dressed in surplices of thin caul, and behind the choir stood the clergy two fat pigeons, with red hoods made of mangold ! This dish was regarded as one of the most beautiful and whimsical ever contributed by any member.* A poem is given by Biadi, in his life of del Sarto, which professes to be by that artist. It is called * See Vas. "Life of Rustici"; and Lastri's " Osservationi," vol. iii. p. 123. io ANDREA DEL SARTO "The Battle of the Mice," and is said to have been recited by Andrea on six successive evenings at the Kettle Club, in 1519, on an occasion when Francia- bigio was chairman. Others are of opinion that this comic epic, which was written in Greek, must have been the composition of Ottaviano de' Medici, and have been merely recited by del Sarto, who was probably igno- rant of the language. It is written in graceful and easy style. The verses were found in a letter written, in 1664, by Redi, the celebrated poet and doctor, and preserved in the Vatican. The copy which Biadi saw was made from this by his friend Benedetto Men- zini, and is now kept, with other manuscripts, in the house of the Redi in Arezzo.* Andrea also belonged to the Trowel Club, and assisted in the decorations and scenic paintings re- quired for some of their performances. Thus we see