Professor Hilprecht, in 1882-83, was working at a translation of an inscription wherein came Nabu--Kudurru--usur, rendered by Professor Delitzsch "Nebo protect my mortar-board".

Professor Hilprecht accepted this, but woke one morning with his mind full of the thought that the words should be rendered "Nebo protect my boundary," which "sounds a deal likelier," and is now accepted.

I myself, when working at the MSS.

of the exiled Stuarts, was puzzled by the scorched appearance of the paper on which Prince Charlie's and the king's letters were often written and by the peculiarities of the ink.

I woke one morning with a sudden flash of common-sense.