What is a ‘cockloft’?

The narrow space between the roof of a building and the ceiling of the top story — smaller than an attic, too small for storage or living area — is called a cockloft. Washington Irving found the word so amusing he invented a whole family with the surname Cockloft. For most of us, it’s antiquated verbiage, unless you happen to be a firefighter. To firefighters, the cockloft is a potential danger zone, where fires spread quickly across the unobstructed horizontal expanse. Trivia question: Why is National Fire Prevention Week observed on the week that includes Oct. 9? A) To coincide with the switch to standard time B) To commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 C) To mark the founding date of the Boston Fire Department in 1678 D) To celebrate the feast day of St. Florian, patron of firefighters

Monotremes are mammals that lay eggs, a highly unusual thing for mammals to do. (Mammals, such as dogs and bears and humans, give birth to live young.) Only two types of monotremes exist today: the duckbilled platypus and the spiny anteater, or echidna. Both are native to Australia and New Guinea. Adult females lay one to three eggs and incubate them for nine to 12 days un- til the young break free from the shells. Then they nurse the babies as dogs or bears or humans would.

The Ethel Barrymore Theatre is the oldest surviving Broadway theatre named for an actress, and one of just four active Broadway theatres with female namesakes. Sister of John and Lionel, great aunt of Drew, Ethel Barrymore was such a highly regarded stage actress that when the theatre opened in 1928, she both directed and starred in its first production: Gregorio Martinez Sierra’s “The Kingdom of God.” She played a character who ages from 19 to 70 during the course of the play. She was 49 years old at the time.

Since his death, Christopher Columbus’s bones have traveled almost as much as he did when he was alive. He died and was buried in Valladolid, Spain, in 1506, then was moved to Seville sometime after that. In 1542, his bones were sent to the Dominican Republic; then to Havana in 1795; then back to Seville. Yet folks in the Dominican Republic contend that at least some of his remains never left the island. Thus, there are tombs for his bones in Seville and in the Dominican Republic. It’s possible both sites contain a bit of him.

The idea that black cats are unlucky is a myth. Same goes for the idea that black cats (and dogs) are adopted from shelters less often than animals of other colors. ASPCA data shows that black cats (and dogs) are adopted at significantly higher rates than animals of other colors. They also account for the biggest percentage of the animal shelter population, which might give casual observers the idea that they’re least likely to be taken home.

The Vasa Museum in Stockholm, Sweden, traces the history of the royal ship Vasa, which launched on Aug. 10, 1628, and sank the same day, less than a mile from shore. Its story would be comical, if it wasn’t tragic. Thirty people died in the accident, including crew members and members of their families who’d been invited to sail on the first leg of the ship’s maiden voyage. The Vasa remained submerged until 1961 when the waterlogged ship was raised to the surface. Over the next few decades, the Vasa was dried out, restored and placed in the museum built to house it. Trivia answer: National Fire Prevention Week commemorates the most destructive day of the Great Chicago Fire, Oct. 9, 1871. TRIVIA FANS: Leslie Elman is the author of “Weird But True: 200 Astounding, Outrageous and Totally Off the Wall Facts.” Contact her at triviabitsleslie@gmail. com.