eal
interpretation of the above word, but I have once more doubts on
the subject. I this morning accidentally stumbled upon the word
"Porcellagium," which is interpreted in Ducange's _Glossary_,
"Tributum ex porcis seu porcellis."

_Porcarius_ also occurs as _Porcorum custos_, and mention is made
of "Porcorum servitium quo quis porcos domini sui pascentes servare
tenetur."

Now, considering how much value was formerly attached to the right
of turning out swine in wooded wastes, during the acorn season, it
seems probable that Sir R. Harley might be the king's "Porcarius,"
or receiver of the money paid for an annual license to depasture hogs
in the royal forests; and, after all, _Porkership_ is as like to
_Pokership_ as _Parkership_, and one mistake would be as easily made
as the other.

BRAYBROOKE.

Audley End, Feb. 16.

[We are enabled to confirm the accuracy of Lord Braybrooke's
conjecture as to _Pokership_ being the office conferred
upon Sir Robert Harley, inasmuch as we are in expectation of
receiving an account of the various forms of its name from
a gentleman who has not only the ability, but also peculiar
facilities for illustrating this and similar obscure terms.]

_Havior--Heavier or Hever_.-Supposed etymology of _Havior, Heavier_,
and _Hever_, as applied by park-keepers to an emasculated male
deer.--"NOTES AND QUERIES," (No. 15. p. 230.)

Pennant, in his _British Zoology_, 8vo. edition, 1776, vol. i. p.
38., and 8vo. edition, 1812, vol. i. p. 45., under the article,
"Goat" says:--

"The meat of a castrated goat of six or seven years old,
(which is called _Hyfr_,) is reckoned the best; being
generally very sweet and fat. This makes an excellent pasty,
goes under the name of rock venison, and is little inferior
to that of the deer."

As Pennant was a Welchman, a scholar and a {270} naturalist, he will
probably be considered good authority; and _Hyfr_, the most likely
origin of the altered terms of the deer park-keepers.

The word occurs twice in page 61. vol. ii. of the _Sportsman's
Cabinet_, in the article on the Stag or Red Deer, where it is printed
_Heavier_; and it will be found also as _Hever_, in Mr. Jesse's
_Scenes and Tales of Country Life_, at page 349.

WM. YARRELL.

Ryder Street, St. James, Feb. 11. 1850.

Mr. Halliwell gives the words _haver_ and _havering_, in the same
sense as _havior_. Are not these words identical with _aver, aver