Cotton’s _Fasti_ contains a store of information, biographical and genealogical, about Church dignitaries, and certain searches among parochial registers may be obviated by a perusal of Marshall’s _Parish Registers_, for, as has previously been mentioned, a great many of such are obtainable in print. _The International Genealogical Directory_ should be consulted, as it contains much which might be of great importance to the searcher. He should also make himself acquainted with the very useful genealogical handbooks published by Mr. C. A. Bernau of Walton-on-Thames. The number of _County Histories_ increases rapidly, and the pedigree-hunter should consult those which are connected with the special districts in which he is interested. From the _Victoria County Histories_ to those compiled by private individuals, all may be of more or less importance to the genealogical student. CHAPTER XI THE PAINS AND PLEASURES OF PEDIGREE-HUNTING Is pedigree-hunting a dry and generally uninteresting matter, valuable only for the information to be derived from it, or is it a source of interest in itself, even if considered apart from its results? To this, as to most questions, probably different answers could be given. But the replies, if classified, might reveal the fact that, though those who know little save in theory about genealogical work may think it unattractive, others who have expended time and talents in the pursuit almost universally agree that it is in itself--well, if not fascinating enough to induce the investigator “to scorn delights and live laborious days” (though this may be sometimes the case), still, that it certainly approaches thereto. Of course, a good deal depends upon the tastes of the searcher himself, for if he takes up the work with energy he will certainly have to count on many, at any rate, laborious _hours_; but the enjoyment derivable from the pursuit should much more than compensate for these. The great joy of the pedigree-hunter is the joy of discovery, and if he sets about the work energetically he must discover something--yes, and many things. It is delightful to find a lost link in one’s own family history, and, when doing this, the searcher will often unexpectedly come across a store of information connected with other families in which he is interested. Then there is the possibility of historical discoveries, all perhaps springing from the fact of his electing to trace a certain family tree, for historical characters were but men and women like ourselves, and allied often to insignificant families. I do not suggest that the pedigree-hunter can easily rival the recent Shakespearean finds at the Record Office (the MSS. then brought to light having lain there unnoticed during long centuries), for he can only expect to get access to classified documents; yet by means of these many interesting discoveries might be made, as well as the definite family information which he requires be obtained.