154 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



as " Lapwine."* The bird now particularly under notice is here 

 mentioned under several different spellings — Egrett, Egrete, and 

 Egreate. It was in season in April and May, so there is no 

 wonder it became extinct. The reader will easily understand 

 that the author of this old MS. did not mean "Lapwing" when 

 he wrote "Egret," for both the birds were known to him, and 

 both are specified. I have not yet found the locality for this 

 nobleman's house, but, judging from the list of birds available 

 for food, it was on the coast, and towards the north — very 

 possibly Northumberland, Durham, or Yorkshire. Some of the old 

 names are rather curious — Pevette [Black-headed Gull] , Jed- 

 cocke [Jack-Snipe], Cudberduce [Eider], Cullver [Pigeon], Elke 

 LWild Swan], Crouces [Grouse], and Curlewiacke [Whimbrel]. 

 This MS., like so many others of the period, mentions the 

 "Brewe." I have been unable to find out what bird this is. 

 Dr. Furnivall (' Meals and Manners,' E.E.T.S. p. 27) suggested 

 the Whimbrel, but there are two objections — the bird is in season 

 at the wrong time, and in the Banks MS. the Whimbrel is 

 actually mentioned as " Curlew Jack," still a frequent name in 

 the North of England. Perhaps I may make the suggestion 

 Glossy Ibis, or more probably one of the Godwits. I am also in 

 the dark as to the meaning of the name " Bayninges." Were they 

 water birds addicted to plunging ? Here occur the common items 

 " Grete Byrdes," and also the less usual "Smale Byrdes." The 

 former could not have been very " great," for in the ' Percy 

 Household ' Book they are priced at " iiij a pennye," Larks being 

 "xij a pennye," and Herons and Bitterns a shilling a piece " so 

 they be good." Strange to say, in the ' Percy Book,' the price 

 of Sholardis [Spoonbills] was only half that of Herons. 



It has been suggested to me that these old books may have 

 been translations of earlier French, Italian, or German works 

 on manners or cookery, and so must not be accepted as indices 

 to the bird-life of England. I might as well add that I have 

 been carefully through all their lists of birds, mammals, and 

 fishes, and find no species that are common on the Continent 

 and unknown here, with the exception of the Egret — and this I 



* Professor Skeat has shown that the second syllable in the modern word 

 has nothing to do with wing ; the whole name is from the Anglo-Saxon 

 " Hleapewiuce" — one who staggers or turns in flight. 



