institutions which are being studied by the new and vigorous science of Institutional Archæology. And in studying the literature of the people—the ballad, the fairy-tale, the proverb, the chap-book—Folk-lore has often to resort for elucidation to the products of individual artistic creation which go to form Literature properly so-called, especially in that mediaeval phase of it that is known as Romance. And finally, as it has been found by practice that much of Folk-lore that eludes explanation from the thoughts and customs of civilised peoples finds ready elucidation from savage practice and belief, Folk-lore has here points of contact with Ethnography and Anthropology.
It has been thought fit that the enlarged scope and outlook that Folk-lore has reached in the present state of the science should find full recognition in the official organ of the Folk-Lore Society, henceforth to be called by the name of the science. Folk-Lore will accordingly welcome contributions dealing with the above-named cognate sciences so far as they throw light on popular usage and belief. It will record from time to time, in special reports, recent research in these studies that may tend to throw light on the obscurer problems of Folk-lore. One of these studies is so intimately connected with it that no research in Institutional Archæology can be considered as altogether alien to Folk-lore. Folk-Lore will, therefore, in this direction take over the functions performed almost exclusively in this country by the Archæological Review, and will welcome any contribution throwing light on the origin or development of institutions other than those brought into existence by the direct action of the State. And in all these studies an attempt will be made to give exact and prompt bibliographical information of noteworthy contributions in books or articles published at home and abroad. Readers of Folk-Lore are requested to aid it in this attempt by forwarding to its Editor references to any of this kind that they think likely to escape notice.
