[We believe the best and most recent collection of Danish ballads is
the edition of _Udvalgte Danske Viser fra Middelalderen_, by
Abrahamson, Nyerup, Rabbek, &c., in five small 8vo. volumes,
Copenhagen, 1812. The best Swedish collection was _Svenska Folk-Visor
fran Forteden_, collected and edited by Geijer and Afzelius, and
published at Stockholm, 1814; but the more recent collection published
by Arwidson in 1834 is certainly superior. It is in three octavo
volumes, and is entitled _Svenska Fornsaenger. En Samling of Kaemp-visor,
Folk-visor, Lekar och Dansar, samt Barn- och Vall-Saenger_.]
_Etymology of "Conger."_--What is the etymology of the word _Conger_, as
applied to the larger kind of deep sea eels by our fishermen (who, be it
remarked, never add eel. _Conger-eel_ is entirely used by shore-folk)?
I imagine that it may be traced from the Danish _Kongr_, a king, or kings;
for being the greatest of eels, the fishermen, whose nets he tore, and
whose take he seriously reduced, might well call him in size, in strength,
and voracity--_Kongr_, the king.