(half-crown, mezza corona).
One of these series simply adopts Italian numerals decimally.

But the other, when it has reached 6, having had enough of novelty, makes 7 by 6-1, and so forth.

It is for no abstract reason that 6 is thus made the turning-point, but simply because the costermonger is adding pence up to the silver sixpence, and then adding pence again up to the shilling.

Thus our duodecimal coinage has led to the practice of counting by sixes, and produced a philological curiosity, a real senary notation." In addition to the two methods of counting here alluded to, another may be mentioned, which is equally instructive as showing how readily any special method of reckoning may be developed out of the needs arising in connection with any special line of work.

As is well known, it is the custom in ocean, lake, and river navigation to measure soundings by the fathom.