254 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



The entries relating to these payments commence in 1705, 

 and continue up to 1731. Hedgehogs are very plentiful, and at 

 an uniform rate of 4d. each. Polecats, very frequent payments 

 from 1710 onwards ; for the first four years 2d. each, and after- 

 wards the reward seems to have been raised to 4d. Foxes, fairly 

 plentiful, paid at the rate of Is. each. Badgers not so numerous, 

 but at the same price. There are very few entries for Moles, 

 and they appear to have been paid for by the quarter, half-year, 

 or year. Sparrows appear altogether absent. 



Harlington. 

 Payments for vermin extend over two hundred years, com- 

 mencing 1678. I am unfortunately unable to give any extracts 



of same. 



Harrold. 



From Steward's history of this village we glean that the 



churchwardens' accounts date back to 1759 ; that a molecatcher 



used to be employed at a salary of £2 a year. The reward for a 



Fox or Fox's head a shilling. Year after year there are entries 



of considerable sums paid for Sparrows. 



Henlow. 

 Payments for Sparrows only occur, the earliest entry appear- 

 ing in May, 1843. 



Houghton Regis. 



1714. £ s. d. 



Paid for Sparrows and other charges 1 8 



1715. 



Paid Will Harris f Six sparrows 1 



Paid Ealph Burges for a hedghog 4 



Richard Dine for a polecat 4 



1719. 



Polecats, Hedghogs, pd for sparrows 7 9 



For vermin 5 



1743. 

 Paid to Mr. Fossey his Disbursements for Vermin 1 7 0| 



1744. 

 Paid for Vermin — as appears per bill 18 2 



1746. 

 Richard Gosbill my son for 3 hedgehogs 1 



1759. 

 Mr. Fossey's bill for Sparrows and Vermin 1 8 



1763. 

 Paid for Ninety Six doz. of Sparrows 16 



