_Shape of Coffins._--It would be interesting to ascertain in what
localities any peculiar form of coffin is used?
In Devonshire, particularly among the farmers and poorer classes, the
_ridged_ coffin is very general, the end being gabled. The top, instead of
being flat with one board, is made of two boards, like the double roof of a
house; in other respects the shape is of the common form. The idea is, that
such coffins resist much longer the weight of the superincumbent earth; but
there can be no doubt that it is a very ancient shape. Many years ago I
heard that in some parish in this county the coffin was shaped like a
flat-bottomed boat; the boat shape is known to have been an old form.