202 BIRDS OF NORFOLK. 
instance where the word “ sparrouse” occurs—namely, 
“Ttm xij sparrouse of gyste” (articles given in lieu of 
rent), no doubt Passer domesticus was really intended, 
inasmuch as at that time, and in that sterile portion 
of the county, it would probably be considered a rarity 
as well as a delicacy for the rich man’s table. The 
fact also that spowes in the L’Estrange “ Accounts ” 
are nearly always mentioned in connection with other 
shore-birds, such as knots, ring-dotterel, redshanks, 
&c.,* all easily procurable then, as now, from Hun- 
stanton beach, seems to confirm the impression that 
some grallatorial species was thus designated; and 
that this was no other than the whimbrelt+ is, I think, 
sufficiently evident from the fact that in Iceland, 
printed in a collection of “Tracts on Manners and Meals in Olden 
Times,” and edited for the English Text Society by Mr. Furnivall. 
“Curlew, brew, snytes, quayles, sparowes, and martenetts 
rost” are mentioned as part of the third course in the directions 
for “a dynere of flesche;” and in the “ Boke of Keruynge,” printed 
by Wynkyy de Worde, in 1413, under the head of “serving of 
flesshe,” the same classification of birds oceurs, “ curlewe, brewe, 
snytes, quayle, sparowes, and martynet.” To this “ Alpha” has 
also appended a note by Mr. Furnivall, in which that author 
suggests that “brewe” as mentioned three times in Russell’s 
“Boke of Nurture,” is no other than the whimbrel, adding, “I 
have a recollection (or what seems like it) of having seen the name 
with a French form like whimbreaw.” 
* “Ttm ij spowes of gist.” 
“Ttm to Mr. Vicar of Thornhm svnt in rewarde for bryngyng 
of iij plovs, ij spowes, and a red shancke.” 
“Ttm pd to ye fowler at Corbetts for iij duss and di [dozen and 
a-half] of shymiies Vv spowes, iij whyte plovs, and ij redshanks, and 
ij sedotterells.” 
“Item ii spowys of gyste.” 
+ In Messrs. Gurney and Fisher’s List (“ Zoologist ” 1846) the 
game opinion with respect to the whimbrel is thus given, “We 
have reason to believe that it is this species which is occasionally 
mentioned in the ‘ Accounts’ of the L’Estrange’s of Hunstanton.” 
