzgiggious, himmeltanious, tumble-dum-down, spongetaneous.

  4.  Enumerate accurately all the animals who lived on the
     Quangle Wangle’s Hat, and explain how the Quangle Wangle
     was enabled at once to enlighten his five travelling companions
     as to the true nature of the Co-operative Cauliflower.

  5.  What were the names of the five daughters of the Old
     Person of China, and what was the purpose for which the
     Old Man of the Dargle purchased six barrels of Gargle?

  6.  Collect notices of King Xerxes in Mr. Lear’s works, and
     state your theory, if you have any, as to the character and
     appearance of Nupiter Piffkin.

  7.  Draw pictures of the Plum-pudding flea, and the Moppsikon
     Floppsikon Bear, and state by whom waterproof tubs
     were first used.

  8.  “There was an old man at a station
               Who made a promiscuous oration.”

     What bearing may we assume the foregoing couplet to have
     upon Mr. Lear’s political views?
                                   —­The London Spectator.

* * * * *

A BOOK OF NONSENSE

by

EDWARD LEAR.

With All the Original Pictures and Verses

[Illustration]

There was an Old Derry down Derry, who loved to see little folks
  merry;
    So he made them a Book, and with laughter they shook
      At the fun of that Derry down Derry.

Original Dedication.

TO THE
GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN, GRAND-NEPHEWS, AND GRAND-NIECES
OF EDWARD, 13TH EARL OF DERBY,
THIS BOOK OF DRAWINGS AND VERSES

(The greater part of which were originally
made and composed for their parents.)

Is Dedicated by the Author,
EDWARD LEAR.

London, 1862.

* * * * *

[Illustration]

    There was an Old Man with a nose,
    Who said, “If you choose to suppose
    That my nose is too long, you are certainly wrong!”
    That remarkable Man with a nose.