Freely allowing that the term 'variae lectiones,' for lack of a better, may be allowed to stand on the Critic's page, I yet think it necessary even a second time to call attention to the impropriety which attends its use.

Thus Codex B differs from the commonly received Text of Scripture in the Gospels alone in 7578 places; of which no less than 2877 are instances of omission.

In fact omissions constitute by far the larger number of what are commonly called 'Various Readings.' How then can those be called 'various readings' which are really not readings at all?
How, for example, can that be said to be a 'various reading' of St.Mark xvi.

9-20, which consists in the circumstance that the last 12 verses are left out by two MSS.?
Again,--How can it be called a 'various reading' of St.John xxi.

25, to bring the Gospel abruptly to a close, as Tischendorf does, at v.