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The folk lore and provincial names of Br
3 1924 006 485 530

t ^oll'^QXt c^0rietg,

FOR COLLECTING AND PRINTING

RELICS OF POPULAR ANTIQUITIES, &c.

ESTABLISHED IN

THE YEAR MDCCCLXXVIII.

PUBLICATIONS

THE FOLK-LORE SOCIETY.

XVII. (1885.)

'§tmhmi :

THE EIGHT HON. THE VISCOUNT ENFIELD.

Andrew Lang, M.A. ] W. K. S. Kalston, M.A.
Edward B. Ttloe, LL.D., F.R.S.

'§mciax :

G. L. GOMMB, F.S.A., 2, Park Villas, Lonsdale Road, Barnes, S.W.

§0Kttx:iI :

The Earl Bbauchamp.

Edward Brabrook, F.S.A.

Edward Clodd.

G. L. GoMME, F.S.a:

A. Granger Hutt, F.S.A.

J. T. Micklbthwaitb, F.S.A.

Rev. Rd. Morris, M.A., LL.D.
Alfred Nutt.
Edward Peacock, F.S.A.
Professor A. H. Saycb.
Captain R. C. Temple.
Henry B. Whbatley, F.S.A.

Ireland: G. H. Kinahan, M.R.I.A.
Sovth Scotland: William George Black, Esq.
Worth Scotland : Rev. Walter Gregor.
India: Captain R. C. Temple.
China : J. Stewart Lockhart, Esq.

"^mauT^ §^tcntKxm'.

A. Granger Hutt, F.S.A., 8, Oxford Road, Kilburn, N.W.
J. J. Foster, 36, Alma Square, St. John's Wood, N.W.

'$an, Wxtmmcx :
Edward Clodd, 19, Carleton Road, Tufnell Park, N.

THE FOLK LOEE

PROYINCIAL NAMES

BRITISH BIRDS

BY THE

EEV. CHARLES ^WAINSON, M.A.,

Bectob of Old Ghablton ;
Author of "A Handbook of Weather Folk lore."

LONDON :

^fttllia'&eU for tje JFoIfe aore Society tg

ELLIOT STOCK, 62, PATERNOSTER ROW.

1886.

/i '2.Sr^f^

JELL
UNIVERSITY
\ LIBRARY

Printed by Hazell, WatBOn, & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury.

PEEFAGE.

TN submitting this work to the members of the Folk
-■- Lore Society, and to the public, my object has been
to gather from various quarters the provincial names of
our wild British birds (all notices of domesticated species,
being omitted),, as well as the popular sayings and super-
stitions attached to them, illustrating these, if possible,
by references to similar beliefs prevalent among other
nations.

I have endeavoured to model it, however imperfectly,
on the invaluable volumes of M. EoUand, " La Faune
Populaire de la France," following the classification^ and
adopting the nomenclature, used in the "List of British
Birds compiled by a Committee of the British Ornitho-
logists' Union. London, 1883."

I must express my most sincere thanks to Mr. J. A.
Harvie Brown for the help he so kindly afforded in allow-
ing me to make use of his MS. list of the provincial
names of Scotch birds, also for many useful suggestions
and corrections ; and to Mr. Gomme for the courtesy and
consideration he has shown in many ways, especially in
his revision of the proofs.

I may add that the completion of the work has been
unavoidably delayed from several causes, one of which
has been my own ill-health.

CHAELES 8WAINS0N.

The Rectory,

Old Ohakltok.

BOOKS OF EEFEEBNCE.

Akerman (J. Y.), F.S.A. — Glossary of Provincial Words and Phrases in

use in Wiltshire. Lond., 1848,
Aneaii — Description Philosophale de la Nature. Paris, 1571.
Aubrey (John), F.K.S. — Miscellanies. Lond., 1847.
. Eemaines of Gentilisme and Judaisme ; edited by James

Britten (Published for the Folk Lore Society). 1881.

Baker (Miss A. E.) — Northamptonshire Glossary. Lond., 1854.
Baring- Gould (Eev. S.)— Lives of the Saints. Lond., 1872-77.

Curious Myths of the Middle Ages. Lond., 1866-68.

— '■ Legends of Old Testament Characters. Loud., 1871.

Iceland, its Scenes and Sagas. Lond., 1863.

Bermqk (Thos.)— History of British Birds. Newcastle, 1797—1804.
Bowden (Eev. J.) — Naturalist in Norway. Lond., 1869.
Brand (Eev. J.)— Popular Antiquities (Bohn's edition). Lond., 1853.
British Birds, A List of : compiled by Committee of British Ornitholo-
gists' Union. Lond., 1883.
Broderip (W. J.), F.E.S. — Zoological Eecreations. Lond., 1849.
Browne (Sir Thos.)— Works (edit. S. Wilkius). Lond., 1835.
Burne (Miss C. S.)— Shropshire Folk Lore. Lond., 1883-85.
Bngch (M.) — Deutscher Volksaberglaube. Leipzig, 1877.

Camden (W.) — Britannia (trans, by Holland). Lond., 1610.

Camphell (J. F.) — Popular Tales of the West Highlands. Edinburgh,

1860-62.
Caa-ew (E.) — Survey of Cornwall (edit. Lord de Dunstanville). Lond.,

1811.
Chambers (E.) — Popular Ehymes of Scotland. Edinburgh, 1870.
Chaucer (Geoffrey) — Poetical Works (Bohn's edition). Loud., 1880.
Chester (E.) — Love's Martyr (Edit. Grosart : New Shakspere Society).
Clare (John) — Poems. Lond., 1820.

• Village Minstrel and other Poems. 1821.

Cox (Eev. Sir George)— Mythology of the Aryan Nations. Lond., 1878.

Baient (G. W.)— Popular Tales from the Norse. Edinburgh, 1859.

VI BOOKS OF EEFERENCE.

De Nore {i.e. M. Da Chesnel) — Dictionnaire des Superstitions (Librairie

Migne). Paris, 1856.
Benham (M. A.)— A Collection of Proverbs and Popular Sayings (Printed

for tbe Percy Society). Lond., 1846.
Drayton (M.) — Works. Lond. , 1753.
Du Bartas (Guillaume de Saluste).— Divine Weekes and Wordes (trans.

by Joshua Sylvester). 1633.
Dyer (Eev. T. F. T.)— Folk Lore of Shakespeare. Lond., 1883.

Farrer (J. A.) — Primitive Manners and Customs. Lond., 1879.

JFolh Lnre Society, Publications of.

Fuller (J.)— Worthies of England (edit. Nicholls). Lond., 1811.

Gesneri (Conr.) — Historia Animalium. Frankfurt, 1620.

Grimm (J.) — German Mythology (trans, by Stallybrass). Lond., 1880-83.

Grohmann (Dr. J. V.) — Aberglauben und Gebrauche aus Bbhmen und

Mahren. Leipzig, 1864.
Gubernatis (A.) — Zoological Mythology. Lond., 1872.

iTaZZJroeZZ (J. 0.), F.E.S. — Nursery Ehymes of England. Lond.,™.(f.

Popular Ehymes and Nursery Tales. Lond., 1849.

Glossary of Archaic and Provincial Words. Lond., 1860.

Harleian Miscellany — Lond., 1808.

Earting (J. E.) — Ornithology of Shakespeare. Lond., 1871.
Henderson (W.) — Folk Lore of the Northern Counties. Lond., 1879.
SoUnshed — Chronicles of England. (1577) 1S07.
Hoiighton (Eev. W.)— Gleanings from the Natural History of the

Ancients. Lond., 1879.
Hunt (Eobt.) F.E.S.— Popular Eomances of the West of England.

Lond., 1865.

Irijih Folk Lore (by Lageniensis) — Glasgow, n.d. (? 1870),

Jacltson (Miss G. F.) — Shropshire Word Book. Lond., 1879-81.
Jamieson (Dr.) — Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language.

Edinburgh, 1808.
Jamieson (Mrs.) — Legends of the Monastic Orders. Lond., 1863.
Jones (W.), F.S.A. — Credulities Past and Present. Lond., 1880.
Johiis (Eev. C. A.) — British Birds in their Haunts. Lond., 1876.
Jonson (Ben) — Works. Notes by GifEord (edit. Cunningham), n.d.
Jonston (J.) — History of the Wonderful Things of Nature. Lond., 1657.

Kelby (W. K.) — Curiosities of Indo-European Tradition and Folk Lore.

Lond., 1863.
Krohnns (Dr.) — Staroceske povesti, etc. 1845-51.

Laisnel de la Salle — Croyances et Ligendes de la Centre de la France.
Paris, 1875.

BOOKS OF REFERENCE. Vll

Lenprechting (Baron Karl von) — Aus dem Lechrain. Munich, 1855.

LoTig Ago (Ratcliffie).

iMbhoch (Rev. R)— Fauna of Norfolk. Norwich, 1879.

MacGfillwray — History of British Land and Water Birds. 1837-52.

Magni (Olai) — Historia de Gentibus Septentrionalibus. Eomae, 1655.

Melusine — Paris, 1882.

Monnier et Vingtrinier — Traditions Populaires Compar^es. Paris, 1854.

Montagu (Gr.) — Dictionary of British Birds. Lond., 1866.

Montanus — Die Deutsohen VolkafeBte. 1854-58.

Monis (Bev. F. 0.) — History of British Birds. n,.d.

Mudie (Eoht.)— British Birds. Lond., 1835.

Muffett (T.) — Health's Improvement. Lond., 1655.

Notes and Queries — 1850-83.

Permant (T.)— British Zoology. Lend., 1812.

Phipson (E.) — Animal Lore of Shakespeare's Time. Lond., 1883.

Malston (W. E. S.)— Russian Folk Tales. Lond., 1873.

Songs of the Russian People. Lond., 1872.

Holland (E.) — Fauna Populaire de la France (Tome IL, Les oiseaux
sauvages). Paris, 1879.

Sehillot (P.) — Traditions et Superstitions de la Haute Bretagne. Paris,

1882.
Shaliespeare (W.) — The Plays of (edit, by Howard Staunton). Lond.,

1858.
Sikes (Wert)— British Goblins. Lond., 1880.
Sim/rock (K.) — Haudbuch der Deutsohen Mythologie. Bonn, 1878.
Sheat (Rev. Professor) — Concise Etymological Dictionary. Oxford, 1882.
Souvestre (B.) — Le Foyer Breton. Paris, 1874.
Spenser (E.)— The Works of. Lond., 1856.
Sternberg (T.) — Dialect and JFolk Lore of Northamptonshire. Lond.,

1851.
Stevenson iH.)— Birds of Norfolk. 1866.

Swainson (Rev. C.) Handbook of Weather Folk Lore. Edinburgh, 1874.
Swan (J.) — Speculum Mundi. Cambridge, 1643.

Taylor (J.)— Works (edit. Hindley). 1872.

Thompson (W.) — Natural History of the Birds, Fishes, etc., of Ireland.

Lond., 1849-55.
Thorpe (B.j — ^Northern Mythology. Lond., 1851.

Walters (John J.) — Natural History of the Birds of Ireland. Dublin,

1853.
Willoughhy (F.)— Ornithology. Lond,, 1678.

VIU nOOKS OF REFBEENCE.

Wolf (J. "W.)— Beitiage zur Deutschen Mythologie. Gottingen and

Leipzig, 1852.
Wood (Kev. J. G.)— lUiistTated Natural History. Lond., 1865.
WnWhe (Dr. A.) — Der Deutsche Volksaberglaube der Gegenwart. Berlin,

1879.

Ywrrell (W.)— History of British Birds. Lond., 1856.

Zeitgehrift fiir Deutsche Mythologie. Gottingen, 1853-59.

Zingerle (Ign. von)— ;Sitten, Brauche und Meinungen des Tiroler Volkes.

Innsbruck, 1871.
Zoologist, The.

THE FOLK LORE

AND

PROVINCIAL NAMES; OF BRITISH BIRDS.

Order Passeees.

Sub-Order Oscines.

Section Oscines Dentieostres.

Family TuEDiDiE.

Sub-family Tuedin^.

Genus Turdus.

MISSEL THRUSH {Turdus visoivorus). ,

Thrush : A.-S. Thrysae ; akia to 0. H. G-. Droscot, hence Gar.
Drossel.

1. From the fondness of this bird for the berries of the mistletoe,
holly, and holm, it is called

Missel thrush (general).
Muzzel thrush (Roxburgh).

Cf. Grive du gui (France) ; Misteldrossel (Germany) ; Yiscado
(Italian Switzerland). , .

Holm thrush, Holm cock, Holm screech (Cornwall, Devon,

Dorset).
Mizzly Dick (Northumberland).

2. The harsh note it utters when alarmed has caused it to
receive the names of

Screech (general). .. ) ^

Sldrleock (Derbyshire). ^ , ,

strike or Skrite (South generally). ', ,

Squawking thrush (Isle of Wight). .

Jercock, or Ghercock (Westmoreland).

2 tKOVINCIAL NAMES OF BBITISH BIRDS.

Horse thrush (Nortl^ants).
Grawthrnsh (ditto).

Jay (North of Ireland).
Jay pie (WUts).

3. In Scotland and Ireland the names of the missel thrush and
fieldfare [Turdus pilaris) are often interchangeable, hence we find
the former known by the titles of

Big felt (Ireland).

Feltie, or Feltiflyer (Berwick ; Stirling).

The same confusion prevq-ils in East Anglia, where we meet with
the names

Fulfer (Norfolk).
Felfit (East Suffolk).

4. The Missel thrush is also called ' ■
Stormcock (general)

From its habit of singing through gales of wind and storms of rain.

Throstle cock (Roxburgh).

Thrice {i.e. Thrush) cock (Midlands ; Salop).

Big mavis (East Lothian).
Cf. Grosse grive (France).

Bull thrush (Hants)
The last two names given from its large size.

Wood thrush (Dumfries).

Norman thrush (Craven).

Stone thrush (Dorset). •

Marble thrush (Northants).
The last two froiji the round, marble-like spots on its breast. Cf. French
terro Grievere — i.e. speckled, spotted like a thrush {grive).

Sycock (Derbyshire).

Bunting thi-ush. ,

Fen thrush (Northants).

Butcher bird (Donegal).

Crakle.

Corney Keevor (Antrim).

HUlan (? Highland) piet (Aberdeen).

The Welsh caU it, according to Pennant, Pen y llwyn, i.e. Master
or Head of the coppice, for it will not suffer any bird to approach
its haunts during the season of incubation.

- 5. Bewick mentions a superstition that mistletoe was only
propagated by the seed which passed the- digestive organs of this
bird ; hence the proverb, " Turdus malum sibi cacat."

In some parts of France (vid. BoUand, p. 241), the missel
thrush is believed to be able to speak seven languages.

PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BBITISH BIEDS. - 3

SONG THRUSH {Turdus musious).

1. From A.-S. Tfirj/see (see preceding) are derived :—

Thrush.

Thrusher (Berks and Bucks).
Dirsh (Somerset);
Thrushfield (Salop).

2. From A.-S. Throstle.

• Throstle (North ; Midlands ; Ireland). •
Thrushel or Thrustle (Salop).
Thirstle (Devon ; Cornwall ; Salop).

3. Various names.

Grey bird (Sussex ; Devon ; Cornwall).

Whistling thrush or Whistling Dick (Thames Valley).

Mavis (East Anglia; Ireland; Scotland).

Cf. Ma/u/ois (France) ; Malvis (Spain).

This term seems to be applied by old writers to the Missel thrush and
Throstle alike. Thus we find in Spenser : —

" The thrush replyes ; the Biavis- descant playes "

{Mpithalam., 1. 81),

where the letter bird is evidently the throstle ; the word " descant " (i.e. the
altering the movement of an air by additional notes and ornaments) being an
exact description of this bird's song. But, on the other hand, Skelton, in
his poem " Philip Sparrow," writes : — • ' '

" The threstill with her warblynge,
The mavis with her whistell."

Here the throstle's sweet music is contrasted with the clear shrill cry of
the missel thrush.

4. Attempts have been made— =-with what success I leave the
reader to judge' — to put the thrush's song into words. One is by
MacgUlivray, quoted by Harting (" Ornithology of Shakespeare,"
p. 138) :—

" Dear, dear, dear
'Is the rocky glen :
/ Far away, far away, far away

The haunts of men.
Here shall we dwell in love
With the lark and the dove
Cuckoo and com rail.
Feast on the banded snail

4 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

Woiin and gilded fly ;
Drink of the crystal rill
Windingf adown the hill,
NeTer to dry.
With glee, with glee, with glee,

Cheer up, cheer up, cheer up, here.
Nothing to harm ua, then sing merrily,
Sing to the loTed ones whose nest is near.
Qui, qui, qui, kweeu, quip,
Tiurru, tiurru, chipiwi.
Too-tee, too-tee, chiu choo,
Chirri, chirri, chooee,
Quiu, qui, qui."

Mr. Hartipg remarks that "the first four lines, lines 7, 13 and 14,, and
the last five lines in particular, approach remarkably close in sound to the
original; and this is' rendered the more apparent if we endeavour to pro-
nounce the words by whistling." ,

Another, from Land, and Water, Sept. 18th, 1875, given by Mr. Frank
Buokland, is of a different character : —

" Knee deep, knee deep, knee deep,
Cherry du, cherry dii, cherry du, cherry :
White hat, white hat ;
Pretty Joey, pretty Joey, pretty Joey."

A third is from Chambers' " Popular Rhymes of Scotland," pp. 197, 198.
" In the stewartry of Kirkcudbright, it is tol& that a certain .drouthy carle,
called Gilbert Doak, was one fine spring i morning going home not quite
sober, when to his amazement he heard a mavis saluting him with —

" Gibbie Doak, Gibbie Doak, where hast tu been, where hast tu been ?
I hae been at the kirk, priein, priein, priein ! "

"At the kirk priein " is a very different thing in Scotland from "at the
kirk praying " (to prie meaning to taste). Gilbert had been sacrificing to
Bacchus with some drouthy neighbours at the clachan, or village where the
parish church is situated.

5. Folk lore. ,

It is stated in " Science Gossip," iii.'I41, that it is a common superstition
that thrushes acquire new legs and cast the old ones, when about ten years
old. According to Jonston (" Wonderful Things of Nature," p. 192), they
are deaf.

REDWING {Turdws iliacus).

1. So called from the reddish-orange colour of the body under
the wings and under wing coverts ; whence also

Redwing thrush.

Red thrush (Midlands).

Of. Twdu russu (Sicily), Rothdrossel (G-ermany).

Redwing mavis (Forfar).

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

2. The following seem to be akin to the German Wein-
drossel : —

(Cf. the Alsatian title, Gi-ive de Vendaiige.)

Wind thrush (Somerset).
Swine pipe.
Winnard (Cornwall).
Windle (Devon).

3. Various names.

Felt (Northants). See " Fieldfare " (Turdus pilaris).

Little feltjrfare (East Lothian).

Pop.

4. Flight of the redwing.

" A rushing, rustling sound is heard in the English Channel on the dark
still nights of winter, and is called the ' herring spear,' or ' herring piece,' by
the fishermen of Dover and Folkestone. This is caused by the flight of those
pretty little birds the redwings, as they cross the Channel on their way to
warmer regions. The fishermen listen to the sound with awe, yet regard
it, on the whole, as an omen of good success with their nets." — Henderson's
" Folk-lore of the Northern Counties," pp. 99-100 ; quoting Dr. Buckland's
" Curiosities of Natural History," Ser. II., 285-6. (See Curlew.)

"EIELSSASiE, {Twrdus pilaris).
A.-S. Feldefare — i.e. field traveller.

1. Other forms.

Feltyfare or Feldefare (Midlands ; Ireland).

Fildifire (Salop).

Feltiflier (Scotland).

Felfer (Craven ; Lancashire).

Felfaw (North Riding).

Velverd (Wilts^.

Felfit.

Felt or Cock felt (Northants).

2. From the predominant bluish tinge of its upper plumage
are derived : —

Blue tail (Midlands ; West Ridingl
Blue bird (Devon ; West Cornwall).
Blue back (Lancashire ; Salop).
Blue, or Big, felt (Ireland).
Pigeon felt (Berks ; Bucks ; Oxon).
Grey thrush (Scotland).

6 PEOVINCIAt NAMES OF BEITISH BIRDS.

3. Called from its harsh cry before rain ■.-^—
Storm bird (Norfolk).

Storm cock (Salop ; Scotland).

Screech bfrd ; Screech thrush (Stirling).

Shred cock (Salop).

4. Various names : —
' Snow bird (Salop).

Because it assembles in large flocks before a hcayy fall of snow. '

Jack bird. '

From its cry. Of. CJicurli cJuwJi (Luxemburg), Claque (Normandy).

Monthly bird. — ? Mountain bird (Forfar).
HUl bird (Scotland).
Cf. Tourdon montagne (Nice).
Redshank.

" It has been supposed," says Jamieson (under Feltifare), "that from the;
name Redshank, S. Redeschanke, probably originated the nursery story of
the fieldfare bumiag its feet, when it wished to domesticate with men, like '
the Robin Redbreast." — See Gloss, to " Complaynt of Scotland," p. 365.

BLACKBIRD {Tv/rdus merula).

1. From its colour it also receives the names of —
Black uzzle, i.e. ousel (Craven).

"Alas, a black ouzel. Cousin Shallow,"

2 King Henry IV., Act iii., Sc. 2.
where the expression seems to be equivalent to " a black sheep."

Blackie (North Riding ; Scotland).

2. Also called

Ousel, or Ousel cock.

" The ousel cook, so black of hue.
With orange tawny bill."

Midsuimner's Night's Dream, iii. 1.

. Garden ousel.

Ousel = A.-S. Osle, akin to.
Amsel {i.q. German term Amsd).
Woofell.
By this title {i.q. ousel) Drayton alludes to the blackbird in his-
" Polyolbion "—

" The woofell near at hand that hath a ^Iden biU."

Merle (Ireland, Scotland).
From Lat. nierula. So Merle (France), Merlo (Italy), Mirla
(Spain), Merel (Holland), Amwrl (Austria). '

PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. "7

3. Folklore. '

" When the blackbird sings before Ohristmas, slie will cry before Candle-
mas." (Meath.)

It is also believed in Ireland that, when the blackbird sings loud and
shrill, rain is sure to follow.

In the neighbourhood of Brescia the last two days of January and the
first of February are called " I giorni della merla,," the blackbird's days :
, and the story is that this bird, whose original colour was white, became
black because one year these three days were so cold that she had to take
refuge in a chimney.
. . Another reason- for the colour of the blackbird is given in a, French folk
tale from the Ain (KoUaud, p. 250), which runs as follows : —
_ " One day, while lurking in a thicket, .the blackbird, who was in those
times as white as snow, saw to his great astonishment the magpie very busy
hiding- in the hole of a tree diamonds, jewels, and pieces of golden coin. He
showed himself to her, and inquired the means by Which he too might
acquire a similar treasure. The magpie, not daring to withhold the informa-
tion from a bird who had discovered her secret, replied, ' You must seek out
in the bowels of the earth the palace of the Prince of Riches, offer him your
services, and he vrill allow you to carry off as much treasure as your beak
will hold. You will have to pass through many caverns, each one more
abounding in riches than the last ; but you.must most particularly remember
not to touch a single thing until you have actually seen the Prince himself.'

'■The blackbird, on hearing this, repaired to the spot indicated by the
magpie, where he found the entrance to a subterranean passage, into which
he ventured. In time he reached a cavern, the walls of which were bright
with silver ; but mindful of the magpie's advice, he continued to pursue his
way till he entered a second .cavern, all ablaze with gold. This proved too
much for him, and he plunged his beak greedily into the glittering dust
with which the floor was strewed. Immediately there appeared a terrible
demon, vomiting fire and smoke, who rushed upon the wretched bird with
such lightning speed, that he escaped with the greatest difficulty. But,
alas ! the thick smoke had besmirched for ever his white feathers, and he
became, as he is now, quite black, with the exception of his beak,, which
stUl preserves the colour of the gold he was so . anxious, to carry off. So it
is that when the blaclsbird is surprised, he utters piercing cries of terror, as
if he expected to be attacked by another monster."

In some parts of Germany, according to Montanus (" Die Deutschen
Volksfeste," p. 177), the blackbird is called Gottling or " little god," and is
supposed t6 be a protection against lightning if kept caged in a house.

There is a curious article of belief in the Sunnah, " that the souls of those
in purgatory were in the crops of blackbirds, exposed to hell fire morning
and evening until the Judgment Day."

S. Kevin and the Blackbird. — It is related of S. Kevin that once, whilst
praying i in the Temple of the Eock at Glendalough, with one hand out-
stretched, a blackbird descended and dropped her eggs in the palm. The
compassionate saint never removed his hand until the eggs were hatched !

The blackbird, as a Jacobite symbol, occurs in an old Scotch song, the
first two verses of which are as follows :—

" Upon a fair morning for soft recreation
I heard a fair lady was making her moan.
With signing and sobbing and sad lamentation.
Saying, ' My blackbird most royal is flown.
My thoughts they deceive me,
Eeflections do grieve me.

8 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIRDS.

And I am o'erburdened with sad miseiy.

Yet if death should blind me,

As true love inclines me,
My blackbird I'lt seek out wherever he be.

' Once in fair England my blackbird did flourish,
Se was the chief blackbird that in it did spring, '
Prime ladies of honour his person did nourish,
Because he was the true son of a king. > ■ ,

But since that false fortune

Which still is uncertain.
Has caused this parting between him and me,

His name I'll advance

In Spain and in France,
And I'll seek out my blackbird wherever he be."

Probably the allusion is to Charles II., called " black boy " when young,
from his swarthy complexion. (See Ellis, " Grig. Letters," 3rd Ser.,iii. 307.)

RING OUZEL yTUrdus torquatus).

1. So called from the white gorget on the bird's breast, which
resembles a necklace, hence the French Blanc collet, and the
names —

King blackbird.
King thrush.

2. Names given to it from the nature of its favourite haunts.
Moor, or mountain blackbird (North Riding ; Scotland).
Heath throstle.

Tor ouzel (Devon).
Kock, or crag ouzel (Craven).
Rock blackbird (Stirling). i

HUl chack (Orkney Isles). I
Rock starling (Roxburgh).
Mountain ouzel..

Mountain thrash (Kirkcudbright).
Mountain coUey (Somerset).
Cf. Blanc collet (see above).

3. Also called
Blackbird (Salop).
Michaelmas blackbird (Dorset).

Because it appears at Portland in large flocks in its autumnal and SDrinw
flights. ^ "

Round-berry bird (Connemara).

From its fondness for the hemes of the rowan or mountain ash.
Ditch blackie (East Lothian).
Cowboy (Tipperary).

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 9

Whistler (Wicklow).
These two names from the loud clear whistle the bird utters after singing.

Kitterchack (Orkney Isles).
" So called from a belief that it the bird is seen near a house it betokens
the speedy death of one of the occupants, or else that the family will soon
' flit ' to some other locality."— J. W. H. Trail.

Germs Saxicola.
■\yHEATEAR (Saxicola cenamthe).

1. So called from the pure white, colour of the base and lower
portion of the side of the tail ; whence also the names-^

White tail.

Cf. Cul hlcmc (Erance).

White rump (Norfolk).

Wittol— i.e. White tail (Cornwall).

Whiteass (Cornwall).

2. From its short, quickly repeated cry, resembling a slight
blow, it is called

. Chock, or Chuck (Norfolk).
Chack, or Chacks (Orkney Isles).
Check bird.
Chickell (Devon).
Chat (Northants).
Snoi-ter (Dorset).
Hoi-se smatch, or Horse musher (Hants).

3. From the similarity between this note and the striking
together of two, pebbles it receives the names of

Clocharet (Forfar).
From Gaelic Cloioh, a stone.

Steinkle (Shetland Isles).

Stanechacker (Lancashire ; Aberdeen ; North of Ireland), i

Stonechat (Northants ; Westmoreland ; West Eiding).

In the county Kerry it is called, for the same reason, Custeen fay-cloiigh —
i.e. the cunning little old man under the stone — spelt, probably, Coistin
faei cloioh.

4. From its habit of following the. plough and hopping from
clod to clod in search of grubs, etc., when turned up ; also from
its frequenting upland fallows, it is called

Fallow-finch ; Fallow-smich ; or Fallow-lunch.

10 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

Clodhopper (Northants).
Fallow chat.
Of. Traine oharrue ; Garde charrue (France),

5. Various names.

Cooper (South Pembroke).
Dyke hopper (StMing).
Jobbler (Dorset).
Coney chuck (Norfolk).
Prom its frequenting rabbit -warrens.

6. The wheatear was and is still much prized as a dainty. Fuller
writes of it (" Worthies of England," vol. ii., p. 382) as " being
no bigger than a lark, which it equalleth in the fineness of the
flesh (but) far exceedeth in the fatness thereof. The worst is,
that being only seasonable in the. heat of summer, and then
naturally larded with lumps of fat, it is soon subject to corrupt.
That palate-man shall pass in silence, who being seriously de-
manded his judgment concerning the abilities of a great lord,
concluded him a man of very weak parts, ' because once he saw
him, at a feast, feed on chickens when there were wheatears on
the table.' "

John Taylor, the " Water Poet," also held thewheatear in high
estimation, but is not q,uite correct in his derivation of its name : —

" There were rare birds I never saw before,
The like of them I think to see no more :
Th'are called wheat-ears, less than lark or span-ow,
Well roasted, in the mouth they taste like marrow.
When once 'tis in the teeth it is involv'd,
Bones, flesh, and all, is lusciously dissolv'd.
The name of wheat-ears, on them is ycleped
Because they come when wheat is yearly reaped,
- Six weeks, or thereabouts, they are catch'd there,
And are wellnigh 11 months, God knows where." '

(" Works," ed. Hindley, 1872.)

7. Folklore.

The wheatear bears a bad reputation in the North of England and Soot-:
land. Its presence is considered, in some localities, to foretell the death
of the spectator : in others the evil fortune is only considered likely to
ensue if the bird be first seen on a stone. Should its appearance be first
observed while sitting on turf or gi-ass, good luck may be expected.

Like the Stonechat and the Yellow ammer, it is persecuted (especially in
Orkney) because toads are believed to sit on its eggs and to hatch the young
birds. Mr. J. H. Trail suggests that this idea has probably originated in the
fact of toads being sometimes foimd under the same stones as the nests.

Mr. Mudie gives as a reason for its unpopularity its habit of fi-equenting
old ruins, burial grounds, or cairns. " Its haunts, " he says, " have gotten it a
bad name. Its common clear note is not unlike the sound made in breaking
stones with a hammer " (hence a Tipperaiy term for the bird, Casur Clock =
Stone hammer), " and as it utters that note from the top of the heap which
haply covers the bones of one who perished by the storm or by his own

PKOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 11

hand ; or from the mound beneath which there lie the slain of a battle-
field, magnified through the mist of years ; or from the inide wall that fences
in many generations, it is no very unnatural stretch to the pondering fancy,
which dwells in these parts, to associate the \^''heatear with all 'the super-
stitious that unphilosophically, but not irreverently, belong to the place of
gi'aves." ' ' ■ '

Genios Peatincola.
WHINCHAT {Pratincola rubetra).

1. So called from frequenting gorse bushes ; whence also the-
appellations —

Gorse hopper (Cheshire).

Whin, or Fern lintie (Aberdeen).

2. The following names refer to its constant cry ; most of them,,
at the same time, t-eferring to its favourite haunt : —

Whinchat (see above).

Whinchacker (Craven).

Whincheck (Lancashire).

Whin clocharet (Forfar).
(For " clocharet " see under Wheatear, 3.).

Furze chat (Worcestershire).

Furr chuck (Norfolk). ,
Corruption of preceding.

Grorse hatch.

Furze hacker (Hants).

Gorse chat (Westmoreland).

Bush chat (West Riding).

Grass chat (Do.).

Utick, or Tick (Notts ; Salop).
From its note, which sounds like "u-teek, u-teek."

Uthage (Salop) i.q. preceding.

Horse smatch.

STONECHAT {Pratincola rubicola).

1 . So called from the similarity between its alarm note and the'
striking together of two pebbles (see under Wheatear, 3), whence^
also

Stanechacker (Craven ; Scotland).

Stone cUnk ; Chickstone.

Stone clocharet (Forfar).

12 PKOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

- 2. From the impatient movement of the tail, which it is in
the habit of continually jerking, as if endeavouring to strike the
.stones on which it perches, it has received the names of

Stone smich, or stone smith.

Stane chapper.

Cf. Martelot {i.e. Petit nxartemi) ; Ma/rechal (France).

3. Various names : — .

Moor titling.

Blacky top, or Blacky cap (Ireland).
Furze hacker (Hants).
Furze chitter (Cornwall).

'■ This," says Jamieson (under " Clooharet ") " is one of the birds in whose
natural history, as related by the vulgar, we perceive the traces of ancient
superstition. It is believed in the North of Scotland that the toad covers
the eggs of this bird during its absence from the nest." In other districts
the stone chat is supposed to contain a drop Of the devil's blood, and to
have its young hatched by the toad. (See under Wheatear, p. 9, Yellow
ammer, p. 70, Magpie, p. 77.)

The nest of this bird is never taken in Galloway because of the curse or
malediction it is always pronouncing, which runs thus : — ,

" Stane chack !
Deevil tak' !
• They who harry my nest

Will never rest,
Will meet the pest !
Ee'il break their lang back
Wha my eggs wad tak', tak.' ! "

(Chambers.)

Genus RuTiciLLA.
3£DSTAB.T (Rutiailla phoe/nicurus).

1. So called from the bright rust red of its tail (" Start " from
A.-S. steort, a taU) whence also

Red tail (Norfolk ; Oxfordshire ; Craven ; Scotland).
Jenny redtail (North Riding).
Fanny redtail.
Brantail (Yorkshire).

i.e. Brand taU, i.q. Fire taU.
, Bessy brantail (Salop).
Katie brantail „
Fiery brantail „

PROVINCIAL JSAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 13.

Fire tail (Craven; Hants; Norfolk; Notts; Somerset;

Warwick; Scotland).
Fire flirt.

From the continual motion of its tail, whicli it constantly jerks up and
down.

In Wales the redstart is called Rhondlgog, i.e. red taUed ; in
Normandy, Gul rouge ; in Malta, Qudiross.

2. The male is called " whiteoap " in Shropshire, from its white
forehead.

Genus Erithacus.
REDBREAST (Erithacus ruhemla).

1. A name derived from the red forehead and breast; whence
also

Ruddock (North) : A.-S. riidduc.
Reddock (Dorset).

Broindergh — i.e., Red belly (Gaelic).
Yr hobel gog — i.e., The red bird (Wales).
Cf. Eougie gorge, Soiosse, (France) ; Rothhehhen (Germany) j
Barbarossa, Petti rosso (Italy).

2. Familiar names.
Robin.

Robin Ruck — i.e. Ruddock (North).
Bob Robin (Stirling).

"About Bornholm, in Sweden," says Bewick, "it is called Tomi-Liden;
In Norway, Peter Bonsmad ; in Germany, Thomas Gierdet." To these
Wordsworth thua-alludes : —

" Art thou the bird whom man loves best,
The pious bird with the scarlet breast,

Our little English Eobin ?
The bird that comes about our doors

When autumn winds are sobbing t

" Art thou the Peter of Norway boors 1

Their Thomas in Finland,

And Eussia far inland ;
The bird who, by some name or other,
All men who know thee call thee brother ? "

The explanation given by the Chippeway Indians of this friendliness tO'
man is as follows. "There was once a hunter so ambitious that his
only son should signalise himself by endurance, when he. came to the time
of life to undergo the fast for the purpose of. choosing his guardian spirit,,
that after the lad had fasted for eight days, his father still pressed him tO'

.14 PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. .

persevere. But next day, when the father entered the hut, his son had paid
the penalty of violated nature, and in the form of a robin had just flown
down to the top of a lodge. There, before he flew away to the woods, he
entreated his father not to mourn the transformation. ' I shall be happier,'
he said, ' in my present state than I could have been as a man. I shall
.always be the friend of men and keep near their dwellings ; I could not

gratify your pride as a warrior, but I will cheer you with my songs I

.am now free from cares and pains, my food is furnished by the fields and
mountains, and my path is in the blight air.' "

(Jones, "Credulities Past and Present," 378.)

3. Weather lore.

In the south-east of Ireland it is believed that if a robin enters a house it
is a prognostic of snow or frost, — a somewhat different opinion from that
"expressed in the Suffolk rhyme given by Mr. Forby in his " Bast Anglian
Tocabulary " ; —

" If the robiii sings in the bush.
Then the weather will be coarse ;
But if the robin sings on the barn.
Then the weather will be warm."

4. Folk lore.

The respect with which the robin is regarded throughout Europe is probably
due to its colour. The red breast, like the red head of the woodpecker and
the chestnut throat of the swallow, classes it among the fire-bringing birds,
all sacred to Douar, one of whosft titles was Kothbart, the red-bearded— in
allusion to the fiery lightning flash. Hence arises the belief in Scotland,
Yorkshire, and Germany, that if a robin is killed, one of the cows belonging
to the family of the slayer, or to' the flayer himself, will give " bloody milk."
A coiTespbndent of Notes and Qiteries, Ser. IV., vol. i., p. 193, gives a curiojls
instance of this, occurring near Boroughbridge. — "A young woman, who
had been living in service at a farmhouse, one day told her relatives how
the cow belonging to her late master had given ' bloody milk ' after one of
the family had killed a robin. A male cousin of hers, disbelieving the tale,
went out and shot a robin purposely. Next morning her uncle's best cow,
. a healthy one of thirteen years, that had borne nine calves without mishap,
gave half a canful of this 'bloody mUk,' and did so for three days in suc-
cession, mqrning and evening. The liquid was of a pink colour, which,
after standing in the can,»became clearer, and when poured out, the ' blood,'
or the deep red something like it, was seen to have settled at the bottom.
The young man who shot the robin milked the cow himself on the second
morning, still incredulous. The- farrier was sent for, and the matter
furnished talk for the village." In Tyrol tfle harrying of a robin's nest
entails an attack of epilepsy on the robber ; in Bohemia it is believed that
he will always suffer from trembling of the hands. This result is also con-
sidered by the country-people in Suffolk to follow from killing the bij'd (see ■
Chamiaers' " Book of Days," vol. i., p. 678), The same authority declares
that a broken leg will follow the taking of a robin's eggs ; while on Dart-
moor — so Mr. Henderson ("Folk Lore of the Northern Counties," pt 124)
tells us — the penalty attached to this act of sacrilege is the smashing, not of '
a limb, but of all the "clomb," that is, crockery, in the house. In the West
Riding of Yorkshire the killing of a robin is sure to cause misfortune.' " My
father," says a young miner, "killed a robin, and had terrible bad luck after
it ! He had at that time a pig which was ready for pigging : she had a litter

PKOVINCIAL NAMES OF BKITISH BIRDS. 15

of seven, and they all died. When the pig was killed the two hams went
bad I Presently three of the fa&ily had a fever, and my father himeen died ,
of it ! " {Notes akd Querieg, Sev.lY., vol. viii., p. 503.)

-5. Sacred legends connected with the robin.
a. Cross legends.

The Bretons say (" La Bretagne," par M"» C. Barb^, p. 361) that while our
Saviour was hanging on the Cross (another version relates it was whilst
He was bearing the Cross to Calvary), a robin plucked a thorn from His
■ crowncin pity, and, in doing so, wounded his own breast. As a reward he
is endowed with a perpetual existence, and with the power of enriching a
young girl every year. (See also " Le Foyer Breton," i., p. 107.)

Another Breton legend, given by Rolland, p. 263, runs as follows :— '
"When the Blessed Saviour was hanging in agony upon the Cross, two
birds perched upon it. One was a magpie, which at that time had the
gayest plumage of all the feathered race. A tuft adorned her head, and her
tail rivalled the peacock's in.bpilliancy. But alas 1 her beauty was only
equalled by her wickedness, and the evil creature insulted' the Redeemer
while suffering His last agony. The other was a tiny bird of dusky hue, '
who timidly approached the Ci'oss, uttering plaintive chirps of sorrow:
with her wings she 'Wiped away the tears that flowed from the Saviour's
eyes, while with her beak she plucked out the thorns Which pierced His
brow. Suddenly a drop of blood fell from His fbrehead on her breast and
tinged with scarlet its dull brown feathers. ' Blessed be thou,' said the Lord
to her, ' thou sharer in my sufferings. Wherever thou goest happiness and
joy shall follow thee ; blue as the heaven shall be thy eggs, and from hence-
forth thon shalt be " the Bird of God," the bearer of good tidings. But
thou,' and He addi'essed the magpie, 'thou art cursed. No longer shall the
brilliant tuft and bright feathers, of which thou art so proud and at the
same time so unworthy, adorn thee; thy colour shall be sad and sombre,
thy life a hard one ; ever, too, shall thy nest be; open to the storm.' "
(For other Cross legends see infra.') '

b. Legends connected with the Virgin, saints, etc.

"On assure en Bretagne que le bon Dieu I'appelle dans son Paradis pour
lui sucer le sang, lorsqu'il s'en trouve incommode " (I) (Souvestre.)

" Once upon a time a bit of straw was blown into the Blessed Virgins
eye. The redbreast (in Basque Chindorra), who was sitting on a bush close
. a,t hand, beheld her tears. What did he do ? Flew off at once to tell the
swallow, and then, carrying in his bill some clear water from a neighbouring
stream, he returned with tis friend, and perched on the Virgin's face. Then,
whilst the redbreast tenderly let the liquid fall into the eye, the swallow
gently passed his long tail feathers under the lid, and so removed the straw."
(From the Basque, in Melusine, col. 554.)

A legend of the Greek Church tells us that our Lord used to feed the
robins round His mother's door, when a boy ; moreover, that the robin never
left the sepulchre till the Resurrection, and, at the Acesnsion, joined in the
.angels' song. (iV". and Q., Ser. V., vol. iv., p. ^6.)

The following occurs in the life of S. Kentigem, Bishop of Glasgow
(Baring Gould, "Lives of tlie Saints," Jan. 13): — " S. Sewan had a pet .
redbreast, which was wont to eat out of his hand, and to perch on his
shoulder, and when he chanted the Psalms of David the little bird flapped
its wings and twittered shrilly. Now, Sewan had several lads whom he
educated at Culross, and these envied Kentigem, because ^he was the
favourite of the old master, so in spite they wrung the neck of the redbreast.

16 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BKITISH BIEDS.

and charged the favourite boy with having done the deed. But Kentigern
took the little bird, and, crying bitterly and praying to God, signed the
Cross over it. Then, when the old man returned from church, the bird
hopped to meet him as usual, chirping joyously."

S. Kentigern became the founder of Glasgow Cathedral, and in after
years the choristers used to sing on the festival of the saint a hymn in which
the following verse occurs :;—

" Garrit ales pemecatus
Cocus est resuscitatus
Salit vervex trucidatus
Amputate capite ! "

c. In " La Dictionnaire des Superstitions." by M. du Chessel, under " Rouge
Gorge," the following tradition is narrated. (The translation is by Mr. Baring
. Gould, and is to be found in his " Sermons for Extempore Preachers," pp, 12,
73.) " Some few monks came into Brittany in ages past, when that country
was heathen. They built a rude shed, in which to dwell, and a chapel of
moor stones, and then prepared to till the soil. But alas 1 they had no
wheat. Then one spied a robin redbreast sitting on a cross tTiey had set up,
and from his beak dangled an ear of wheat. They drove the bird away and
secured the grain, sowed it, and next year had more ; sowed again, and so
by degrees were able to sow large fields and gather abundant harvests. If
you go now into Brittany and wonder at the waving fields of golden grain,
the peasants will tell you all came from Eobin redbreast's ear of corn."

" In Scotland," says Mr. McGregor (" Folk-lore of the West of Scotland,"
p. Ill), "there was a popular saying that the robin had a drop of God's
blood in his veins, and that therefore' to kill or hurt it was a, sin." (See
above, 4). " The swallow and the yellowhammer, on the contrary, were
persecuted for having a share of the devil's blood." For this reason, as well
as for having endeavoured to relieve the Saviour's agony, is it that

" Since then no wanton boy disturbs her nest :
Weasel nor wild-cat will her young molest.
All sacred deem the bird of ruddy breast," —

and that, as they say in Essex,

" The Eobin and the Redbreast,

The Robin and the Wren,
If ye take out of the nest

Ye'll never thrive again.
The Robin and the Redbreast, v

The martin and the swallow.
If ye touch one of their eggs

Bad luck will sure to follow."

d. The Eobin redbreast as a fire-bringer.

There are two legends with which I am acquainted in which the descent
of fire is directly attributed to this bird. One is derived from Guernsey,
and is related by Mr. McCuUoch in iVI and Q., Ser. V., vol. iii., p. 492, who
heard it from an old woman, a native of the island. She declared that the-
robin was the first who brought fire to Guernsey, and that, in crossing the
water, his feathers were singed, so his breast has remained red ever sinee.
She added, " My mother had a great veneration for the robin, for what
should we have done without fire 1 " The second is a Breton version of " the
Owl and the Wren " (see under Strigidse, p. 124), in which the redbreast
takes the place of the .latter bird. It is also believed by the Bretons that

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 17

tHose redbreasts which have been to seek for the fire can speak Latin. More-

over, that they sing

" Cusse, cusse, cnsse, cusse,
1 Istine spiritum sanctum tuum, '

II y a dix bons dieux."

In the two following traditions the redbreast appears closely connected
with theisame element. The first ;s from JV.- and, Q:, Ser. I., vol. viii., p. 328,
and is contributed by a gentleman who says it was told to him when a
child by his nurse, a Caermarthenshire woman. " Far, far away, is a land
of woe, darkness, spirits of evil, and fire. Day by day does the little bird
bear in his bill a drop of water to quench the fiame. So near to the
burning stream does he fly, that his dear little feathers are scorched, and
hence he is named Bronrhuddyn {i.e. breast burned, or breast scorched).,
To^ serve little children the robin dares approach the infernal pit. KTo good
child will hurt the devoted benefactor of man. The robin returns from the
land of fire, and therefore he feels the cold of winter far more than his
brother birds. He shivers in the brumal blast : hungry he chirps before
your door. Oh ! my child, then in grsltitude throw a few crumbs tq poor .
redbreast ! "

The second is from EoUand, p. 264 : " When the wren brought down fire
from heaven, and in consequence lost all her plumage owing to its being
scorched away, the other birds with one accord gave her, each of them, one
of their feathers. The robin, in his anxiety and trouble, came too close to
the poor wren, who was in flames, and his plumage took fire also, traces
of which are still visible on his breast." (See above, 4 ; also under Owl,
p. 124, and Wren, p. 42.)

Another curious superstition points conclusively in the same direction,
given by M. Eollandas prevalent in the west of France. " On Candlemas
day the country people kill a cock redbreast, run a spit of haael wood
through the body, and place it before the fire, when it at once begins to
turn of itself." Now the hazel was a tree sacred. to Donar, and "regarded
as an actual embodiment of vthe lightning " (Mannhardt, " Die Gbtterwelt
der Deutschen," p. 193), so here the connection between' the bird and the
fire is self-evident.

e. The robin as covering the bodies of the dead.
Who does not know the ballad of "The Children in the Wood," and
remember how that

" No burial these pretty babes
Of any man receives,
Till Eobin Kedbreast piously
Did cover them with leaves "?

This, according to Bishop Percy, is taken from an old play by Robert
Tarrington, 1601 ; but we find the tradition earlier. In Johnson's " Cornu-
copia," published towards the close of the sixteenth century, it is said that
." the robin redbreast, if he find a man or woman dead, wUl cover his face '
"with moss ; and some think that if the body should remain unburied he
will cover the whole body." It seems to have been an old popular belief,
which, Mr. Knight declares, " is found in an earlier book of natural history,"
but I am unable to discover any written trace of its existence previous to
the quotation already cited. The opinion is mentioned, both in prose and
verse, by many writers of the seventeenth century. Decker, in his
" Villanies discovered by Lanthom and Candlelight" (1616), says : " They
that cheere up a prisoner but with their sight, are Eobin Eedbreasts, that
bring straws in their bills to cover a dead man in his extremity." Isaac

18 PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

Walton also speaks of the robin " that loves mankind both alive and dead."
Shakespeare, Cymleline (Act. IV., sc. v.), alludes to "the ruddock with
charitable bill." Drayton ("Noah's Flood," 1537) also calls him "the
charitable robinet," and in " The Owl," 1291, writes how that
" Covering with moss the dead's unclosed eye, '
The little redbreast teacheth charitie " ;
while Webster (T/ie White Devil) couples.the wren with the robin as fellow,
helpers : — " ■

" Call for the redbreast and the wren.
Since o'er shady groves they hover.
And with leaves and flowers do cover
The friendless bodies of unburied men."

The same belief prevails in Germany and in Lorraine ; while in Haute
Bretagne the peasants say that the hen redbreast and the f auvette (^Motaeilla
orphea) sing, songs of pity around dead bodies, and will' not quit them till
they are interred.

■ Grimm (" D. .M." ii. 683) suggests that the bird performed this office to the
dead in the service of a god, probably Donar, who therefore would not suffer
him to be molested.

/. The robin and the wren.

There is an old tradition that the wren is the robin's wife, and there are
several rhymes referring to the relationship — e.g.,

" The robin and the wren
Are God's Cock and hen."

" The robin redbreast and the wren
Are God Almighty's cock and hen."

Mr. Chambers (p. 187) mentions an addition to this belief — viz., that the
wren is the paramour of the ox-eye, or tit ; and gives at length a very curious
song grounded on this idea, which may also be found in Herd's " Ballads,"
ii., 209. He also quotes an amusing verse on the matrimonial squabbles of
the two birds : —

" The robin redbreast and the wran
J Coost out about the parritch pan ;

And ere the robin got a spune
The wran she had the parritch dune."

g. Appearance of redbreasts in Scilly Isles.

Dr. Bastwick, having severely satirised Archbishop Laud, was sent to
these islands (1637), " where," says]Prynne, " many thousands of robin red-
breasts (none of which birds were ever seen in ^hose islands before, nor
since) newly arrived at the castle there the evening before, welcomed him
with their melody, and within one day or two after took their flight from
thence, no man kno'ys whither." These birds were evidently regarded as a
Bign of the captive's future deliverance, which soon was the case.

Genus Luscinia.

NIGHTINGALE {Davlias

i.e., night- singer ; from A.-S. Nihte, gen. of Niht, iiight, and
Gcde, a singer.

Called Barley-bird in East Anglia, becavise, says F(jrby, "it

PBOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS, 19

comes in the season of so-wing barley." Halliwell remarks that
the greenfinch (Ligurimus cMoris) ' has the same title sometimes
given to it, and that the name is still more frequently applied to
the siskin. Stevenson doubts its application to the nightingale,
but thinks it belongs to the yellow wagtail {Motacilla Raii), which
often frequents fields of newly-sown spring corn.

1 . Time of arrival.

This is fixed by the old saying : —

" On the third of April (old style)
Come in the cuckoo and the nightingale

which corresponds with the German :-^

(ffl) " Wenn Maximus tritt in die JIall
So bringt er uns die Nachtigal ; "

i.e. 'When S. Maximus (April li) enters the porch he brings us the nightin-
gale.'

(5) " Tiburtius kommt mit Euf und Schall,

Er bringt den Kuknk und die Naohtigal ;" ,

i.e. 'S. Tiburtius (April 14) arrives with song and call ; he brings the cuckoo
and the nightingale.'

These two birds are frequently found closely united in folk lore and song;
Mr. Hardy in his excellent monograph on the " Popular History of the Cuckoo,'
suggests' that' the intention is to contrast the quahty of their song. He
mentions, in support of this, the fabje where the cuckoo disputes for superiority
in singing -with the nightingale ; and the ass, supposed to be the best judge in
music on account of his long ears, being called in to decide the question,
declares for the cuckoo. Then the nightingale appeals from the unjust sen-
tence to man, singing melodiously. It is remarkable that the Hindoo MkHas,
or Indian cuckoo, is for their poets what the nightingale is for ours.

There also appears to have been a popular prognostication with regard to the

season which was to follow from the fact of the cuckoo or nightingale being

. first heard. A question on this subject was asked in N. amd Q., Ser. V. ,

vol. i., p. 387, but the only information that could be given was a reference to

'^Ghaaeer's' poem of "The Cuckoo and the Nightingale," in Wordsworth's

modernised version of which the following lines occur : —

" I of a token thought which lovers need ;

How among them it was a common tale,
■ f hat it was good to hear the nightingale

Ere the vile cuckoo's note be uttered. "

2. Haunts of the nightingale.

The nightingale is a very local bird, only partially distributed over England ;
being heard very rarely in Devon, never in Cornwall, neither in Scotland nor
Ireland. It has been suggested by Mr. Johns that the reason of this is that " it
dislikes along sea voyage, and that when in spring it migrates northward and
westward, it crosses the English Channel at the narrowest parts only, spreads
itself over the nearest counties in the direction of its migration, but is
instinctively prevented from turning so far back again to, the south as the
■ south-west peninsula of England." It was currently believed that the night-
ingale was only to be met with where cowslips grew, but this has been pro'ved
to be a fallacy ; also that there was some connecting link between this bird
and hops. This latter idea was mentioned in N. and Q., Ser. III., vol. i., p. 447,

20 PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIRDS.

where it is quoted as being current near Donoaster, but only to be refuted by
Cuthbert Bede, who shows that, though hops have disappeared from Hunting-
donshire, yet nightingales abound. In the same publication, Ser. II., vol. iv.,
p. 215, a legend is mentioned to the effect that there are no nightingales at
at Havering alte Bower, in Essex, because Edward the Confessor, being
interrupted there in his meditations, prayed that their song might not be
heard again. This, however, is shown to be incorrect ; for the Bev. R. E.
Faulkner, who was incumbent of Havering, in a work " The Grave of Emuia
Vale at Havering Bower," says, "Their sweet notes are stiU heard chanting
their Maker's praises amidst the shady groves of this pretty village." St.
Leonards Forest, too, in Sussex, was supposed to be shunned for some inexplic-
able reason by the nightingale. Andrew Boorde, in his " Book of Knowledge,"
declares that " in the Forest of Saint Leonards, in Southsex, there doth never
singe Nightingale, althoughe the Foreste rownde aboute in tyme of the
yeare is replenyshed with Kightyngales ; thay wyl syng round aboute the
Forest and never within the precinote of the Forest, as divers Kepers of the
Fpreste and other credible persons dwellyng there dyd shew me " (N. and Q.,
Ser. II., vol. iv. p. 45). The nightingales were said to have once disturbed a
hermit who had fixed his cell in the forest ; he bestowed a curse upon them in
"return for their songs, and from that time they were unable to pass the
the boundary. (See " Sussex Archaeological Collections," xiii. 222.) '

3. It was a commonly received belief that the nightingale never
sings by day : hence her name. To account for this (which is
perfectly erroneous, as she sings by day as constantly as by night,
only in the daytime her voice' is lost in the chorus of the other
birds) the French and German peasants give some curious
reasons : e.g. —

a. One day the nightingale, having overslept herself while perched on '^
vine stock, found her feet entangled in the tendrils. Hence it is that she
never closes her eyes from the time when the vines begin to shoot, and cries in
March to the vinedresser : " Taille vite, taille vite, taUle vite, que ]e puisse
dormir " ; while later on she sings in a softer strain-: " Vigneron, ta vigne
pousse, pousse, pousse— ^dans ton bouchet ! " (Perron, " Proverbes de la
Franche Comt^.") -'

6. The country people in the neighbourhood of Toulouse say that the bird
sings at night to keep herself awake, fearing lest, in her slumber, the tendrils
of the Virgin's Seal (Tamiius communis) should' twist themselves round her
feet.

c. The following is from M. Laisnel de la Salle's " Croyances et Ldgendes du
Centre de la France " (ii. 245). "The story goes that once upon a time, the
blindworm had excellent eyes, but that the nightingale, who was then sightless,
borrowed them so that she might attend a fairy wedding. When the festivities
were over she refused to return them, and ever since does she continue her
song through night and day to soothe the sorrow of her confiding friend."

d. Another version of the preceding. " The nightingale and the blindworm
had only one eye apiece. Having (jeen invited to the wren's wedding, the
former was ashamed to show herself in such a condition, so one day she
surprised the snake while asleep and stole his eye. On discovering his loss
he said, ' When I catch you asleep, I will get it back I ' ' Will you ? ' wag
the bird's reply ; ' I will take care never to go to sleep again.' And so, ever
since, from fear of being caught, the nightingale continues singing both day '
and night."

e. The Westphalian peasants say that, the nightingale is a shepherdess,, who
was once unkind to a shepherd that loved her : she was always promising but

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIRDS. 21

postponing marriage, till at last the shepherd could bear it no longer, and
littered the wish that she might not sleep till the day of judgment. Nor does
she ; for her voice may be always heard at night, as she cries — ' Is tit, is tit, to
wit, to, wit — Trizy, Trizy, to bucht, to bucht, to bucht ' — the last syllables
forming the shepherdess's cry to her good dog Trizy. From Kuhn, " Sagen etc.
auaWestfalen," ii. 75, quoted by Mr. J. A. Farrer in an article on "Animal
Mythology," in the OomhiU Magazine. '

4. Nightingale and thorn.

Sir Thomas Browne, inhis "Vulgar Errors," Book III., u. xxviii., places among
the difficult cases concerning which he is desirous of awakening consideration,
the following — " Whether the nightiugal's sitting with her breast against a thorn
be any more than that she placeth some prickles on the outside of her nest, or
roosteth in thorny and prickly places, where serpents may least approach her."
The bird's fear of these reptiles is alluded to in a sermon of Thomas Adams, of
-Wellington (Works, ii. 485) : "They say the nightingale sleeps with her breast
against a thorn to avoid the serpent;" and also by Aneau ("Description
philosophale de la Nature," Paris, 1571) in the following lines : —

" Au printemps, doux et gracieux,
Le rossignol a pleine voix
Donne louange au dieu des dieux,
Tant qu'il faict retentir les boys.
Peur du serpent il chante fort,
Toute nuict et met sa poictrine
Centre quelque poignante espine
Qui le riveille quand il dort."

Shakespeare, too, in "Lucrece," suggests that she uses the thoi;n to keep herself
awake, but not for the same reason : —

" And whiles against a thorn thou bear'st thy part
To keep thy sharp woes waking,"

The origin of this beUef cannot be ascertained ; though a correspondent of
the Zoologist (1862) declares as a matter of fact that he has twice discovered
a strong thorn projecting upwards in the centre of the nest. But, as Mr.
Harting remarks (" Ornithology of Shakespeare," p. 127), " it can hardly be
do'ubted that this was the result of accident rather than design ; and Mr.
Hewitson, in his 'Eggs of British Birds, ' has adduced two sim3ar instances
in the case of the hedge sparrow."

6. A story in the English " Gesta Romanorum " (Bohn's edition, p. xlix) seems
to place the nightingale in the same category as the woodpecker, the swallow,
the raven, hoopoe, and other birds possessing the knowledge of wonder-working
stones of talismanic power; A certain knight, we read, " was imprisoned in a
dreary fortress. He had no light but a, little window, whereat scant light
shone in, that lighted bim to eat such simple meat as the keeper brought him ;
wherefore he mourned greatly, and made sorrow that he was thus fast shut up
from the sight of men.- Nevertheless, w(hen the keeper was gone, there came
daily a nightingale in at the window, and sung full sweetly, by whose song this
woeful knight was sometimes fed with joy : and when the bird left off singing,
then would she fly into the knight's bosom, and there this knight fed her
many a day, of the victual that God -sent him. It bef el after, upon a day,
that the knight was greatly desolate of comfort. Nevertheless the bird that
sat in his bosom fed upon kernels of nuts ; and thus he said to the bird, —
' Sweet bird, I have sustained thee many a day : what wilt thou give me now
in my desolation to comfort me ? Remember thyself well, how that thou art
the creature of God, and so am I also, and therefore help me now in this great

22 PBOVmdlAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIRDS.

need.' Wteu the bird heard this, she flew from his 13080111, and tarried from
him three days ; but the third day she came again, and brought in her mouth a
precious stone, and laid it in the knight's bosom. And when she had so done,
she took her flight and flew from him again. The knight marvelled at the
stone, and at the bird, aind forthwith he took-the stone in his hand, and touched
his gyves and fetters therewith, and presently they fell off. And then he
arose and touched the doors of his prison, and they opened, and he escaped, and
ran fast to the Emperor's palace. When the keeper of the prison perceived
this, he blew his horn thrice, and raised up all the folk of the city, and led
them forth, crying with a loud voice, ' Lo ! the thief is gone ; follow we him
all.' And with that he ran before all his fellows to the knight. And when he
came riigh him the knight bent his bow and shot an arrow, wherewith he smote
the keeper in the lungs, and slew him ; and then ran to the palace, where he
found succour against the law. "

6. The note of tLe nightingale.

In olden times the nightingale had a dog to which he was much attached.
One day he tied it to a tree-stump (sicoi), while he went for a walk ; but alas !
during his absence the animal in his struggle to get loose, pulled up the stump
and escaped. The bird laments his loss thus —

" Kaie va,' Kaie va !
Fuit, fuit ! sioot, sicot ! "

Others say that the nightingale was a sportsman who had four dogs. One
day, when out shooting, he tied them to a stump while he refreshed himself at
a public-house. But during his absence they ran off. (Haute Bretagne.)

7. The nightingale in medicinal folk lore.

"The eyes and heaft of a nightingale," says an old writer, "laid about men
in bed, keep them awake. To make one die for sleep. — If any one dissolve them,
and give them secretly to any one in drink, he will never sleep, but will so die,
and it admits not of cure."

If a person eats the heart of a nightingale, he will sleep only for two hours,
because that bird sleeps only for two hours in the night. But this is danger-
ous, for. if the wind changes in the twenty-four hours, he runs the risk of going
mad. (Haute Bretagne.)

8. "If any man rob a nightingale of her young," the Bohemians say, "shefirst
of all flies anxiously round the nest in search of them. If she cannot find
them, she hangs herself, through grief, from a forked branch. ' ' (Krolmus i. 91.)

Suh-fomdly Sylviin^e.

Genus Sylvia.

WHITETHROAT (Sylvia cinerea).

1. So called from the white colour of its lower parts; whence
(and also from its grey head)

White Untie (Forfar).
Whitecap.

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIKDS. 33

2. Its harsh continuous note has given it the names of
Churr.

Churr muffit (Stirling). For Muffit seerbelow.

Peggy chaw, or Peggy cut-throat (Midlands).

Wheetie why.

Blethering Tarn (Eenfrew)^.

Whattiey or Whishie (East'Lothian).

3. Because its light-coloured head and neck feathers stand out
more thickly than is usual in other birds (MacgUlivray), it is called

Charlie muftie,'or Muffit (Stirling);
Whey beard : Wheetie whey beard : or Whittle beard.
Beardie (Scotland).
Of. JBwrbecliatte (Anjou).

4. From its habit of creeping through the lower parts of hedges
where nettles are abundant, it has received the names

Nettle creeper : Nettle monger (North Riding ; Hants).
Nettle bird (Leicestershire).
Hay Jack (Norfolk ; Suffolk).

Hazeck (Worcestershire). ,

Haysucker (Devon).
From 0. E. heisugge (see under Hedge accentor).
Hedge chicken. '

5. It forms its nest of line pieces of grass, bits of straw, feathers
and wool, hence it is called

Feather bird (Northants).
Hay tit (Oxfordshire ; Salop).
Strawsmear (Westmoreland).
Strawsmall (West Biding).
Winnell straw, or Jack straw (Salop).
Flax (Salop).

6. Familiar names.
Muggy or Meggie (North).
I'eggy (Notts).

Great Peggy (Leicestershire).

Jenijie, or Meg cut-throat (Eoxburgh).

Billy whitethroat (Salop).

7. Various names.
Caperlinty (Jedburgh).
Bee bird (Devon).

Mr. John says that it is called in France Grisette, from its grey
plumage, and Babilla/rde, from its constant song.

24- PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

The name of " Singing sky rocket " has abo been applied to it,
from its habit of rising quickly, from time to time, straight up
into the air, singing all the time.

Cf . Mousquet (Gaid).

BLACKCAP {Sylvia atricapilla).

1. So called from the tuft of black feathers on the head of the
male bird ; -whence also

King Harry black cap (Norfolk).
Coal hoodie (North Biding).
Black-headed hay-jack (Norfolk).
Black-headed Peggy.
Cf . Fauvette d, tete noire (France) ; Schwarzkopf (Germany).

2. This bird builds its nest of hay, roots, and hair, in a low bush
or hedge, hence its names

Jack straw (Somerset).
Hay laird (Northants).
Hay chat (Northants).
Hay Jack (Northants).

3. Various names.
Mock nightingale.

From the melody of its song.

Nettle creeper.
Nettle monger.

GOLDEN WAKBLER {Sylvia hortmsis).

1. From the dull white of the throat it has received the names of
Garden whitethroat.

Billy whitethroat (East Lothian).

2. Also called

Streasmear (Westmoreland).
Strawsmear.

Small straw (West Riding).
From the materials of which its nest is composed.

Greater petty-chaps.
I'eggy.

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BKITISH BIRDS. 25

G&nuB Eegulus,
GOLSCEEST {Regulus cristatus).

1. So called from its crest of golden-coloured feathers, from
-which, as -well 'as from its diminutive size, it has received the
names of

Golden-crested wren.

Grolden wren (Stirling). '

Golden cutty (Hants).
Cutty is a name for the wren (which see), from its short tail.
Marigold finch-. »

Tidley goldfinch (Devon).
Kinglet.

2. Various names.

Wood titmouse (Cornwall).
Moon, moonie, or mviin (Roxburgh).
MiUer's thumb (Roxburgh).
Thumb bird (Hants).
From its tiny size.

Tot o'er seas (vid. i^f.)
Herring spink (East Suffolk).

"The golden-erested wren is so called, often caught by the hand while
■* latching ' in the rigging, or among the gear, during the North Sea fishing.
These little birds, it seems, are then crossing the seas (see above, Tot o'er seas)
for the winter, and haye been found, 1 am told, clustered almost like bees along
the hedges near Caistor — so tired as to be taken by hand on shore, as by the
sailors at sea. They call the bird ' Woodcock pilot ' farther north, being sup-
3*sed to herald the woodcock two days in advance." (" Sea Words and Phrases
along the Suffolk Coast," in the East Anglian, vol. iv., p. 115).

Genus Phylloscopus.
CHIFFCHAIT {Phylloscopus rufus).

1. The chiffchaff derives its name from its constantly repeated
short, hurried note ; whence also

Chip chop.

Choice and cheep (Devon — neighbourhood of Totnes).

2. This bird resembles the willow wren or willow warbler {Phyl-
loscopus trochilus) very closely in size, colour and ha.bits, hence
many names common to the latter bird are applied to it : e.g.,

Sally picker (Ireland). " Sally " = sallow {i.e. willow).
Peggy (West Riding).
Least willow wren.

26 PEQVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

3. Various names : — ^
• Lesser petty-ckaps.
Thummie. *
From its small size.

Bank-bottle or -jug (Bedfordshire).

From the shape and situation of its nest, which, being covered with a dome,
is called wood oven ; also, in Oxfordshire, feather poke or feather hed, from its.
lining.

WILLOW "WARBLER {Phylloscopus trochilus).

1 . So called from its haunts ; whence also
Willow wren.

Willow sparrow (West Riding).
Sally picker (Ireland). See cmte, under ChifFchaff.
Ground wren (Scotland).
Ground Isaac (Devon).
From O. E._ heisugffe.

2. The colour of the bird, a yellowish-white in the under parts,
has 'given it the names of

YfeUow wren.

Golden wren (Ireland).

White wren (Scotland).

3. Names arising from peculiarities of the nest.

a. Locality.

Bank jug. •

b. Materials.

Hay bird (England ; Scotland generally),

Strawsmeer.

feather bed (Oxon).

Feather, poke, i.e. Feather bag (West Riding).

Mealy mouth (Craven).

WUlie muftie (Scotland).

Muffie wren (Renfrew).

Grass mumruffin (Worcestershire).

c. Shape.

Oven bird (Norfolk).
Ovea'tit (ditto).
, Ground oven (ditto).

4. From its diminutive size it is called

Tom thumb (Roxburgh).
Miller's thumb.

PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 27

5. Various names.

Huck muck. -

Bee bird.

Sweet Billy (Notts).

Peggy (West Biding ; Salop).
A name given also to the wren. '

Smeu, Smooth, or Smeuth (Stirling).

WOOD WARBLER {phyUoscopus siUlatrix). '

1. So called from its partiality to woodland districts; whence-
also

Wood wren (Somerset).

2. Its various shades of colour have given this bird the names
Yellow wren.

From its briglit yellow throat and streaks oyer the eyes.

Green wren.
From the green hue of the upper plumage.

Linty white.
From the pure white of the under parts of the body,

3. Also called-

Hay bird (West Riding).

Because the nest is composed of dried grass, and placed on the ground iu
thick herbage.

Germs Aceocephalus.
REED "WKBiSLESi {Acrocephalus streperus).

1.' So called from its frequenting reeds; whence also

Eeed wren.

Water sparrow (Salop).

2. The name of night warbler is also given to this bird, because
its cry may be heard at almost all hours. -

SEDGE WARBLER {Aaroaeplialus phragmitis). .

1. This bird derives its name from its favourite haunts being
the banks of sedgy pools and streams. Also called
Sedge wren.
Sedge bird.

28 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

Sedge marine (Norfolk).
Water sparrow (Salop).

2. It continues its song after dusk and through the night;
hence

Night singer (Ireland).

Irish nightingale (ditto).

Scotch nightingale (Eoxburgh ; Stirling).

3. Various names.
Hay tit (Oxfordshire).

From the material of which its nest is composed.

teg bird.

Sally picker (Ireland). See Willow Warbler, 1.
Chat.
From its sharp cry.

Chamcider, or Channy (Hants).

Genus Locustella.
6EASSH0FFEB. WARBLER {Locustella ncevia).

1. So called from its cry, which resembles the note of the
oricket pr grasshopper ; whence

Grasshopper lark. '

Cricket bird (Norfolk).

2. It has also the name of Brake hopper, from its" habit of
lurking in thick bushes.

Sub-family AccENTORiNi!.
Genus AccENTOE.
HEDGE SPARROW {Accentor modularis).

1. A bird mostly seen in hedges ; hence its name. Also called

Hedge spurgie (Aberdeen).
From Icel. sporr, a flutterer.

Bush sparrow (Stirling).

Whin sparrow (East Lothian).

Field sparrow, or Fieldie (Roxburgh).

Hedge warbler ; Hedge accentor ; Hedge chanter

PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 2^

Hedge chat (Northants).

Hedge spick, or Hedge mike (Sussqx).

Dykesmowler.

Isaac, or Hazock (Worcestershire).

Segge (Devon).

The three latter names are from the Old English heisugge. (See Chaucer^
" AssembUe of Foules," 612, where the cuckoo is called

" Murdrer of the heysugge on the hraunch
That brought thee forth.")

2. Familiar names.
Billy (Oxon).
Cuddy (Craven).
Dickie (Lancashire).

3. Names given from the dusky colour of the plumage.
Blue Isaa« (Gloucestershire). See above.

Blue Tom (Scotland).
Blue sparrow (Scotland).
Blue Jannie.
Blue dickie (Renfre*).
The throat, neck, and breast are of a bluish-grey.

Black wren (Ireland).

Dnnnock (Lancashire ; West Riding ; Somerset),

Doney (Lancashire).

4. From its short piping note it is called
Titlene (North).

Pinnock.
Philip or Phip.

A term for the house sparrow (which see).

5. Other names.

Hempie (Yorkshire ; Scotland).

Shuffle- wing (Craven).
■ From its peculiar shake of the wings, becoming a flutter in the breeding
season.

Eeefouge (Ireland).

Creepie (Kirkcudbright).
From its movement, which is that of short hops, or a creeping attitude.

Sparve (West Cornwall). A.-S. spearwa, a sparrow.
Blind dunnook (Somerset). ■
" From its stupid blindness in not distinguishing the cuckoo's egg when laid
in its nest." (Cecil Smith.)

30 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

Family CincliDjE.

Genus Cinclus.

DIFFER {Cinclus aquaticus).

1. So called from its diving propensities, which, combined with
the dark back, give it the names

Bessie ducker.
Water ouzel.

Water blackbird (Scotland ; Ireland).
Water crow (Westmoreland ; Lowlands generally).
Water thrush (Cornwall).
Cf. Merle plongeur (France), Wasserwmsel (German Switzer-
land).

2. The white breast and blackish upper plumage have caused
it to be called

Piet (Scotland).
Water piet (Scotland).
River pie (Ireland).

3. Various names.

Water crake.

Kingfisher (Highlands generally ; Ireland),

From its flight, which is like that of the kingfisher, rapid and straightforward.
For the same reason it is helieved'in some parts of England to be the femalie
kingfisher, the blue and red bird being the male.

Ess cock (Aberdeen).
Water Peggie (Dumfries).
Water colly (Somerset).
For " colly " see under Ring ouzel {Turdus torquatus).

The Norwegian name is Fosse konge, i.e. King of the waterfall.

The Gaelic appellations for the dipper are
Gobha uisge — i.e. Water (black)smith, and
Gohha dhuhh nan allt — i.e. Blacksmith of the stream.

Family Panueid^.
Genus Panueus.

BEARDED TITMOUSE {Panurus

Bearded pinnock.

From the tuft of black feathers, resembling a moustache, beneath the eye.
Cf. Misa/nge a mouatactie (France).

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIRDS. 31

Eeed bunting (Essex).

Reed pheasant, or simply, pheasant (Norfolk).

Lesser butcher bird.

Family Parid^.

TITMICE.

Titmouse is compounded of Tit = small, and A.-S. Mdse, a
name for several small birds, akin to Meise (Germany), Mhange
(France).

Grimm tells us that these birds were held to be sacred and inviolable by
the ancient Germans, and severe penalties were exacted from those who
entrapped them. He also adds that the Lettons, who call them " Sihle,"
regard them as prophetic and auspicious, and even caU a soothsayer " Sihl-
neeks." On the other hand, in the neighbourhood of Valenciennes titmice
are hunted down by the children, who believe that they betrayed the Saviour.
(Hdgart, " Diet. Eouchi-Fran?ois.")

Genus Acredula.
BRITISH LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE {Acredula rosea),

1. This bird owes its name to its great length" of tail, hence it
is called

Long-tailed Mag or Long-pod (Midlands).
Long-tailed pie.

Long-tailed capon (Hants ; Norfolk).
Long-tailed mufflin.
From the resemblance that the tufted feathers surrounding the face present
to a muffler.

2. Whence also are derived

Mumruffin, or hedge mumrnffin (Worcestershire ; Salop).

Eagamuffin.

Puflat (East Lothian).

3. The penduline form of the nest, and the feathers which com-
pose the lining, have obtained for the bird the names of

Jack in a bottle.
Bottle Tom.

32 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

Bottle tit (West Riding ; Berks ; Bucks ; Midlands ; Salop).

Bag (NoTthants).

Poke pudding or Poke bag (Gloucestershire ; Salop).

Pudding bag f Norfolk).

Feather poke.

Called in the soutli of France, D4hassaire, i.e. Stocking maker, for the same
reason.

Oven bird or oven builder (Stirling).

Can bottle (Salop).

Bum barrel (Notts).

Bush oven (Norfolk).

Oven's nest (Northants).

Hedge jug.

4. Various names.

Prinpriddle, i.e. Tree babbler (Cornwall).
French magpie.
From its colour. Cf. Pie moitchet (Jura).

Bum towel (Devon).
Bellringer (Kirkcudbright).
Millithrum, i.e. Miller's thumb."
From its small size.

Nimble tailor (Salop).

5. In Shropshire the nest of this bird is called " Hat full o'
feathers."

Genus Parus.
GREAT TITMOUSE (Parus moQw).

1. From its black head it has obtained the names
Black cap, or black capped lolly (Northants ; "West Biding).
Black-headed Bob (Devon).
Black-headed tomtit (Salop ; Stirling).

i. Also called

Sit ye down.

Joe Ben (Suffolk).'

Ox eye (Midlands; Salop; North Biding; Ireland).

Big ox eye (Forfar ; Ea^t Lothian ; Eoxburgh).

So called from its size. In France the gold-crest {Regulus cnstatm) is called

CSU etc OCSUj'

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 33

Saw sharpener (Roxburgh,).
Sharp saw (Norfolk). ,

The two last names are given to it from its peculiar, harsh, grating oaU-notes ■
Cf. Serrurier (Cdte d'Or), Accuzmferra (Sardinia). '

Pridden pral, i.e. Tree babbler (West Cornwall).
Heckymal (Dartmoor).
From its powerful beak.

Tom noup — i.e. nope (Salop). See under Bulfinch.

In Spain this bird is called Gid (Lord) or Qid paxaro (Lord
sparrow) ; also Cruerrero, i.e. warrior, or rather brawler — because
titmice are always quarrelling with other birds, or among them-
selves.

3. Weather prognostic.
The saw-like note o£ this bird foretells rain.

BRITISH COLE TITMOUSE {Parus ■ Britannious ;
Ger. Kolmeise).

1 . The following names refer to this bird's glossy black head
and neck : —

Coal, or Coaly hood (Scotland).

Coal hooden (East Lothian).

Black cap (Salop ; Stirling). ,

Black ox-eye (Forfar).

In Ireland it is called Tomtit.

2. In the old laws of the Eheingau the ensnarer of a cole, tit
was severely fined : " Wer eine kolmeise fienge mit limen oder mit
slagegarn, der sal unserme herrn geben eine f albe henne mit sieben
hunkeln." (Grimm, " D. M.," ii. 683.) '

MARSH TITMOUSE {Parus pcdustris).
Black cap (Notts),
Cf. Golle norette — i.e. Calotte noire (France).
Joe ben (East Anglia).
Saw whetter (Staffordshire). See under Great Titmouse.

BLUE TITMOUSE {Parus ,
. So called from its prevailing colour ; whence also —
Blue cap or Blue bonnet (Salop ; West Riding ; Scotlajid).
Blue yaup (Scotland). See below, 3.
Blue ox-eye (Forfar).
Blue spick (North Devon).

34 PROVINCIAL NiMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

2. From the strong pecks which it deals with its bill are derived
the names (all used in Devon and Cornwall)^

Hickmall ; Hackmal ; Heckymal ; Hagmal ; Hackeymal ;
Titmal.

3. Its loud chirping cry is shrill and often repeated ; hence
Yaup (Renfrew).

Tinnock.

Pedn-paly, or Pridden pral — i.e. Tree ba,bbler (West Corn-
wall).
Pinchem (Beds).
Tidife.

4. Various names.
Tomtit (General).
■Jenny tit (Suffolk).
Nun.

From the white fillet round its head. Cf. Nanette (Prance), Amitak
(Guernsey).

AUecampagne (Cornwall).
Bee bird (Hants).

Because it is supposed to stand at the entrance o£ the hives and destroy the
bees as they come out. Cf. Crojite afieiBc (Francs) .

Billy biter (Salop ; North Kiding)..

Because the female, while sitting on her eggs, does not hesitate to peck the
fingers of those who try to remove her.

Pickcheese (Norfolk).
Tomnouf (Salop).
Jenny wren (Craven).

Ox-eye (East Lothian). See under Great Tit.
Stone chat (Ireland).
Because its nest is usually in the hole of a wall or tree.

5. "Weather prognostic.

" The titmouse foretells cold when crying, Piucher." (Wilsfor4, " Nature's
Secrets," p. 132.)

Family Sittid^e.

G&nus SiTTA.

NUTHATCH— i.e. Nut Hacker {Sitta ccesia).

So called from the bird's habit of striking and splitting with
its beak filberts or hazel nuts ; whence also
Niit topper — i.e. Nut tapper.
Nutcracker (Salop).

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIRDS. 35

Woodcracker.
Jobbin (Northants). '
Nutjobber (Berks).

"Job"=to strike with a pointed instrument (Gael. (ro5=abeak). If the
opening of the hole in which ia it9 nest be too large, the bird lessens it by
plastering the sides with mud ; hence it ia known in Hampshire as the Mud-
stopper. Cf. Ma^on, Picma^on (Lorraine).

Family Troglodytid^.
Geniis Troglodytes.
WREN {Troglodytes parvulus).
A.-S. Wrenna; whenciB

1. Wranny (Cornwall).
Wrsinnock (Orkney Isles).

2. From its short bob-tail it has the names of
Cutty or Cut (Dorset ; Devon ; Hants j Pembroke).

From Welsh Ovit, a short tail.

Scutty (Sussex).
Cutteley wren (Somerset).
Bobby wren (Norfolk).

3. From its diminutive size it is called
Tiddy or Tidley wren (Essex).
Tom tit (Norfolk ; Craven).

Titty todger (Devon);

4. Familiar names.
Kitty, Jenny (Greneral).
Jennie crudle.

Tintie (Notts).
Sally (Ireland).

5. Various names.

Stag, Tope (Norfolk ; Cornwall).
Crackil (North Devon).
From its cry. Cf. Crac-jcm (St. Lo).
Eobui redbreast (Shetland Isles).
Our Lady's hen (Old Scotch).

' ' Malisons, malisons, mair than ten.
That harry- our Lady of Heaven's hen ! "

Cf. Poulate de Dim, Oiseau deDieu, (Nbrmandy), titles given by the French
peasants to the wren, because, so they say, she was present at the birth of the

36 PBOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

Infant Saviour, made her nest in Hia cradle, and brought moss and feathers
to form a coverlet for the Holy Child. (" Laisnel de la Salle," ii. 249.) i

6. Folk lore of the wren.

(1) The wren as king of birds.

The tradition of the sovereignty of the wren over the _ feathered race is
widely spread. Hence we find the Latin name for the bird to be Segvins,
the. Greek ^aaiXiffKos, the French JRoitelet, Roi des oiseaux. Hoi de froi'dwe,
Jtoi de guille, Roi 'Bertaud, the Spanish Reyezvdo, the Italian Reatino or
Re di mpe (kfng of the hedge), the Swedish Kimgs fogel, "the Danish
Fitgle Konge or File Konge (alder king), the German Zaunhmig (hedge
king), Schneekbnig <snow king). As to the origin of these titles the foUowing
legend (which Wolf, " Zeitschrift fUr Dehtsche Mythologie," i. 2, says appeared ,
in a Jewish collection of animal tales, composed in the thirteenth century) '
professes to give the necessary information. It is common to Ireland,
France, Germany, Norway, and Scotland ; and a story, almost identical,
with the exception of the linnet {Linota cannaiina — which see), instead of
the wren, being thehero, is told by the Ojibways of North America ("Algio
Eeseaiches," ii. 216). The foUowin'g version is taken from ThompsonV "Birds
of Ireland," ii. 350. In a grand assembly of all the birds of the air, it was
determined that the sovereignty of the feathered tribe should be confeSxed
upon the one who should fly highest. The favourite in the betting was of
course the eagle, who at once, and in full confidence of victory, commenced
his flight towards the sun : when he had vastly distanced all competitors, he
proclaimed vrith a mighty voice his monarchy over all things that had wings.
Suddenly, however, the wren, who had secreted himself under the feathers of
the eagle's crest (another account says, tail), popped from his hiding-place,
flew a few inches upwards, and chirped out as loudly as he could, "Birds, look
up and behold your king ! " (It may be noticed that a Turkish story related
by Rosenol, i. 33 [Stuttgart, 1813]. makes Eblis [Satan], enter, the ark
concealed under the tail of the ass.)

The rivalry of the eagle and the wren is alluded to by Aristotle, who gays
of the latter that he is dirio Tro\4iuos ; and by Pliny, " Hist. Nat." x. 74 :
" Dissident aquila et trochilus, si credimus, quoniam rex appellatur avium."

There are two sequels of the above legend, of which one will be found under
Strigidae, 5, p. 124 ; the other, known in Ireland and Norway, was as follows :
— After the wren had tritimphantly proclaimed himself as king, the other
birds allowed his claim, and he was duly elected to that office. But the eagle
was so exasperated at the decision that he caught ^p the wren in a rage, flew
up high in the air with his rival in his claws, and dropped him to the ground !
The wren was more frightened than hurt, but he lost part of his tail in the
fall, and has ever since gone about with only half of that necessary appendage,
A variation of this legend relates that the angry eagle gave the wren such a
stroke with his wing as he came down, that from that time he has never been
able to fly higher than a hawthorn bush (or elder tree).

The knowledge that he is king of birds has made the wren, so the Bretons
declare, the proudest and most conceited of all the feathered kind.- Tiny"
though he is, he hops about on the dead branches of trees, trying in vain to
snap them with his weight, and piping with petulant anger " Bisqua, qu'on es
fort " — i.e. ' Hang it, how strong it is ! ' or, as some assert, " Dir, dir, pa na dor "
— i.e. ' (it must be) steel, steel, since it does not break ! '

(2) Wren hunting,
a. In Ireland.

To hunt the wren," says Mr. Neligan, quoted in Thompson's " Birds of
Ireland," i. 349, is a favourite pastime of the peasantry of Kerry' on, Christmas"

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS* 37

Day. This they do, each using two sticks, one tp beat the bushes, the other to
fling at the bird. It was the boast of an old man, who lately died at the age
of a hundred, that he had hunted the wren for the last eighty years on
Christmas Day. On St. Stephen's day the children and young men exhibit
■the slaughtered birds on an ivy bush decked with ribbons of various colours,
and carry them about, singing a song of which there are various versions. " Of
these versions I wiU give two, of which the first is given in Crofton Croker's
•" Researches," p. 233 :—

" The wren, the wren, the king of all birds,
S. Stephen's Day was caught in the furze ;
Although he is little,, his family's great,
I pray you, good landlady, give us a treat.

My box, it would speak, if it had but a tongue,
And two or three shillings would do it no wrong,
Sing holly, sing ivy — sing ivy, sing hoUy,
A drop just to drink, it would drown melancholyi

And if you draw it of the best

I hope your soul in heaven may rest ;

But if you draw it of the small.

It won't agree with the wren-boys at all."

It will be seen from the above that the hunting of the bird in some districts
took place on the 26th.

The next wren carol is taken from Notes and Queries, Ser. I., xii. 489,
Ser. II., i. 1 02, where it is stated as being sung at Waterford and Youghal.

" INTRODUCTION.

To Mr. . . . we've brought the Wran,
5!e is the best gentleman in the land :
Put in your hand, puU out your purse.
And give us something for the poor Wran ! !

I.
The Wran, the Wran, the king of all birds,
S. Stephen's day waa paught in the furze ;
Although be is little, his family'* great, —
I pray, young landlady you'll fill us a treat !

Chorus : Sing overein, overem, droleen : {his)

Sing overem, overem, chitimicOre, hebemegola,
tambereeil.

II.
If you fill it of the small
It won't agree with our boys at all :
But if you flu it of the best,
I hope your soul in Heaven may rest !
. Chorus : Sing overem, etc.

in.
It is the Wran, as you may see,
'Tis guarded in a holly tree ;
A bunch of ribands by his side,
And the . . . boys to be his guide. >

Chm-us : Sing overem, etc.

38 PKOVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIRDS.

On Christmas Day I turned the spit,
I burned my fingers, I feel it yet :
Between my finger and my thumb
I eat the roast meat every srumb.
Chorus : Sing overem, etc.

We were all day hunting the Wren,
We were all day hunting the Wren ;
The Wren so cute, and we so cunning,
He stayed in the bush while we w,ere running.
Chorus: Sing overem, etc.

When we went to cut the holly ,

All our boys were brisk and jolly ;
We cut it down all in a trice.
Which made our Wren boys to rejoice.
Chorus ; Sing overem, etc."

The last three vei-ses are pecuhar to Waterford.

Mr Thompson tells us that this custom has been dramatisfed. "It was
lately (Sept. 1848) posted on the walls of Belfast, as about to be performed at
.one of the minor theatres. Having a desire to see t he nature of the piece,
the manager's copy was kindly placed at my service. The title is " The Wren
Boys : or the Moment of Peril ; an original drama, in two acts. By Thomas^

Egerton Wilks, Esq. . . . Author of etc. , etc. As performed in the

London Theatres. " In Act II., Sc. i. is the village of Shanagolden, in Munster.
The wren boys enter confusedly, one bearing a bush v^ith a wren in i,t ; and the
first four lines, nearly as above given (Mr. Croker's version), are sung, followed
by chorus." It may be observed that Mr. Croker noti?ed the subject in ^
communication made to the British Archseological Association on Feb. 4th, 1848,
in connection with a proclamation by Richard Dowden,, Mayor of Cork, issued
at the close of 1845, with the intention, as headed, to "prevent cruelty to
animals." The old .popular ceremony long -prevalent in Ireland, of hunting
and killing a wren on St. Stephen's day, was then forbidden, but still lingers in
some parts of Connaught.

With regard to the origin of the custom,' of whict I shall speak later on
(jf), there are several traditions current in Ireland. One story giving the
reason is : " St. Stephen when being broughf to execution was escaping from
his sleeping jailors, when a wren flew on' the face of one of them and woke
him." This would account for his being killed on St. Stephen's day. Another
version is that our Saviour was hiding in the garden, and a wren, by noisy :-
chirping, showed the place to the soldiers and servants of the high priest;--
Another legend is : "A wren at the siege of Doolinn, by hopping on a drum,
woke up the Danes and prevented them being surprised " {Polk-iore Record,
p. 108, " Notes on- Irish Folk Lore"). A newer version relates that on one
occasion James II.'s forces were on the point of surprising King William's-
army early in the morning, when some wrens, attracted probably by the frag-
ments of the preceding night's repast,, alighted on the head of a drum which had
served for a table, and the noise of their bills in the act of picking awoke the
drummer, who instantly beat to arms and saved William's arniy from defeat.
The wren, accordingly, has ever since been a prime favourite with the Orangft
party, and an object of persecution to the friends of James.

PROVINCIAL NAMES 01' BRITISH BIRDS. 39

5. In the Isle of Man.

Mr. Train, in his "Account of the Isle of Man" (Douglas, 1845), vol. ii.,
pp. 124-7, says that on St. Stephen's Day a group of boys go from door to
door with a wren suspended by the legs in the centre 6f two hoops crossing
each other at right angles, decorated with evergreens and ribands, singing lines
called " Hunt the Wren " :—

" We hunted the wren for Robin the Bobbin,
We hunted the wren for Jack of the Can ;
We hunted the wren for Robin the Bobbin,
We hunted the ^en for every one."

If, at the close of this rhyme, they are fortunate enough to obtain a small
coin, they give in return a feather of the wren ; and before the close of the day
• the bird may be sometimes seen hanging almost featherless. It is then taken
to the sea-shore or some piece of waste ground, and • solemnly interred. In the
previous century, as it appears from Waldron's "Description of the Isle of
Man," p. 155, the hunting took place on December 24th, and the wren was
buried in the churchyard, the feathers being religiously preserved, as each of
them was believed to be an effectual preservative from shipwreck for one year.
Mr. Train also gives the following tradition as to the origin of the ceremony :
" In former times a fairy of uncommon beauty exerted such undue influence
over the male population, that she, at various times, induced by her sweet
voice numbers to follow her footsteps, till by degrees she led them into the
sea, where they perished. This barbarous exercise of power had continued for
a great length of time, till it was apprehended that the island - would be ~
exhausted of its defenders ; when a knight-errant sprang up, who discovered
some means of countervailing the charms used by this siren, and even laid a plot
for her destruction, which she only escaped at the moment of extreme hazard
by taking the form of a wren. But,, though she evaded instant annihilation,
a spell was cast upon her by which she was condemned to re-animate the same
form every succeeding New Tear's Day, until she should perish by a human
hand." In consequence of this legend every man and boy in the island devotes
the hours from the rising to the setting of the sun on each returning anni-
versary to the hope of extirpating the fairy ; the wren's feathers, as already
observed^ being considered as a charm against shipwreck. With (reference to
this latter ■ beUef MacTaggart writes in the " Scottish Gallovidian Encyclo-
psedia," p. 157, that Manx, herring-fishers dare not go to sea without one of
these birds taken dead with them, for fear of disasters and storms. Their
tradition is of a sea sprite that hunted the herring tack, attended always by
storms ; and at last it assumed the figure of a wren and flew away» So they
think that when they have a dead wren with them all is snug. Another
version of the above legend relates that the enchantress set out on her milk-white
' palfrey, accompanied by her admirers on foot, till, having led them into a deep
river, she 'drowned six hundred of the best men the island had ever seen,
and then flew away in the shape of a bat. To prevent the recurrence of a like
disaster it was ordained that the women should henceforth go on foot and
follow the men, which custom is so religiously observed, that if by chance a
woman is observed walking before a man, whoever sees her cries out immedi-
atelv, " Tehi 1 Tehi I " which, it seems, was the name of the enchantress whp
occasioned this law. (Waldron, p. 188.)

In a MS. account of Manx' customs the wren song is given as follows. I
premise by stating that each line is repeated four timep, in the same manner as
the first and last are : —

" ' We'U away to the woods,' says Robin the Bobbin,
' We'll away to the woods,' says Richard the Robin,
' We'll away to the woods,' says Jackey the Land,
' We'U away to the woods,' says every one-.

40 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

What will we do there ? ' says Robin the Bobbin, etc.
' We'll hunt the wren,' says Robin the Bobbin, etc.
• Where is he ? where is he ? ' says Robin the Bobbin, etc.
' In yonder green bush,' says Robin the Bobbin, etc.
' How can we get him down ? ' says Robin the Bobbin, etc.
' With sticks and stones,' says Robin the Bobbin, etc.
' He's down, he's down,' says Robin the Bobbin, etc.
' How can we get hiiu home ? ' says Robin the Bobbin, etc.
' We'll hire a cart,' says Robin the Bobbin, etc.
' Whose cart shall we hire ? ' says Robin the Bobbin, etc.
' Johnny Bill Fell's,' says Robin the Bobbin, etc,
' How can we get him in ? ' says Robip the Bobbin, etc.
' With iron bars,' says Robin the Bobbin, etc.

' He's at home, he's at home,' says Robin the bobbin, etc. ,

' How will we get him boiled ? ' says Robin the Bobbin, etc. .
' On the brewery pan,' says Robin the Bobbin, etc.
' How will we get him eaten ? ' says Robin the Bobbin, etc.
' With knives and forks,' says Robin the Bobbin, etc.
' Who's to dine at the feast ? ' says. Robin the Bobbin, etc.
' The king and the queen,' says Robin the Bobbin, etc.
' The pluck for the poor,' says Robin the Bobbin, etc.
' The legs for the lame,' says Robin the Bobbin, etc.
' The bones for tte dogs,' says Robin the Bobbin, etc.

' He's eaten, he's eaten,' says Robin the Bobbin,
' He's eaten, he's eaten,' says Richard the Robbin,
' He's eaten, he's eaten,' says Jackey the Land,
' He's eaten, he's eaten,' says every one."

A somewhat similar song is to be found in David Herd's " Collection of
Ancient and Modern Scottish Songs, Heroic Ballads, etc." ■ Edinburgh, 1776.
(repr. Glasgow, 1869, vol. ii., p. 210) :—

" ' Will ye go to the wood ? ' quo' Fozie Mosie ;
' Will ye go to the wood ? ' quo' Johnnie Rednosie ;
' Will ye go to the wood ? ' quo' Foslin 'ene ;
' Will ye go to the wood ? ' quo' brither and kih. '

' What to do there ? ' quo' Fozie Mosie, etc.

'To slay the wren,' quo' Fozie Mozie, etc.

' What way will ye get her hame ? ' quo' Fozie Mozie, etc.

' We'll hire cart and horse,' quo' Fozie Mozie, etc.

' What way wiU ye get her in ? ' quo' Fozie Mozie, etc.

'We'll drive down the door cheeks,' quo' Fozie Mozie, etc.

'ril hae a vdng,' quo' Fozie Mozie ;

'I'll hae anither,' quo' Johnnie Rednosie ;

'I'll hae a leg,' quo' Foslin 'ene ; •

'And I'll hae anither,' quo' brither and kin."

c. In Pembrokeshire.
_ Mr. Halliwell says, in his " Popular Rhymes and Nursery Tales," p. 165, that
m this coimty it is customary on .Twelfth Day to carry about a wren, termed
the .Kmg, enclosed in a box with glass windows, surmounted by a wheel, from
which are appended various coloured ribands. It is attended by men and boys,
who visit the fannhouses and sing a song, the following fragments of which
are all that have come under my observatidn : —

" For we are come here
To taste your good cheer.

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIRDS. 41

And the King is well dressed
In silks of the hest.
He is from a cottager's stall
To a fine gilded hall."

He adds that tradition connects the ceremony with the de5,th of an ancient
British king at the time of the Saxon invasion.

The following are two other wren songs from the same county ; contributed
by Mr. J. Tombs to Notes and Queries, Ser. III., v. 109, 110.

" Joy, health, love and peace.
Be to you in this place.
By your leave we will sing
Concerning our King :
Our King, is well drest
In silks of the best ;
With his ribbons so rare
No king can compare.
In his coach he does ride
With a great deal of pride :
And with four footmen
To wait upon him :
We were four at watch,
And all nigh of a match :
And with powder and ball
We fired at his hall.
We have traveU'd many miles
Over hedges and stiles.
To find you this King,
Which we now to you bring.
Now Christmas is past,
TweKth Day is the last,
Th' Old Year bids adieu —
Great joy to the New."

In the sixteenth line of the song, " hall " is used for the wren's nest, as in the
preceding fragment quoted by Mr. HalUwell ; and fitly so, for it is a hall or
covered place. And it is from the shape of his nest that the wren gets his
name, meaning covered.

Of the second song only two verses are given, viz. : —
, Hi WTiere su-e you going ? ' says the milder to the malder :
' Where are you going ? ' says the younger to the elder :
' I cannot tell,' says Rzzledyfose ;
' To catch Cutty Wren,' says John-the;red-nose.

' How will you get him ? ' says the milder to the malder ;
' How will you get him ? ' says the younger to the elder ;
' I cannot tell,' says Fizzledyfose ;
' With guns and great cannons,' says John-the-red-nose."

It is believed that this, which bears a striking resemblance to the Manx
versions (see above, 5), used to be sung when the party was setting out to
.search for the wren which they wanted for the Twelfth Naght. Mr. Sikes,
in Ms most interesting work "British Goblins," gives the music of the above
song, adding that the ballad was a very long one.

d. In Derbyshire.
In Derbyshire hunting wrens on Sunday is caUed "jent}/ " {i.e. Jenny) hwnting. -

42 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

c. In Essex. . ,

Mr. Henderson, in Ha Folklore of the Northern Counties/' p. 125,- says that
at Christmas-tide boys are accustomed to kill wrens and ,carry them about in
furze bushes from house to house, asking a present, and singing the verse —

"The wren, the wren, the king of the birds," etc.
/. In France.

The inhabitants of the tbwn of Ciotat, near Marseilles, so Sonnini tells us
(" Travels," vol. i., p. 16), armed with swords and pistols, commence an anni-
versary hunting of the wren at the beginning of Nivose (which oommenoid on
the 23rd of. December). When one is captured, it is suspended, as if a heavy
burden, from the middle of a long pole, borne on the shoulders of two men,
carried in procession through the streets, and weighed on a great pair of
scales, after which there is a convivial entertainment. The name given to the '
bird is as curious as the festival. They call it the Polecat, or Ph-e~ de la-
ikasse (Father of the Woodcock), on account of the resemblance of its
plumage to that of the woodcock, supposed by them to be engendered by the
polecat. At Carcassonne (Dept. Aude) the wren is carried about by the
young people of the place,- on the last day of December, the hunting of the
bird having taken place on the first Sunday of the month, when the youth
by whom it is caught, or killed, is dignified by the title of, King. On Twelfth
Day the town is again paraded, the Wren being borne solemnly upon a staff
adorned with a garland of olive, oak, and mistletoe. A somewhat similar
custom prevailed at Chateau Ponsao, in Berry, where the inhabitants, on New
Year's Day, brought a wren in solenin procession to the Prior, as their .
seignorial lord, in token of their fealty. It is remarkable that, according^
to M. Michelet (" Origines du Droit Franfais," p. 250), the same usage was.
practised in Franconia.

!/. This custom is undoubtedly sacrificial in its origin, the wren, as a lightning
bird, being sacred to Donar, the lightning god. The time also of its' celebration
— viz., at the commencement and end of the first twelve nights of the sun's. ,
return from the winter solstice — points in the same direction. Moreover,
in North Germany the squirrel is hunted at Easter (Wolf, " Beitrage," i. 78) j
and Simcock ("D. M." 555) tells us that in some parts of the same country
a dead fox is carried abput by the village boys at Midsummer^ Bpth these
animals, from their red colour, were under the protection of the same deity.
(For Norman and Breton legends of the wren as a fire bringer, sea under
Strigidse, p. 124.) A variation of these, communicated to M. RoUand from the
Dept. of the Loiret, was as follows : — The wreii, having succeeded in obtaining
the coveted fire, sets off on her downward flight to earth ; but alas ! her wings
began to bum, and she was obliged to intrust her precious burden to the care
of the robin, whose plumage also burst into flames, and who bears the traces
on his breast. The lark then came to the rescue, and brought the prize in
safety to mankind for their use. In some parts of Brittany they, say that the
vn-en fetched fire from hell, and got her feathers scorched as she passed through
the keyhole.

Hence it is that the wren, alike with the robin and the swallow, is a sacred
bird, and to rob its nest is an act to be regarded with horror. In the Pays de
Caux such a crime. is believed to be punished by the destruction of the culprit's
dwelling by lightning ; and in Touraine it is popularly supposed that the
fingers of the man who kUls a wren will gradually shrivel away and finally
drop off ! ,

(3) The wren in saintly legends.

S. Calasius, while at work in his vineyard, being overcome by the heat, took
his frock off and hung it on the branch of a neighbouring tree. Judge of his

PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS, 43'

amazement at seeing a wren fly into its folds and lay an egg ! The "saint was
so delighted that he spent the night in prayer and thanksgiving to God.

In the life of S. Malo a similar occurrence is related, with this differ-
ence — that he allowed the bird to remain undisturbed , tUl the eggs were
hatched. * .

S. Dol, seeing that his fellow monks were disturbed at their devotions by
the crying and screeching of the numerous birds in the woods contiguous to
the lAcsnastery, collected them all together in the convent yard, imposed silence
upon th6m, and dismissed them, a.t the same time forbidding them to return. ,
An exception was made in favour of the wrens, whose presence cheered without
distracting the inmates. (A. de Pouthieu, " Les FStes l^gendaires.'')

(For the robin and wren as man and wife, see above, under "Robin,'' 5 /,
p. 18.)

(4) Omens drawn from the wren.

In a work entitled " A SaUor Boy's Experience " (Hamilton, 1867), it is stated
that, in that neighbourhood, previous to setting out on their voyage, the sailors
catch a wren and pluck some feathers from it, tossing them up in the air,
when, according as they fall or are carried away by the wind, the success of the
herring fishery is prognosticated. (^Zoologist, 1094.)

Family MoiacillidyE.

Genus Motacilla.

PIED WAGTAIL {Motacilla lugiMiris).

1. From the habit of jerking their t3,ils while running, and also
when alighting after a Short flight, this family of birds derive
their names of

WagtaU. Cf. Boehequeue (France), Goditremola (Naples).
Quaketail.

Waggie (East Lothian).
Nannie wagtail (Notts).
^ Willie wagtail (Orkney Isles).

2. From its habit of frequenting ponds and streams the pied
wagtail is also called

Water wagtail (a name applied to each species).

Wattie wagtail.

Waterie (Forfar).

Wattie (Westmoreland). •

3. " From the fanciful similarity between the beating of the
water with its tail by the bird while tripping g-long the leaves of
a water lily, and the beating in the water by washerwomen"

44 PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIRDS.

(Johns' " British Birds in their Haunts," 171), it has received the
titles of

Dishwasher (Berks, Bucks, Oxfordshire ; Craven ; Salop).

Moll washer.

Peggy dishwasher (Kent).

MoUy washdish (Hants ; Somerset).

Polly washdish (Dorset).

Nanny washtail.

Dishlick (West Cornwall).

Washerwoman.

Cf. Batte lessive ; Zavandiere (Prance).

4. Various names.

Seed lady (Peebles).

Because they begin to appear in the north about the beginning of March.
•(See under Grey Wagtail.)

Devil's bird, or Deviling (Ireland).
From the constant uncanny motion of its tail.

White wagtail.

5._In Dorset the tajjping of a water wagtail with its bUl at a window is
■considered as a sign of approaching death. ,

GREY WAGTAIL {Motacilla melanope).

Also called

Winter wagtail (South of England).
So called because it comes in autumn and retires northward in spring.

Barley seed bird (Yorkshire).
Oat seed bird (ditto).

Because it makes its appearance in the north of England about March, and
is then most abundant in those elevated parts of the county which are better
adapted for the growth of oats than of wheat.

Yellow wagtail (East Lothian ; Ireland).

From the bright yellow of its neck and breast.

YELLOW WAGTAIL {Motadlla Rail).

1. So called from the light yellow hue of its neck and lower
parts, whence also

Yellow waggie.
Yellow Molly (Hants).

2^ Prom its constant attendance on cattle, feeding on the

PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIRDS, 45

insects ttey disturb from the ground by their movements, it
receives the names of
Cow bird.
Cow Moot, or Cow klit.

Cf . Bergere ; Vachette (France), Bovarina (Piedmont),
Kuhstelze (Bavaria).

3. Various names.

Waterie wagtail (Aberdeen).
Spring, or Summer wagtail (North)^
Because it is a summer visitor, going southwards in the early autuinn.

Called by the Spaniards Pepita, a name denoting " something
exquisitely feminine and graceful " ; and Bala/rina {i.e. dancing
girl) in the neighbourhood of Mentone, for the same reason.

Genus Anthus.
MEADOW PIPIT {Anthus pratensis).

1. Called Pipit from its short and feeble note"; whence also

Titling, or Tit (General).
Tietick (Shetland Isles).

Cf. Tiii (Anjou).
Titlark.
Cheeper.
Peep (Forfar).
Teetan (Orkney Isles).
Wekeen (Kerry).

2. As opposed to the Tree pipit, which frequents wooded districts, .
it is caUed

Meadow titling.

Meadow lark (Hants).

Field titling.

Earth titling (East Lothian).

3. From its attachment to commons and waste lands it has
received the names of

Moss cheeper (Scotland).

Moss cheepuck (North Ireland).

Heather Untie (Cumberland ; Westmoreland).

Ling bird (Cumberland ; West Riding).

Moor titling (Craven).

Moor tabling (ditto).

Moor tit.

46 PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIRDS.

4. Also called

Cuckoo's Sandie, or Cuckoo's titling (Durham).

Because it is the cuckoo's constant companion. With reference to this habit
■of the bird, Mr. Fitzgerald states, in "Long Ago," p. 81, that in Ireland the
charitable wish is heard, if two people are quarrelling, "May you never hear ~
the cuckoo or the little bird that follows it." It is there believed that " the
latter is ever trying to get into the cuckoo's mouth, and if this should once
happen, the end of the world would come." The small size of the titling con-
trasted with that of its companion gave rise to the proverbs, " Like the cuckoo
and the titlark," or " Like the. gowk and the titling," applied to one who follows
another, as the jackal the lion. "Many an old applewoman at the fairs," says
Gait, in "Sir Andrew Wylie," " on seeing the gowk and the titling approach (as
two boys were called), watched their tempting piles of toys and delectables.
"with gleg een' and staff grasped to repel some pawkie aggression. "

Hill sparrow (Orkney and Shetland Isles).
The Gaelic name is Glasian {i.e. grey bird).

TREE PIPIT {Anthus trivialis).

Various names.

Pipit lark. *

Tree lark.

lit lark (incorrectly).
Grasshopper lark (incorrectly).
Short-heeled field lark (Scotland).
So called because the claw of the hind toe is not so long as the toe itself.
Field lark.

ROCK PIPIT {Anthus obscurus).

1. So called from being confined exclusively to the sea shore ;
•whence also-r-

Eock lark.

Sea titling, or sea lark.
Sea lintie (East Lothian).
Rock lintie (Aberdeen).
Gutter teetan (Orkney Isles).
Shore teetan (ditto).

Tang sparrow (Shetland Isles).
^(js»ijf= seaweed.

2. Various names.

Teetuck, or Teetan (Shetland Isles).
Prom its cry.

Dusky lark.

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 47

FqanUy Laniib^e.
O&nMS Lanius.
GREAT GREY SHRIKE (Lanius excubitor).

!From Icel. shrikja, a shrike, lit. " shrieker."

" Called ' excubitor,' or watchman, because fowlers in Prance fasten it close
to tlie living bird which they use as a lure. When the shrike sees the hawk
it utters a shrill cry of terror, and thus gives notice of its enemy's approach,
enabling the fowler to draw the string of the net and enclose the falcon, before
the latter ^as time to carry off the bait." (YarreU.)

Butcher bird.

So called because it impales beetles and small birds on thorns, for the purpose
of pulling them to pieces. Of. Boucher (Jura).

White wisky John.

From the pure white under plumage and ashen grey head and back, and
wavering character of its. flight.

Murdering pie.

From the similarity in colour of its plumage to that of the magpie.

Mattages. .
Old obsolete name, given by falconers, and perhaps equivalent to preceding.
Cf. Ma£dgasse (Alpes) — from Materr—tiier (from macta/re), sud agache or
ffl5ras3e= magpie. See under Magpie, 1.

M. EoUand thinks that the shrike is so called because it frequently attacks
and overcomes the magpie.

RED-BACKED SHRIKE {Lcmiua colhirio).

1'. From its cruelty and voracity this bird is called

Butcher bird (General). See under preceding.
Murdering bird.
Ifine killer.
" From a notion that it always kills and impales nine creatures before it
begins its meal " (Wood). '

Cf. NeuntodUr (Germany).
Weirangle, or Wariangle (Yorkshire).

Cf. Wiirgengd (Germany), i.e. 'Worrying or Destroying
angel ' ; called also Wwrger; or ' Worrier, throttler.'

2. Various names.

Jack baker (Hants ; Surrey ; Sussex).

French magpie (Sussex).

Pope (Hants).

Cuckoo's maid (Hereford).
Because it feeds the young cuckoo. '

48 PBOVINCIAL NAMES OF BKITISH BIKDS.

Masher or Muster (Cornwall).

From the ruddy colour of its plumage ; or perhaps i.j. Flesher, i.e. butcher.

3. It is believed in the arrondissement of La Chitre that the
shrike brought to the Roman soldiers the thorns with which our
Lord was crowned; for which reason, whenever a peasant boy
catches one of these birds, he applies to it the lex talionis, and
sticks thorns into its head and neck. (Laisnel de la Salle,
ii. 242.)

Family AMPELiDiE.
Genus Ampelis.
WAXWING {Ampelis garruhis).

Bohemian chatterer.

In German Switzerland the country-people give this bird the names of Pest,
and Sterhe-vogd {i.e. Pest, or Death-bird) ; and say that the waxwing is only
seen in their country every seven years, and that war, pestilence, and famine
are inseparable from its visits. (Schinz, " Fauna Helvetica.")

Family Muscicapid^.
Genus Muscicapa.
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER {Muscicapa grisola).
Of, Gohe-mouche (France) ; Flieg'enschnappe (Germany).

1. From the site of its nest, which is generally placed against a
wall, or on a beam or rafter of an outbuilding, this bird is calted

Wall, or Beam bird (Berks ; Bucks j East Anglia ; Hants).
Eafter or Eafter bird.
Wall-plat (Devon).
"Plat" — a flat beam lying on the top of a wall.

2. From the white colour of the under parts it has the names

White wall (Northants).
White baker.

3. Various names.

Cobweb (Northants):

From its use of spiders' webs in the construction of its nest.. So in France
it is called L'araigne or Viraigne.

Post bird (Kent).
From its habit of perching on a po3t, watching for flies.

PKOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIEDS. ' 49

Bee bird (Norfolk).
From its fondness for bees.

Chancider.

Chait (Worcestershire).
From its note.

Cherry sucker ; Cherry chopper ; Cherry snipe.

Names given to the flycatolier from its being so often seen on, or flying
rovmd, cherry trees : the many insects that feed on them being the attraction.

4. In Somerset these birds are supposed to bring good luck to
the homestead they frequent, hence the rhyme : —

" If you scare the fly-catcher away,
No good luck wiU with you stay."

In Salop the namei of Miller is given to young flycatchers.

PIED FLYCATCHER {Muscic'apa atricapilla).

Cold or Cole finch (Northumberland; Cumberland; West-
moreland).

Section Oscines Latirostees.
Fmnily Hibundinid^.
Genua Hikundo.
WALLOW XSirundo rustim). A.-S. Swawe.

1. It is a common saying that the low flight of swallows is a
sign of rain, not only in our own country, but in France, where
they say: —

" Quind ch& arondelles volent b. terre
Adiu la pouBsifere."

and in North Italy : —

" Le rundane che ula a bass
L'fe segnald'un gran slaaas."

Hence G-ray writes in his first Pastoral : — ;

" When swallows fleet soar high and sport in air.
He told us that the welkin would be clear."

2. The swallow is universally considered as the herald of spring
and summer. Among the Greeks a festival was observed in
honour of this bird, and at Rhodes the children were accustomed
to go from house to house carrying with them young swallows

50 PEOVmCIAL' NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

and singing a swallow song, which has been handed down by
Athenffius, and thus rendered into English : —

"He comes ! he comes ! who. loves to hear
Soft sunny hours, and seasons fair :
The swaljow hither comes to rest
His sable wing and snowy breast."

Even at the present day, says Grimm ("D.M.," 723), does the usage
prevail in Greece. On the 1st of March bands of boys and girls
parade the streets, singing ballads and carrying a pole surmounted
by the image of a swallow carved in wood. In England the first
swallows arrive about the 11th of April, and are succeeded by
.others at intervals, until the middle or end of May. The Russian
peasants, in their springtide calendar (Ealston's " Songs of the
Russian People," p., 213), believe that on the 25th of March the
swallow comes flying from Paradise, and brings with it warmth to
the earth. The same day the Festival of the Annunciation is noted
in South Germany, by the saying, " Our Lady's Annunciation
brings back the swallows " ; while in Mecklenburg, St. George's
day, April 23rd, marks their appearance. The country people
about Bergamd, observing them at an earlier date, have the
following proverbs with regard to the date of their return ; —

a. " A sau Gregorie Papa '

Le rundane le passa I'aoqua," —

i.e., ' on the Festival of St. Gregory the Pope (March 12th), the swallow
crosses the water (i.e. arrives in Europe).' •

i. • " Per san Giusep le rimdaue le passa 1 tfeo :

Passa o no passa, el f rM el ne lassa," —

i.e., ' on St. Joseph's Day (March 19th), the swallows fly over the roofs ;
whether they fly or not, the cold weather has gone.'

c, " Per san Beaedfet

Ve la rundana sota 1 t^c," —

i.e., ' on St. Benedict's Day (March 21st), the swallow flies over the roofs.'

d. The French say of their appearance,

" A I'Annoriciation (March 25th),
Les hirondelles viennent annonoeir la belle saison " ;
and of their departure,

"A la Nativity (Sept. 8th),
Elles nous, quittent avec \'4t6," —

which corresponds with the North German proverb : —
" Urn Mariii Geburt
Ziehn die Schwalbe fort."

In Saxony they are supposed to arrive on Palm Sunday and to leave on Sept.
14th (popularly called Crucis, the Festival o^ the Exaltation of the Cross) ;
while the Russians believe that they hide or bury themselves in wells on Simeon's
day (Sept. 1st) ; and in Haute Bretagne the peasants say that they always arrive
before Maundy Thul-sday, in order to be present at the commemoration of the
Saviour's crucifixion.

PBOVINOIAL NAMES OF BKITISH BIRDS. 51

3. Hibernation of swallows.

The fact of the migration of swallows was by ncr means considered as such
oy the old naturalists. Olaus Magnus, in the nineteenth book of his " History
of the Northern Nations," gives the following information on the subject :—

Although the writers of many natural things have recorded that the swallows
change their stations, going, when winter cometh, into hotter countries ; yet,
m the northern waters, fishermen oftentimes by chance draw up in their nets
an abundance of swallows^ hanging together like a conglomerated mass." He
adds also, that " in the beginning of autumn they assemble together among the
reeds ; where, allowing themselves to sink into the water, they join bill to bill,
vring to wing, and foot to foot." Swan, in his "Speculum Mundi," p. 400,
noticing this account, is rather incredulous, but qualifies his doubts by asking,
" Why may it not be as well as the Barnacle or Bean Geese ? of which it is
certain that they first grow on trees."

4. Folk lore of the swallow.

(1) The swallow stone.

To the swallow is attributed, by popular belief, the power of finding a stone
endued with wondrous properties. " In Normandy,"' says Mr. Baring Gould
("Myths of the Middle Ages," Ser. II., p. 133), quoting from Mile Bosquet's
" Norpiandie Pittoresque," "the swallow knows how to find upon the sea-beach
a pebble which has the marvellous power of restoring sight to the blind. The
peasants teU of a certain way of obtaining possession of this stone. You must
ptit out the eyes of a swallow's young, whereupon the mother-bird wiU imme-
diately go in quest of the stone. When she has found it and applied it, she
wiU endeavour to make away with the talisman, that none may discover it.
But if one has taken the precaution to spread a piece of scarlet cloth below
the nest, the swallow, mistaking it for fife, will drop the stone upon it." Tlys
tradition is analogous to that concerning the woodpecker and the springwort
(see mfra., p. 101), and is quite sufficient to enable us to class the swallow as
a fire-bringing bird. Longfellow alludes to it in " Evangeline " : —

" Oft in the barns they climbed to the populous nests in the rafters,
-_ Seeking with eager eyes that wondrous stone which the swallow

Brings from the shore of the sea to restore the sight of its fledglings ;

Lucky was he who found that stone in the nest of the swallow ! "

Sere the stone lies in the nest ; and this agrees with the communication
made to the Zoologist for 1866, p. 523, by Dr. Lebour. who says : " I met last
summer, in Brittany, with a curious fact relating to the habits of the common
house swallow. In Brittany there exists a wide-spread beUef among the peasantry
that certain stones found in swallows' nests are sovereign cures for certain
diseases of the eye. These stones are held in high estimation, and the happy
possessor usually lets them on hire at a sou or so a day. Now, I had the good
fortune to see some of these swallow stones, and to examine them. I found
them to be the hard polished calcareous opercula of some species of Turbo, and
although their worn state precludes the idea of identifying the species, yet
I am confident that they belong to no European Tv/rho. The largest I have
seen was three-eighths of an inch long and a quarter of an inch broad ; one
side is flat, or nearly so, and the other is convex, more or less so in different
specimens. Their peculiar shape enables one to push them under the eyelid
across the eyeball, and thiis they remove any eyelash or other foreign substance
which may have got in one's eye ; further than this, they have no curing power ;
the peasants, however,- believe they are omnipotent. The presence of these
opercula in swallows' nests is very curious, and leads one to suppose that
they must have been brought there from some distant shore in the swallow's
stomach." This was the idea of Pliny, Albertus Magnus, Avicen, and

52 PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

others, who taught that the stone in question, which they called Ohelidonms,
was to be discovered in the belly of the eldest of a brood of young birds, if
searched for before or at the August full moon. Then, being tied to the arm
or hung round the neck, it was a remedy against epilepsy. In Tyrol it is
believed that, this stone is deposited in his nest by the swallow after a regular
use of the same abode for seven consecutive years.

The following description of the swallow-stone is given by Beurard, in his
" German-French Dictionary of Mining Terms " (Paris, 1819) — ■" Schwalben-
stein = Pierre d'hii-ondelle : sortes de petites pierres siliceuses, de forme sph^riqlie
ou arrondie, qui ont aussi port^ les noms de pierres de sassenage, pierres optal-
miques, de fausses ch^lidoniennes, et enfin de chfloniies, et que Ton a pr^tendu,
se trouver dans le ventre des jeunes hirondelles, mais qui ne sont autre chose
que des grains de quartz pyromaque ou de qnaxtz agate roulfe par les eau'x, oe
qui leur a fait prendre la forme ovoide."

(2) a. Celandine, or swallow's herb.

Besides possessing a stone which could cure blindness, swallows, according
to old authors, taught men the healing properties of the celandine, by employing*
it for the same purpose. This herb was so nam«d either because (Plin., " Hist.
An." XXV. 8) it flowered at the coming of the swallows and withered at their
departure, or because (Plin. viii. 27) when the eyes of their young ones were
out, they cured them again with it.

So Chester (" Love's Martyr," p. 122) writes of

"The artificial! nest-composing swallow
* * * *

His yong ones being hurt within the eies
He helps them, with the herb ealcedonies."

h. Another property of this^herb is mentioned by Leoprechting ("Aus dem
Leeha'ain"). — If you can get some swallow's eggs, unseen by the parents, boil
them hard and replace them in the nest, you majf then obtain possession , of a
certain herb which the old birds fetch to make them soft again, and which, if
carried in the pocket, ensures always the possession of money.

(3) The heart of the swallow, worn round the neck, was supposed to render
the wearer attractive : it was good also for strengthening the memory': while
the present to a lady of a gold ring which had lain in a swaUow's nest nine days
engendered love for the donor in her breast. (" Albuih des Chasseurs," 1823.)

5. The superstitions and legeni^s respecting the swallow present
the bird in a twofold aspect — either as honoured, cherished and
reverenced, or as dreaded and abused. I propose to consider each
in turn.

(1) Generally speaking, from its familiar and domestic habits, and when
regarded as the herald of spring, the swallow is looked upon as a propitious
bird, and respected accordingly. In France it has the names of Poule de Dim,
and "Messenger of Life " ; in Germany, of Marienschvialbe and Herrgottsvogd ; in
Sardinia, Pillcmi de Swnta Zucia ; while the Arabians call it the " Bird of Jesus"
(Labrosse, , " Gazophylacium Linguae Persarum," 1684, p. 356), and the "Bird of
Paradise," because to it alone are open the gates of Eden, closed against every
other living thing. Our own country-people couple the swallow and the martin
. with the robin and the wren as sacred birds in the adages —

" The robin and the wren
Are God Almighty's ccck and hen ;
The martin and the swallow
Are the two next birds that follow.''

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 53

There are variations of the last-line : e.g. —

" Are God Almighty's shirt and collar," [Essex,]

or,
" Are God Almighty's bow and arrow," [Northants, ]

or,
"Are God Almighty's mate and marrow " (i.e. companions,)

[A Cheshire version,

or,
" Are God Almighty's birds to hollow ' ' —

" where," says Mr. Halliwell, " the word hollow is most probably a corruption
of the verb hallow, to keep holy."

(2) Nothing can bring better luck to a house and its inmates than for swallows
to build their nests round it ; or, on the other hand, be a worse omen than, for
the nests to be forsaken. Terrible penalties are paid by the rash hand that
destroys or robs a swallow's nest. Rain will continuously descend on his
crops for a month, or his cows will cease to give milk, or else give it mixed
with blood (North Riding) ; or death, or some great calamity, will fall upon
his family (Scotland, Sussex, East Riding). Mr. Henderson .(" Folk-Lore of
the Northern Counties," p. 122) gives the following instance of the last belief.

" A farmer's wife near Hull told a friend of mine, Mrs. L , how some young

men, sons of a banker in that tovrn, had pulled down all the swallows' nests
about a little farm which he possessed. ' The bank broke soon after,' she went
on, ' and, poor things, the family have had nought but trouble since ! ' " All
these and many more superstitions are current in Germany, where, particularly
in Tyrol, the swaJlow is especially held to be sacred : e.g., the despoiler's house
will be destroyed by lightning, or his village will decline in prosperity. In
Franche Comt^ it is held that if a swallow's nest be removed one of the
animals in the stable will fall lame before the year is out (Monnier, " Trad.
Pop.," p. 156) ; and throughout France the same immunity from annoyance
is granted them, except at Aries, wKere they are shot right and left.

(3) The first sight of a swallow (like the first note of a cuckoo) i^ a matter
of no small importance among the German peasants. In Westphalia, when a
man sees the first swallow, he should look if there be a hair under his foot.
If he find one, his future wife's hair will be of the same colour. (Kelly,
p. 102.) In Bohemia, if one swallow be seen by a maiden, she will be married
during the year ; if a pair first meet her eye, she will remain single. The
sight of a sitting swallow is accounted fortunate, of one on the wing the
reverse. (Wuttke, " Volksaberglaube," p. 190.) In the Mark it is necessary to
wash the face immediately after the first swallow has been seen, otherwise one
must expect to be sunburnt and freckled during the year (Busoh).

(4) There are several sacred legends in which the swallow figures, some of
which are worth noticing.

a. When our Saviour was crucified, a little bird came and perched upon the
cross, peered sorrowfully down upon the Sufferer, and twittered, " Hugsvala,
svala, svala, Honom !" i.e.. " Console, console, console Him," and hence it
obtained the name of Sla. (Norway.) This resembles the Russian story of
the swallows and sparrows (see p. 61).

h. It was the swallow who removed the crown of thorns from our Saviour's
head while hanging on the cross; In her efforts the sharp spines pierced her
breast ; hence its ruddy colour. (La Rochelle.)

The same is related of the robin and crossbill. (See under ejaoh.)

V. One day, while pursued by the Jews, our Lord took refuge in a pleasant
wood where He seated Himself on the grass, tired by His long and hasty

64 PKOVINOIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIEDS.

flight. After a little time some magpies, who had collected in the trees near
Him, flew down and pricked His n^ed feet and uncovered head with thorns
■5?hich they had gathered ; but the swallows, moved with tender pity, busied
themselves in extracting them from His flesh. Then the Saviour pronounced
the following sentence : " You magpies shall henceforth make your nests on
the tops of the tallest trees, a despised and hated race ; while ye swallows shall
build in safety, sheltered from danger and beloved by those under whose eaves
ye dwell." (" Bulletin de la Soc. Hist, de S. Jean d'Ang^ly," 1865.) ,

d. In the Ober Innthal the swallows are believed to have helped the Lord
God in building the sky.

e. "Why the swallow is the friend of man is thus explained in a,n old legend.
Adam, when descending from Paradise to the earth, first put his foot on the
island of Serendib, and Eve descended at Jedda. Adam, being alone, began
to lament his fate in so piteous a manner that the cherubim, touched by hiS;
lamentation, complained to the Almighty. God sent the swallow, which came
to Adam, and begged Viirn to give her some hair of his whiskers. Some
historians say that Adam had neither beard nor whiskers in Paradise, and that
it,bega,n to grow only after his having been driven from the presence of the_
Lord. However this may be, the swallow having got some of iiis whiskers, "
flew to Jedda, where she took also some of Eve's hair, and made in that way
the first step of uniting them together again. In recompense for what the
swaUow carried on as internuncio between Adam and Eve, she is allowed to
nestle in the dwellings of men." (Jones' "Credulities Past and Present," 436.)

(5) But, as was before remarked, the swallow is also viewed in another light.
In some cases, and amongst some nations, particularly those belonging to the
Celtic race, the reverence and respect in which the bird is held proceed from
fear ; and its influence upon mankind, instead of being propitious, is sinister
and diabolical. Hence, in Ireland, according to Dr. Whately, it is called
" devil's bird," and the country-people hold that there is a certain hair on
every one's head which, if a swallow can pick ofi', the man is doomed to eternal
perdition. So, too, in some parts of Scotland it is said to have a drop of the
dell's blood in its veins ; and in Caithness is called " witch hag." There, as
we see from Smiles' " Life of Robert Dick," p. 97, a belief is current that if
a swallow flies under the arm of a person it immediatelybecomes paralysed.
In Franche Comt6 (according to De Nore, " Dictionnaire des Superstitions —
Hirondelle "), a somewhat similar idea prevails ; viz., that i£ a swallow flies
under a cow's belly the milk will become blood, and the cow is said to be
a/rondaUe, i.e. swallow-struck. The orily way to cure this, disease is to tie the
animal up in its stall, milk it, and sprinkle the milk at a spot whore cross-roads
meet. In England the presence of the swallow is sometimes considered as
ominous of death : in Yorkshire, for instance, where its descent down a
chimney is a sure sign of the speedy decease of one of the inmates of the house.
The sanle result is believed in Norfolk to follow from an unusually large
gathering of these birds round a dweUing, with the addition that with them
the departing spirit will take flight. A correspondent of Notes and Queries,
when one day visiting the sick child of a poor woman — a girl about twelve —
had the following remark made to her by the mother : " A swallow lit upon
her shoulder, ma'am, a short time since, as she was walking home from church, .
and that is a sure sign of death." (Dyer's " Folk Lore," 69.) With this we
may compare the following couplet from Parker's " The Nightingale " (1632),
referring to swallows —

" And if in any's hand she chance to die, '

'Tis counted ominous, I know not why."

M. Gubematig, ii. 241, gives several instances of the bad esteem in which
this bird was held by the ancients, saying that " though beautiful and pro-
pitious in spring, it becomes ugly and aloiost diabolical in the other seasons."

PKOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 55

In Germany and the northern nations this may have arisen from the
swallow's ohesnut red head and throat, which would connect it with the
lightning god.Thor. For the same reason the redbreast and the woodpecker,
both lightning birds, are looked upon with mixed feelings of reverence and
terror (see pp. ).

6. Swallow rhymes.

As the swallow skims the y/aAer after flies, the Scotch children throw stones
at him, and say —

" Swallow, swallow, sail the water !
Ye'll get brose and ye'U get butter."

" HirondWe, belle hirondMe,
En hiver oil t'eu vas-tu ?

En Athene
Chez Etieune
Pourquoi m'l'demandes-tu ? "

Tonain, " Dictionnaire du Patois Saintongeais."

The mountaineers of the Vosges have a very high idea of the swallow's love
for order and cleanliness. They say that when the birds return to their old
nests, if they find dirt and poverty in the household, yovi may hear them
twittering to each other —

" Qu6 i'n'allb , quo j'n'all5, tot a pien,
Qub j'ferv^n6, il n'y 6 pu rien, il n'y 6 pu rien,
Chj^ie bien, chfie bien ! "

i.e., ' Quand nous nous en aliens, tout est plein ; quand nous revenons il n'y a
plus rien ! il n'y a plus rien ! perde bien, perde bien ! — i.e. vous fites dea des-
tructeurs ' (Oberlin, "Patois du Bande la Roche.")

This is similar to the Mecklenburg rhyme —

" To Joar, ar ik furk genk,
Woren aUe Skoppen un Skiuren vull ;
Un ar ik weer kam.
Is Alles verquickelt, verquackelt, verheert und verkehrt."

i.e., ' Last year, when I went away, all the sheds and barns were full ; but
now, when I come back, I find everything befouled, squandered, emptied and
wasted.'

7. Proverbial saying.

" One swallow does not make a summer (or spring)," has its equivalent in
many languages.

8. "When swallows gather," they say at Sherringham, in Norfolk, "before
they leave, and sit in long rows on the church leads, they are settling who is to
die before they come again."

56 PEOVINOIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

Genus Chelidon.

MARTIN' (Chelidon wrUca).

A niojcname, like Robin ; hence the bird is named after S. Martin, as a proper
name : see under.

1. Names given to the bird from its frequenting the dwellings
of man.

House martin.

Eaves or Easin swallow (Craven).

Window swallow.

2. Also called

Swallow (Eoxburgh ; West Riding).
Martin swallow (East Lothian).
Martlet. (See under Swift.)

A corruption of Martnet, short for Martinet, which is French term for the
swift (Cypsdns rirpus).

3. For the association of the martin and the swallow in nursery
rhyme, see under Swallow.

4 The following, from the Harz, is a duologue between a church
swallow and a house swallow (a swift and a martin) ; the subject
being a farmer's wife : —

Tlie swift. — "Dat Weibsbild, dat zarte Bild,
Wiel's in de Karke geit ! "

i.e., ' Look at that picture of a woman, that dehcate picture, how she walks •

into church ! '

The martin. — " Wenn du siehst, wenn ik seh,

Wenn se Middags in ehr Kbken steht,
Slit sent as de Diiwel in de Hblle."

i.e., ' If you saw her, as I see her, in her kitchen about noontide (you would
say) she looked like the devil in heU.'

Genus Cotile.

SAND MARTIN {Cotile riparia).

1. So called from its habit of excavating with its bill a nest in
sandy banks ; whence also

Bank martin.

Bank swallow (Craven).

Pit martin.

Sand, or River, swallow,

Sandy swallow (Stirling ; Roxburgh).

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIRDS. 57

Sand baekie (Forfar).

Bitter {i.e. Biter) bank (Roxburgh).

Bitterie (Roxburgh).

2. Various names;

Shore bird.

Witchuck (Orkney Isles).
i.e., Witch Chick (see under " Swallow," p. 55).

Section Oscines Curvirostees.
Family Certhiid^.
Genus Certhia.
TREE CREEPER {Gerthia familiar is).

1. The following names are given to the bird from its habit of
climbing : —

Creeper.
Tree climber.

Tree, or Bark-speiler, i.e. climber (East Lothian ; Stirling).
Creep tree (Norfolk).
Tree clipper (Oxen).
Cf. Grimpereau (France) ; Trepador (Spain) ; Bamipiat (Pied-
mont) ; Grii/per (Germany).

2. From its climbing Hke the Picidse, it is called

Woodpecker (Ireland ; Perthshire). Cf. Petit pec (Sain-

tonge).
Brown woodpecker.

3. Various names.

Tomtit (Ireland).
Cuddy (Northants).

4. The Tree creeper is one of the birds sacred to S. Martin in
France, and called after him

Martinet (Lisieux).

L'oiseau de Saint Martin (Toulon).

58 PEOVINCJAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS,

Section Oscines Conieostees.

Family Fhingillid^.

Sub-family Fbingillin^.

Genus Caeduelis.

GOLDFINCH {Carduelis elegans).

1. So called from its bright variegated plumage; whence also
Goldie, or Gold spink.

Goud spink, or Gooldspink (Scotland).
Gool french (Devon).

Eedcap ; King Harry or King Harry Redcap (Salop ;
Suffolk; North Eiding).

So it is called in Brittany, Pdbor — i.e. Pcvpe d'or — because of the likeness its .
•crimson head hears to the papal tiara, and also from the golden-yeUow colour
of part of its plumage ; and the name given in the same province to the
heat looking young fellow in a village is, Ar papor euz arm hoi basl/red-^.e. the
goldfinch of the young men.

Seven-coloured linnet ; Speckled Dick (Salop).
Foolscoat. (Sir Thos. Browne, " Birds of Norfolk.")
Lady with the twelve flounces (Salop).
Sheriff's man (Salop).
From its bright-coloured feathers bearing a resemblance to a showy Uvery.

Proud tailor (Derby; Notts; Leicester; Somerset; Northants;
Warwick).
Called in Gaelic, Las air-choille — i.e., Flame of the wood.

2. From its fondness for thistle seeds it is called

Thistle finch (Stirling).

Cf. Ga/rdonneret (France) ; Gardello (Italy) ; Disteljmk
{Germany).

3. Various names.
Linnet (Salop).

Jack nicker (Northants ; Salop ; Cheshire).
Draw bird or Draw water.

From its being taught, when in its cage, to draw up water in a bucket. (Sir
Thos. Browne, " Birds of Norfolk.") So it has in Holland the title of Fitter or
i'Mttcr=French Puisev/r — i.e. drawer of water.

Sweet William.
From its melodious cry.

4. In the north, young goldfinches are called Grey Kates or
Pates. By London fanciers the name of Brancher is given to a
goldfinch in its first year.

PKOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 59

Genus Cheysomitris.
SISKIN {Ghrysomitris spinus).
From Swedish sisha (i.e. chirper).

1 . Also called Aberdavine. It was a long time before I could
discover the derivation- of this word, but I feel sure that it is the
same as alder-finch, equal to the German Erlenzeisig ; and the
French prov. (dial. Vienne) Pou {i.q. pidlv^) de vergne, and Cfie
d'aune. With regard to this Mr. Thompson (i. 266) writes:
■"They (i.e. siskins) were feeding on the seed of the elder. . . .
They fed wholly on the alder, and looked beautiful, hanging like
little parrots, picking at the drooping seeds of that tree."

2. Folk lore.

The siskin, like t}ie swallow and the raven, is believed in Bohemia and Tyrol
-to have the power of procuring a stone which renders the possessor invisible.
{Qrohmann, p. 72 ; Zingerle, p. 91.)

Genus LiGURiNUS.

GREENFINCH (lAgurinus cMoris).

1. So called from the yellowish-green of its plumage; whence
also

G-reen linnet (Norfolk ; Lancashire ; Scotland generally).

Green bird. ,

.Green olf (Norfolk). For Olf, see under Bullfinch.

Green grosbeak.

Greeney (Cumberland ; Forfar).

Of. Verdiire (France) ; Griinling (Germany).

2. Various names.
Peas weep.

Because one of its notes, sounding thus, closely resembles that of the
peewit (which see).

60 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

Genus Coccotheaustbs.

HAWFINCH {Coccothraustes vulgaris).

(Haw = a hedge, hence berry of hawth-orn. A.-S. haga, an
enclosure.)

1. From its fondness for cherry stones, it is called

Cherry finch. '

Berry breaker (Hants).
Of. Beque cerise (France), also Casse noix. For the same reason
it is known in Norway by the title of " Cherry bird," and in
Sweden by that of Sten knock or Stone-breaker.

2. Various names.
Grosbeak.

Cf. Qros bee (France).

Coble (Sir Thos. Browne's " Birds of Norfolk ").
Kate. •

Genus Passee.

HOUSE SPARROW {Passer domesticus).

A.-S. spearwa, from Icel. sporr — lit. a flutterer; whence also

1. Spadger.

Spurdie (Orkney Isles).

Sprig, Sprug, Sprong, Spug (Roxburgh ; Perth ; East

Lothian).
Spyng (Kirkcudbright).

2. Various names.
Craff (Cumberland).

Row-dow or Roo-doo (Northants).

Thatch or Thack sparrow (Northants ; Salop).

Easing sparrow (Salop).

From the eaves, or easing, of houses being their favourite resort for nesting
purposes.

Philip or Phip.

From the cry of the bird. Cf . Filip (Britanny). So Catullus :

" Sed circumsiliens, modo hub, -modo illuc,
Ad solum dominum usque pipilabat," —

PKOVINCIA.L NAMES OF BRITISH BIEDS. , 61

and Shatespeare, King John, Act I., scene i. :

Gurnet/ loq. — " Good leave, good Philip.
Bastard. — Philip ! Sparrow ! "

3. Proverbial saying :

"There are no. sparrows at Lindholme."

• (Hatfield Chase.)

" Tom o' Lindholme being left at home to protect the corn from sparrows,
to save trouble got them all into the bam, put a harrow into the window to
keep them in, and starved them to death." [N. and Q., Ser. I., vol. viii..
p. 532.)

Lindholme is about three miles from Hatfield, in Yorkshire.

4. Superstitions relative to sparrows.

a. A sparrow, if caught, must not be kept alive, otherwise the parents )ot the
catcher will die. (Kent.)

b. Sparrows gifted with prophetic power.

" Look, my dear ," said S. S's. wife to him one morning as he lay in bed — " look
at that kite flying round the room ! " He saw nothing, but heard a noise like
a large bird flapping its wings. A few minutes afterwards a sparrow came,
dashed its bill against the window, and flew away again. " Oh ! " said Mrs. S.,
" something is the matter with poor Edward " (her Jbrother) . She had hardly
said the word when a man on horseback rode up arid said, when S. opened the
' door to him, "Don't frighten poor Mary, but master has just expired ! " The
messenger had only ridden from Somers Town to Compton Street, Soho. . I
had this story from S. himself ^ who was possessed with a notion that the sparrow
that tapped at his vrindow was the soul of his brother-in-law." (Kelly,
" Curiosities of Indo-European Folk-Lore," pp. 104, 105.)

The following instance is yeoorded by Aubrey, date 1643 : — "As Major John
Morgan, of WeUs, was marching with the King's army into the west; he fell
sick of a malignant fever at Salisbury, and was brought dangerously ill to my
father's, at Broad Chalk, where he was lodged secretly in a garret. There came
a Sparrow to the chamber-window, which pecked the lead of ,a certain panel
only, and only one side of the lead of the lozenge, and made only one small
hole in it. He continued this pecking and biting the lead during the whol?
time of his sickness (which was not less than a month). When the major
went away, the sparrow desisted, and came thither no more. Two of the
servants that attended the major declared this for a certainty."

This prophetic character of the pparrow is alluded to by Chester (" Love's
Martyr," p. 122) as follows : —

" 'The unsatiate sparrow doth prognosticate.
And is held good for divination,
For flying here and there, from gate to gate.
Foretells true things by animadvertion :
A flight of sparrows flying in the day
Did prophesie the fall and sacke of T'roy."

5. Mr. EalstoD ("Eussian Folk Tales," p. 331), gives two
curious legends connected with the sparrow. The first runs as
follows : —

"When the Jews were seeking for Christ in the garden, all the birds, except
the sparrow, tried to draw them away from His hiding-place. Only the sparrow
attracted them thither by its shrill chirruping. Then the Lord cursed the
sparro^v, and forbade that men should eat its flesh." -.«.,,,

The second tells us that before the Crucifixion the swallows earned off the

62 PEOVipCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

nails provided for the use of the executioners, but the sparrows brought them
back. And' while our Lord was hanging on the cross the sparrows were mali-
ciously exclaiming " Jif ! Jif ! " i.e. " He is living ! He is living ! '■' in order to
urge on the tormentors to fresh cruelties. But the .swallows cried, with oppo-
site intent, '■ Umer ! Umer ! " i.e. " He is dead ! He is dead ! " Therefore it
is that to kill a swallow is a sin, and that its nest brings good luck tc a house.
But the sparrow is an unwelcome guest, whose entry into a cottage is a presage
of woe. As a punishment for its sins its legs have been fastened together by
invisible bonds, and therefore it always hops, not being able to run.

7. Bohemian charms to keep sparrows from the crops.

a. Stick upright in a field a splinter cut from a piece of timber out of which
a coffin has been made.

h. Lay a bone taken from a grave on the threshold or window-siU of your
bam.

c. If, while sowing, you put three grains of -corn under your tongue, wait
till you have reached the end of the furrow in silence, and then spit them out
" in the Name, etc.," no sparrow will come into your field, though your neigh-
bour's may be f uU of them.

Genus Feingilla.

CHAFFmCH {FringiUa ccelehs).

So cSiUed from a supposed fondness for chaff'.

1. From its reiterated monotonous call-note it receives the
names

Pink.

Spink (North ; Midland ; Eastern counties).

Pink twink (Devon ; Somerset ; Salop).

Pinkety (Northants).

Sheely (do.)

ShUfa, or Sheelfa (North ; Scotland).

Chink chaffey (Hants).

Chink chink (Salop).

Cf . Quinquin (Normandy) ; Pint (Brittany) ; Finty (Hungary).

2. From the variegated hues of its plumage it is called

Pea, Pied or Pine, finch (Midlands ; Salop).
Shell apple.

Shell or Sheld = variegated or spotted. Cf. "Sheldrake,"
which see. Apple = AIpe (see Bulfinch).

3. From the white bands on its wings.
Whitewing.

White finch.

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 6^

4. Various names.

Copper finch (Devon ; Cornwall).
From the ohesuut colour of its breast.
Chaffie (Aberdeen).

Daffinch (North Devon). 1 i.q. Chaffinch.
Apple bird (Cornwall).
Horse finch.
Buck finch. >

Bullspink (Craven ; Teesdale).
Bully (North Eiding)..
Scobby (North).
Koberd, or Eobinet.

A familiar name.

Boldie (Aberdeen).

Snabby (Kirkcudbright).

Maze finch (Cornwall).

Charbob (Derbyshire).

Beech finch.
From its partiality to beech nuts.

Brisk finch.

Briskie, Brichtie (Kirkcudbright).
From its smart, lirely activity : hence " Gai comme un pinson. ' '

Wheatsel bird (Norfolk).

Applied to the male chaffinch, says Mr. Gumey, perhaps from their congre-
gating together in autumn about the season of wheat sowing.

Wet bird (Rutland;- Stirling).

Because its cry, " weet, weet," is considered to foretell rain. Hence in
Scotland, when the children hear it, they say

" Weet-weet ! (the cry)
Dreep-dreep ! " (the consequence.)

(Chambers).

The name CCelebs, or Bachelor, was bestowed upon the species by Liunseus,
because he noticed that the females migrated from Sweden southward in
the autumn, while the males did not : hence the title, in reference to their
"celibate" state. ,

5. Song of the ijhaffinch.

This bird is highly esteemed in Germany for its musical powers, and extra-
vagant prices are given for first-class performers. As an instance may be cited
the fact that a workman at Ruhla, in Thuringia, in the excess of his admira-
tion for a good bird, gave a cow in exchange for it— hence the prpverb current
in the Harz, — " This chaffinch is worth a cow." Bechsteiu gives the titles of .
soma of their most admired songs : e.g., The Double Trill of the Harz, The
Eeiterzong or Eider's Song, The Wine Song, The Bridegroom's 8ong, The

64 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

Double Trill, The Gutjahr, or Good Year Song, The 'Quakia Song, The Pithia.
The Wine Song runs thus — " Fritz, Fritz, Fritz, willst du mit mir zum Weine
gehen? " {i.e. 'Fritz, Fritz, Fritz, wilt thou to vrine -wiih me ? ') The Bride-
groom's Song is thought to represent the following — "Fink, fink, fink, fink,
toist du ? w3lst du nicht den Braiitigam zieren ? " (i.e. ' Finch, finch, finch
finch, dost thou hear ? wilt thou not play the bridegroom ? ') The Double
TrUl is considered the most perfect, and may be thus expressed — " Finkferlink-
finkfink, zischesia, harvelalalalaziscutschia."

In France different interpretations, according to M. Rolland, are given to the
song of the chaf&nch. In the neighbourhood of Orleans it is supposed to say
" Je suis le fils d'un riche prieur " (hence the name of Siche prieu/r has
been applied to it). In Normandy it cries " Qui est ce qui veut venir h, Saint
Symphorien ? " In the Saintonge the chaffinch asks for " In pUein, pUein
pUein, p'tit pl&t de rolitie " (i.e. a piece of bread soaked in wine). In Lorraine
it says —

" Fi, fi ! les laboureux,
JVirrone ben sans eux ! "

About Paris the song represents — " Oui, Oui, Qui, Oui, je suis un bon
<!itoyen."

BRAMBIING {FrmgiUa montifringUla).
Also called

Bramble finch, or Mountain finch.

Furze chirper, or Furze chucker.
. Cock o' the north (East and South Scotland.
From the rich colours and beautiful markings of its plumage.

Kate (Kent).
Cf. the Walloon name of the bird, Kaikeii.

Genus Linota.

LINNET {Linota ccmnabina). ~

1. The linnet (so called from its partiality for the seed of flax,
linum), varies in its plumage considerably at diflferent seasons of
the year ; hence the names —

a. Grey linnet (England generally ; South Scotland):
Grey : or Grey bird (Westmoreland ; North of Ireland).

From its duU colouring in winter.

b. Red linnet (Hants ; West Riding).
Greater redpole.

Blood linnet (Norfolk).
Rose linnet.
Red-breasted linnet.
From the i-ich crimson breast and chesnut brown back it bears in suriimer.

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 65

c. Lemon bird (West Riding).

A name given to those male linnets in the breeding season which have a
1 yellowiBh hue on the breast.

d. Brown linnet.

Applied, to males and females in the winter season.

2. Prom its frequenting downs and open moors abounding in
furze or whin, it is called —

Gorse bird (Salop).
Gorse hatcher (Salop)
Gorse thatcher (do.)
Whin linnet (Stirling).
Gorse linnet (Northants).
Whin grey (North of Ireland).
Furze linnet (Oxon).

3. Various names.

Linnet finch.

Lint-white (Orkney Isles). A.-S. Lmet-wige — i.e. Flax-hopper.

Lintie (Scotland).

Heather lintie (Scotland).

Lennert (North country).

• 4. The linnet and the eagle.

" According to the Ojibway legend, the birds met together one day to try
which could fly the highest. Some flew up very swiftly, but soon got tired, and
were passed by others of stronger wings. But the eagle wpnt up above them
all, and was ready to claim the victory, when the grey linnet, a very small
bird, flew from the eagle's back, where it had perched unperceived, and being
fresh and un€!xhausted, succeeded in going the highest. When the birds came
down and met in council to award the prize, it was given to the eagle, because
that bird had not only gone up nearer to the sun than any of the larger birds,
but it had carried the Inmet on its back. For this reason the eagle's feathers
became the most honourable marks of diatiuction a warrior could bear."
(" Algic Researches," ii. 216.) The above is almost identical with the well-
known tale in which the wren plays the part here allotted to the linnet. (See
under "Wren," ii. 1, p. 36.)

LESSER REDPOLL {lAnota rufescms).

1. So called from its rose-red crown, from which (and from its
breast of the same colour) are given the names — ■

Rose lintie (Lowlands). '
Red linnet (West Riding).
Red-headed finch.

66 PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

2. Various names.

Chevy linnet (West Riding).
OHppet linnet.
Freneli linnet.

TWITE {Linota JlcMiirostris,). ' ■

1 . So named from its peculiar call note ; whence also
Twite finch (North Riding).

2. From hill sides and mountain pastures being its favourite
haunt, it is called Mountain linnet, also

Rook Untie.

Rookie (Forfar).

Hill lintie (Orkney Isles).

3. Various names.

Heather lintie (Borders ; Shetland and Orkney Isles).

Bgoauee the nest is made on the ground, either among short tussooky grass
or in the heather.

Lintie (Orkney Isles).
Grey linnet.

Sub-family LoxiiN^.

Genus PybehuLa.

BULLFINCH {Pyrrh^la Europcea).

4. So called from its large head and thick compact shape.

Of. Bouvreuil, Bouvier, Bosuf (France). So Bullhead, BuUdog.

2. From Alp, the old name for the bird used in Ray's time,
the following seem to be derived i —

Hoop, or Hope (Somerset ; Cornwall ; Devon ; Dorset).

Olf (East Suffolk).

Nope (Stafford ; Salop).

Mwope (Dorset).

Mawp (Lancashire).

Pope (Dorset).

Hope and. Mwope are identical, as also Pope. In the latter case the P and '
M are transferred, as in Patty, Matty.

PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIRDS. 67

3. The cheeks, neck, breast and sides of the male bird are red
hence —

Red hoop (Dorset).

Blood olp (Surrey ; Norfolk).

4. The same parts in the/emafe are reddish-brown ; hence *

Tawny (Somerset).

Tony hoop, or Tonnihood (Somerset).

5. The crown of the head is a lustrous black, from which are
derived the names —

Black cap (Lincoln).

Billy black cap ; Black nob (Salop).

Monk.

Of . J're^re (France) ; Monachino (l^sly) ; Dompfaff (Qrermii-aj) ;
FraUecUlo (Spain).

Coal hood (Devon; Somerset);

6. Various names.

Plum bird, or Plum budder (Salop).
Bud bird. Bud finch, or Bud picker (Devon).
From its partiality to the buds of fruit trees.
Cf. Ehourgeonneur (Savoy) ; Oasse houtohs (Anjou).
, Thick bill (Lancashire).
Cf. Perroguet de France (France).

Genus LoxiA.
CROSSBILL {Loooia eurvirostra).

1. Called by Willoughby, "Shell apple": thus explained by
€arew, in his " Burvey of CornwaU," 1602 (p. 73): —

' " Not long since, there came a flock of birds into Cornwall, about harvest
season, in bigness not much exceeding a sparrow, which made a foul spoil of
the apples : their bills were thwarted crosswise at the end, and with these
they would cut an apple in two at one snap, eating only the kernels."

But see, for probable derivation, under Chaffinch, 2.

2. Folk lore.

The old legend of the crossbill and the crucified Saviour, so beautifully
versified by Longfellow, is well known ; but there is a quaint Latin poem,
<luoted by Professor Newton, in Notes and Queries, Ser. V., vol. vii., p. 505

68 PBOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIEDS.^

which may be worth transcribing. It contains many curious particulars
respecting the bird. The poem is to be found in Schwenckfeld's " Theriotrov
pheum SHesise " (Lignicii, 1603), pp. 253, 254, and is prefaced thus :—

"De hac (sc. Curvirostra sive Loxia) egregium extat elegiacum carmen
D.D. Johannis Majoris poetse celeberrimi : —

" Obvia Naturae rerum vestigia mentis

Certe suse impressit conditor ipse Deus.
Inque feris quse mente carent, et moribus harum,
Quae f ugienda homini, quEeque sequenda monet.
5. Est avibus pietas inter se, est gi'atia qusedam,
Et suus in Dominos est amor atque fides.
Id docet exemplo volucris pia et advena quaedam,.

ChristiferEe gestans semula rostra Crucis :
Tempore natalis Christi parit : inde triumphi
10. Tempore per sylvas agmina vesca volant.

Cum reliquse indulgent ovis, hsec iisibus apta est,

Nee nulla in cantu gratia inesse solet.
Pert etiam imperia, atque agnoscit herilia jussa, ^

Et cavet infantes ne mala Ltjna premat.
15. Orta sagax noctu inorepitat vulcania damna,
Matribus et foetus non sinit esse graves.
Fama est, has rostris tentasse revellere clavos,'

In cruce pendentem qui tenuere Deum.
Si qua Crucis Christi stat imago lignea tectis,
20. Insidunt, clavos et mere ore parant.

Fama pium affectum notat, et qua novimus illas-

Free reliquis avibus laude vigere, fidem.
Vix uno servata die duo nominis hujus *
Forte mihi ex caveS, plumea turba volat.
25. Itque reditque viam in sylvas, rursumque frequentat
Tecta, Buum plenus dum f aoit annus iter.
Ergo me cantus monet, et pietatis imago

In cruce, quo Christi sim memor ipse Crucis.
JEtquo animo perferre Crucem, et dare prfemia laudum,
30. Par est, quos salvos Crux tua, Christe, facit. " ,

Here, it will be observed, we are told of the crossbill that (1. 9) it hatches
its eggs at Christmas, and (11. 9, 10) that the young birds fly in full plumage
at Easter : that (13) it obeys its master's orders, and (14) awakens children
sleeping in the baleful moonshine. It also warns the household (15) against
outbreaks of fire, and watches over the mistress (16) in childbirth. Then
follows the old Cross legend.

In Thuringia these birds, , called Winter-, Christ-, and Cross-birds, are very
generally kept in captivity, because the peasants believe that they can take on
themselves any diseases to which men are subject. A bird whose upper
mandible bends to the right can transfer colds and rheumatism from man
to itself ; if the mandible bends to the left, it will render the .same service to
women. The water left by the bird is dnmk as a specific against epilepsy ; its
corpse is believed to be preserved by nature from decay. (For the superstitions ,'~,
in Lower Austria connected with the crossbill, see Blaas, in " Germania,"
1875, p. 352.)

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 69

Svh-family EmbekizinjE.

Genus Emberiza.

CORN BUNTING {Emhmza miliaria).

Called Corn bird in Ireland, because it is constantly found in
cornfields during spring and summer.

1. In colour and habits this bird resembles the skylark ; hence
Bunting or Buntling lark (Scotland).

Bunt lark (Norfolk).
Horse lark (Cornwall).
Lark bunting (Somerset).
Bush lark (Ireland).

Cf . Alouette de pre, Verdiere de pre (Jura).

2. Also called

Common bunting.
Ebb.,

Sparrow (Hebrides).
HombUl bunting (Ireland).
Briar bunting (North of Ireland).
From it^ nesting in ditch banks run wild with brambles.

Thistle cock (Orkney Isles).
Skitter brottie (do.). •

Perhaps from its resorting to com stacks in winter. <Si-ite=to void excre
meat ; JroiAies=the cross ropes of the roof of a stack.

YELLOW AMMER {Emberiza ciirinella).

1. So called from the bright yellow of its head, neck, breast,
and lower parts {Ammer answering to A.-S. Amore^a, small bird ;
akin to Germ. Ammer, a hunting), whence also the names

Yellow amber or Yellow omber (Salop).

Yellow bunting.

Yellow yowley or YoUing (Scotland ; North of Ireland).

Yowley, from A.-S. (7eofc=yellow, whence also the Norfolt
name, Guler.

Yellow yeldrin (Scotland).
Yellow yoldrin (West Riding).
Yeorling (Berwick).
Yellow yite (Scotland).
Yeldrock (Northumberland).
Gold spink (North).
Gold finch (Salop).

70 PEOVINCIAi NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

Goldie (Notts ;, Craven ; North' Riding).
Gladdie (Devon ; Cornwall). Erom A.-8. gladde=hrigh.t.
Blakeling (Noi-thumberland). From A.-S. bldec.
Bessie blakeling (Westmoreland).

The Gaelic name is Buidheag-Bhearaidh, i.e. yellow broom
bird.

2. From its peculiarly plaintive note it is called

Little-bread-and-no-cheese (Devon).
Bread-and-cheese (Salop).
Cheeser (Northants).
Pretty, pretty creature (Gloucestershire).
, De'il, de'il, de'il tak' you (Scotland).

Hence the following rhyme, which Scotch boys give in imita-
tion of its note : —

" "Whetil te, whetil te, whee !

, Harry my nest, and the de'il tak' ye !"

The Germans say that its note runs, " 'Sis, 'sis, 'sis, 'sis ! viel zu fruh," i.e.
" "Tis, 'tis, 'tis, 'tis much too early."

3. From the curious irregular -lines on the 6gg, resembling
writing,

Writing master (Salop).
Cf. Bcrivain (Brittany) ; Sclwyver (Brabant).

Scribbling or writing lark (Northants).
So Clare writes —

" Five eggs, pen scribbled o'er with ink tteir shells.
Resembling writing-scrolls, which Fancy reads
As Nature's poesy and pastoral spells —
They are the yellow hammer's, and she dwells
Most poet like, 'mid brooks and flowery weeds."

These eggs are said in Scotland to be " gouted with the taint of the de'il's
blood." Fide inf. 5.

4. Various names.

Skite (Aberdeen). ' See " skitter brottie," under Corn

Bunting, 2.
Blacksmith (Salop). See under Stonechat, 2.
Goldfinch (Salop).
Bessie (Lancashire).

5. Folk lore.

Chambers says that this bird (called Devil's bird in the north of Scotland)
is the subject of an unaccountable superstition on tlie part of the peasantry.

PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIRDS. ' 71

who believe that it ,driiika a drop, some say three drops, of the devil's blood
each May morning — some say each Monday morning. Its pest, therefore,
receives less mercy than that of almost any other bird. Its somewhat extra-
ordinary appearance, all of one colom-, and that an unusual one in birds, is the
only imaginable cause of the antipathy with which it is regarded. The boys
of our own northern region, who call it the yellow yorling or yellow yite,
address it in the following rhyme of reproach : —

" Half a paddock, half a toad,
Half a yellow yorling :
Drinks a drap o' the de'il's,bluid
• Every May morning."

Scotch children also hang by the neck all the yellow ammera they can get
hold of. They often take the bare " gorbals," or unfledged young, of this bird,
and suspend liiem by a thread tied round the neck to one end of a crossbeam,
which has a small stone hung from the other. They then suddenly strike
down the stone end and drive the poor bird into the air. This operation they
call " spangie-hewit." " Hewit," says Jamieson, sub " Yeldring," seems derived
from A.-S. heafod, the head. " Spang " is to fly off with elasticity ; (?) to
make the head spring or fly off.

We find from Grohmann (" Aberglauben aus Bohmen," p. 73) that the same
ill-feeling is shown to the yellow ammer in the neighbourhood of Prague. He
^ys, " It is believed that the golden ammer procures three drops of the devil's
blood on the 1st of May, for which reason it is persecuted by the peasantry."

In Thuringia the phrase " Sichelchen, siohelchen, schmed " (' Sickle, sickle,
cut ! ') is applied to it, because it sings just before harvest.

CIEL BUNTING {Emberiza cirlus).

-Cirl, i.e. Cheeper, is akin to the German, Zirlcmvmer. Cf. the
Dutch kirren, to coo, and the Trench term Sirron (Alpes
Maritimes), also Italian zirlare, to chirp.

Called in Devonshire French Yellow ammer, where the word
" French " seems used in the sense of " foreign," hence " uncom-
mon" or "rare."

REED BUNTING (Emberiza schoenidus).

1. So called from its frequenting reeds and sedge; whence
also

Heed sparrow (Notts).
Cf. Moineau desjoncs (France).

Water sparrow (Salop).
Cf. Moineau d'eau (France).

2. From its collar of white feathers it has received the names
Ring bird.

Ring bunting.

Ring fcJwl (Aberdeen).

3. Called from its black head
Black-headed bunting.
Elack bonnet.

72 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

Coaly hood (Scotland generally).
Black coaly-hood (South Scotland).
Colin blackhead (Ilenfrew).

Black cap (Craven ; Hants — in which county the female is
called Spear sparrow).

4. Various names.

Chink (Scotland).
From the sound of its note. •

Toad snatcher.

GemiS PliECTROPHANES.

SNOW BUNTING {Plectrophanes nivalis).

1. This bird is known by many names, owing to the manner in
which its plumage is coloured, according to the time ofye ar or
the«age of the individual.

In winter it has the names of

Snow bird (North England ; South Scotland).

Equivalent to the Gaelic San-ant sneachd, and Brua/nt des
weig'es (France) ; Sneeuvink (Holland).

Snaw fowl (Shetland Isles).
Snow flake (Scotland ; Orkney Isles).
Snow ilight.

White lark, or White-winged lark (Norfolk).
The young males in summer, and the females, are called
Tawny buntings.
Mountain buntings.
Pied finches.

2. Various names.
Oatfowl (Orkney Isles).

From its feeding on the oats.

North cock (Aberdeen).
Brambling.
A name given to the young birds.

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 73

Section Oscines Cultirostbes.

Family StuhnidjE.

Genus Sturnus.

STARLING {Sturnus vulgaris).

1. Starling is the diminutive of " stare," A.-S. Staer : hence

Stare (Ireland ; West Cornwall ; Dorset i North Eiding).

Stamel (Northants).

Starn (Shetland Isles).

Staynil. ,

Gyp starniU (North Riding).

Black starling (East Lothian).

2. From its habit of perching on the backs of sheep to feed on
the'ticks, it is called

Shepster, or Chepster (North ; Cheshire).
Shepstarling, or Shepstare (Craven).
Sheeprack (Northants).

3. Various names.
Solitary thrush.

Young starlings used to be so called, from their greyish-brown plumage ;
hence is given to them in East Lothian tbe name of Grey starlings.

Gyp (North Riding).
Jacob.

4. " The Hebridean shooters," says Macgillivray, " always twist
•off a starling's neck, the moment they get hold of it, alleging
that in the blood of that part there is something of a poisonous
nature."

5. Proverbial saying.

" ' Thou art a bitter bird,' said the raven to the starling."
Equivalent to " the pot calling the kettle black."

&. . Weather lore.

When starlings assemble in flocks, it is a sign of impending cold weather ;
they do so to collect food (Haute Bretagne).

74 PKOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

Family CorvidjE.
Genus Pyeehpcohax.
CHOUGH {Pyrrhocorax graculus).
A.-S. Ceo, from the cawing noise it makes.

1 . Fi'om its haunts being on the cliffs of the Cornish coast it
has received the names of

Cornish daw, or Cornish Jack.
Cornwall kae.
Market Jew crow.
From its frequenting the neiglibourhood of Marazion.

2. Also called

Red legged crow
Killigrew.

Cf. Cahouette (Guernsey).
Chauk, or Chauk-daw.
From its cry . Cf . Ohocard (France).

Daw.
Hermit crow.

From its solitary habits.

Cliff daw.

Sea crow (Ireland).

3. The lines in King Lear,

" The crows and choughs that wing the midway air,
Show scarce so gross as beetles,"

seem to refer to the jackdaw, as the chough has not been observed in Kent,
though it may once have frequented Dover cliffs. Besides, when Shakespeare
speaks of " russet-pated choughs" (Midsummer Night's Dream, iii. 2), he
evidently alludes to the same bird, as the head of the chough is quite black.

4. King Ai'thur in the forfii of a chough.

In " Don Quixote," Book II., chap, v., reference is made to a belief that " King
Ai-thur, whom, in our Castilian tongue, we always call King Artus, did not
die, but was turned into a raven, and that, in process of time, he would be
restored to life and recover his kingdom ; for which reason it cannot be proved
that, from that time to this, any Englishman has killed a raven." There is.
no doubt that the bird referred to here is not the raven, but the chough,
mentioned by Mr. Hawker in his " Echoes from Old Cornwall, "^ — •

" And mark yon bird of sable wing,
Talons and beak all red with' blood,
The spirit of the long-lost king
Passed in that shape from Camlan's flood."

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BKITISH BIRDS. 7&

5. It was an old belief in Cornwall, according to Camden, that
the chough was an incendiary, " and thievish besides ; for often-
times it secretly conveieth fire sticks, setting their houses a fire,
and as closely filcheth and hideth little pieces of money " ("Britain,"'
p. 189).

Genus Gaerulus.
JAY (Garrulus glandarius).

1. This bird appears to derive its name from the French

■ geai ; which, again, is another form of the old French gai
= speckled or pied. In Italian, Pelle gaietta means a skin of
many colours.

Gae (Scotland).

Jay pie (Cornwall ; Devon; Midlands),

Jay piet (Perth).

Blue jay (Linlithgow).

Jenny jay (North Riding).

2. From its jarring note it is Called
Kae (Roxburgh),

In Gnelic Screaohdg olwille, i.e. Screamer of the wood.

3. The Latin epithet of glandarius is applied to it on account
ef its fondness for acorns, which it swallows whole.

4. Folk lore.

The common people in France think that the jay is subject' to the falling
sickness — which, however, does not prevent them from eating him \rfien they
find him on the ground. In ,Haute .Bretagne it is believed that the jays.
which build in oak trees cannot be tamed, as they are peculiarly liable to that
malady. ,

In the jay's nest, so they say in Tyrol, are found magical stones, the possessor
of which can make himself invisible. The existence of these stones 'is the
reason why the nests of this bird are so seldom found. ("Zeitsch. f. D. M.''
i. 236.)

Genus Pica.

MAGPIE {Pica rustica) — i.e. " Magot (Margot) pie."

1. (a) From the l&tin. pica are derived the names

Pie.

Piet (Westmoreland).

Pianate, or Pyenate (West Riding).

76 PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

(6) Familiar names.

Mag, or Madge.

Marget, or Margaret.

Miggy (North country).

Nanpie (Craven).

Ninut (Notts).

Pye mag (Hundred of Lonsdale).

Pie nanny do.

Cf. Margot (France); Jacqv,es (Burgundy); Jaquette (Savoy);
Bertha (North Italy).

Hagister (Kent).
From O. H. G. Agalstra. So Agasse (France) ; Gazza (Italy)
^= chatterer.

Chatterpie (Norfolk).
Cornish pheasant (Cornwall).
From their abundance in that county.

2. Weather lore.

The craftiness and wisdom of the magpie is supposed by the countrypeople
in the south of France to foresee storm and tempest. Hence, if these birds
build their nests on the summits of trees a calm season may be expected,
according to the saying —

" Quond los ogassos nison plo haout suls aoubres, ocono marquo que I'estiou
aero pas ourogeous " (i.e. " Quand les pies nichent trfes-ha,ut sur les arbres,
cela annonce que I'^te ne sera pas orageux").
But if the nests are placed lower down, so as not to be so much exposed to the
•storm, winds arid tempests are sure to follow : hence the proverb,

" Gran bfen te mancara pas
Se' I'agaaso a nisat bas."

The Normans believe that the magpie begins to build and also lays her eggs
at certain fixed seasons, e.g. —

" A la mi-qufereme
Les pies aont au quSne,
A Paques iiieurie
L'oeu est sous la pie,
Aux Rogations
Les pitiaux te'en vont."

3. Folk lore of the magpie.

The magpie is almost universally considered to be a bird of evil omen. In
■Germany and the North witches often transform themselves into its shape, or
use it as their steed. In Sweden it is believed that when sorcerers, on Wal- -
jurgis night, ride to the BlacuUa, they turn into magpies ; so when in August
the birds moult and lose their neck feathers, the countrypeople account for it
by saying, " De hava varet till BlakuUa, ooh hjelpt hin onde fora in sitt ho, da
fjcedrama af oket blivit niitte af deras halsar," — i.e., 'the magpies have gone to —
the BlakuUa and have helped the devil to carry his hay, so their feathers have

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 77

been rubbed off by the yoke.' The same superstition preraila in the south of
France, with the exception that the Sabbat is considered to be held on the
Feast of the Ti-ansfiguration. In, Scotland, according to Gregor ("Animal
Superstitions in the North-East-of Scotland"), the magpie was sometimes called
"the devil's bu-d," and was believed to have a drop of the devil's blood in its.
tongue. (Cf. Yellow Ammer, 6.) It could also receive the gift of speech it
its tongue were scratched and a drop of blood from the human tongue
inserted. The Bretons equally detest it, and declare that on its head grow
seven of the devil's hairs. Hence it is considered unlucky in some places to
kill one, — e.g., in Sweden and North Germany, where the twelve days between
Christmas and Epiphany is the only season during which it can be shot with
impunity. In Thuringia the mouth of March is'the time for their destruction ;
should this rule be broken, great trouble awaits the transgressor. The oounti^-
folk in Oldenburg consider the magpie to be so imbued with Satanic principles
that if a cross be cut on the tree in which the bird has built, she will forsake
her nest at once. There are several reasons given for her bad reputation in
the north of TEngland, of which two or three are subjoined.

(a) " Because she was the only bird that would not go into the ark with Noah
and his folk. She liked better to perch' on the roof and jabber over the.
drowning world. So ever after that, when a magpie flies away, turn back, or
look to meet iU luck." (From C. Eeade's " Put Yourself in his Place," p. 171.)
See below.

(J) " Because it is a hybrid between the raven and the dove, and therefore,,
unlike every other bird and beast, had not been baptised in the 'waters of the
D,eluge."-^Durham. (From Henderson's " Folk Lore of the North'of England,"
p. 126.)

(c) Because, after the crucifixion, she did not, like the other birds, go inljo
full mourning. Therefore her punishment is, that, before she can lay an egg,
she must suspend herself from a branch nine times.

(J[) For another reason, see under Swallow, II. 5 c. The following
legend accounts for the dislike the Bretons have for the magpie. " After the
battle of St. Aubin du Cormier, Anne Duchess of Brittany, the last sovereign
of that country, was betrayed to het enemies the English by the magpies, who,
when she was concealed in the carcase of a horse, pecked holes in the hide and
disclosed her place of concealment. As a punishment God expelled them for
ever from the forest of Gavre." (Desaivre, " Etudes de la Mythologie locale,"
p. 12.) When a magpie shrieks near a dwelling, say the South Germans, it is a
sure token that the harmony of the household will be disturbed during th&
day, or else that an unwelcome guest will arrive ; but if the noise it makes be
only a lively chatter it is announcing the advent of a friend.

The appearance of a magpie is,' according to popular belief, something of
mysterious import. The following verse is in general use in the North :
" One is sorrow, two is mirth,
Three a wedding, four a birth,
(Three a berrin', four a wedding — Northants).
Five heaven, six hell.
Seven the deil's ain sell."

Mr. Henderson quotes another rendering of the last couplet —
" Five a sickening, six a christening.
Seven a dance, eight a lady going to France."

In Lancashire it runs —

" Five for rich, six for poor,
Seven for a \*itch, I can tell you no Inore !" ,

And one more version —

" Five for a fiddle, six for a dance.
Seven for England, eight for France."

78 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

Mr. Denham gives some rhymes as . current in Northumberland which vary
' .slightly from the above, viz. : —

" One sorrow, two mirth,
Three a wedding, four a birth ;
Five for silver, (or rich,)
Six for gold, (or poor,)
Seven for a secret, not to be told ;
Eight for heaven, nine for hfeU, ■

And ten for the devil's ain sel'."

Grosa, in his " Popular Superstitions,'' says that " it is unlucky to see first one
magpie, then more ; but to see two denotes marriage or merriment ; three, a
successful journey ; four, an unexpected piece of good news ; five, you will
shortly be in a great company." Wordsworth alludes to this in- " The Excur-
sion" : —

"... rather would I constantly incline
To the traditionary sympathies
Of a most rustic ignorance, and take
A fearful apprehension from the owl.
Or death watch : a,nd as readily rejoice
If two auspicious magpies crossed my way,"

On the above superstition Sir Humphrey Davy, in " Salmonia," writes as
follows : — " For anglers in spring it is always unlucky to see single magpies ;
hnt two may always be regarded as a favourable omen ; and the reason is, that
in cold and stormy weather one magpie alone leaves the nest in search of food,
the other remaining sitting upon the eggs or the young ones ; but when two
go out together, it is only when the weather is nuld and warm, and favourable
for fishing." To avert the ill-luck caused by the appearance of a single magpie,
various practices are used in different localities. 'Thus, for instance, Mr. Hen-
derson tells us that in the north 6f England the desired end is gained by
ma,king,.a cross in the air, or by taking oif the hat and making a polite bow.
This latter habit prevails generally throughout England. In the High Peak
it is the custom to cross oneself, in the West Riding to cross the thumbs in
■addition, repeating at the same time the lines,

" I cross the magpie^^

The magpie crosses me :
Bad luck to the magpie.
And good luck to me. "

Others cross the feet, or look round for a crow, as the sight of that bird
neutralises the evil of the magpie's presence. In Devonshire, says Mr. Dyer,
the peasant spits over his right shoulder three times, repeating the following
vpords,

" Clean birds by sevens,
Unclean by twos :
The dove, in the heavens.
Is the one I choose."

"A North Shropshire. friend takes off his hat, spits in the direction of the
bird or birds, and says, ' Devil, devU, I defy thee.' Our Condover authority
says : ' If yoii see »■ magpie going in the oontraiy direction to the sun, take
something and throw at him, saying, " Bad luck to the bird that goes widder- ,
shins," or it will be bad luck to you.' " (" Shropshire Folk-Lore," 223.)

According to Mr. Farmer, in the "Magazine of Natural History," "the nurse
was often heard to declare that she had lost all hopes of her charge when she
had observed a piannet on the housetop." This idea is prevalent in Scotland,
•also in Switzerland. But in West Sussex the perching of a magpie on the

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 79

TOof of a house is regarded as a good sign — a proof of the house being in no
danger of falling-^and the countrypeople of that district ara firmly persuaded
"that a tree with a magpie's nest in it is safe from tempests, and mil never be ■
uprooted by the storm. The dread of the magpie, and the aversion with which
it is regarded generally throughout Europe, do not'prevail in Norway; where,
aocordSig to a writer in the "Zoologist " (vol. viii., 3085), "this bird, usually
so shy in this country, and so difficult to approach within gunshot, seems to
have entirely changed its nature. It is there the most domestic and fearless
bird. Its nest is invariably placed in a small tree or bush adjoining some
farm or cottage, and not unfrequently in the very midst of some straggling
village. If there happens to be a suitable ' tree by the roadside, and near a
house, it is a very favourable locality for a Norwegian magpie's nest. I have
often wondered to see the confidence and fearlessness displayed by this bird
in Norway. He will only just move out of your horse's way as you drive by
him on the road; and should he be perched on a.rail by the roadside, he will
only stare at you as you rattle by,' but never thinks of moving off. It is very
pleasant to see this absence of fear of man in Norwegian birds. A Norwegian
would never think of terrifying a bird for the sake of sport ; whilst, I fear,
to see such a bird as the magpie sitting quietly on a rail within a few feet
would be to an English boy a temptation for assault which he could not resist.
I must add, however, with regard to magpies, that there is a superstitious
prejudice for them current throughout Norway. They are considered harbin-
gers of good luck,* and are consequently always invited to preside over the
house ; and when they have taken up their abode in the nearest tree, are
defended from all ill : and he who should maltreat the magpie has perhaps
driven off the gemius loci, and so may-expect the most furious anger of the
' neighbouring dwelling, whose good fortune he has thus violently dispersed."
M. Gubematis (ii. 259) thinks that these contradictory characters are Irepre-
sented in the magpie (as in the swallow — see below), by its colours of white
and black : moreover, that in popular fiction the bird's great knowledge is
used now to do evil, as a malignant fairy, now to do good to men, as a benig-
nant fairy. Wolff ("Beitrage zur Deutsche Mythologie," ii. 429) gives as an
instance of the latter the following legend. "Once upon a time the pious
Richardis von Ebersberg was on her way to church, when she heard the bells
already chiming for service. In her hurry and agitation (for she had some
distance yet to go) she dropped her glove, which was immediately picked up
by a magpie, who went off with it. The Holy Mysteries were just about to
be celebrated, when in flew the bird and deposited the glove on the altar. ,
Then the priest, recognising it, and perceiving that the countess had not yet
arrived, waited for her coming to complete the service." As another iUustra-
'tion of .the opposite lights in which the magpie is regarded, may be mentioned
the belief in Tyrol that broth in which this bird has been boiled will make him
who drinks it crazy. Yet, on the other hand, the pastor of a village near
Dresden is reported to have cured several epileptic patients by the same drink !
{Busch, pp. 206, 207). In Appenzell corns are called " Aegestanaug" (i.e.
magpie's eyes) ; and a certain method of curing them is to repeat the following
words in a loud voice whenever you may happen to see a single bird : " Zigi,
zigi, Aegest,-i ha dreu Auga, ond Du gad zwa, ha, ha !" i.e. 'Ha, ha! magpie,
I've three eyes, and you've only two !'

The Icelanders declare that this bi»d is not indigenous in their country, but
was introduced by the English ; and this, however it may be said of Iceland,
is certainly true of Ireland. 'There the earliest mention of the magpie as in-
digenous is in Keogh's " Zoologia Medioinalis Hibemioa" (Dublin, 8vo, 1739),

* Such is the case in some parts of Shropshire— e.jr., Shrewsbury, Edgmond —
where people, when they see a magpie, wish, as if it were a bird of good omen.
("Shropshire Fplk Lore," 223.)

80 PBOVmCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

where the author, as Mr. Thompson tells us (vol. i., p. 328), merely speaks of the
"magpie or p&uet, Hib. Maggidipye." Derrick, who wrote his "Image of
Ireland " in 1581, sayp : —

" No pies to pluck the thatch from house
Are breefl in Irishe grounde,
But worse than pies, the same to bums,
A thousande male bo foimde."

While Smith, in his " History of the County of Cork,'" publishepl in 1749,
remarks " that it was not known in Ireland seventy years ago." See Thompson,
loc. cit., andYarrell, ii., p. 111.

4. The magpie's, nest. A difference of opinion seems to prevail
as to the estimation in which the bird should be regarded as a
builder. The following legends are instances of this ; —

a. " Once upon a time, when the world was very young, the magpie, by some
accident or another, although she was quite as cuining as she is at present,
was the only bird' that was imable to build a nest. In this perplexity she
applied to the other members of the feathered race, who kindly undertook to
instruct her. So on a day appointed they assembled for that purpose, and the
materials having been eoUected, the blackbird said, ' Place that stick there,'
suiting the action to the word, as she commenced the work. ' Ah !' said the
magpie, 'I knew that afore.' The other birds followed with their sugges-
tions, but to every piece of advice the magpie kept saying, ' Ah ! 1 knew that
afore.' At length, when the birdal habitation was half finished, the patience
of the company was fully exhausted by the pertina,ciouB conceit of the pye, so
they aU left her, with the united exclamation, ' Well, Mistress Mag, as you seem
to know all about it, you may e'en finish the nest yourself.' Their resolution
was obdurate and final, and to this day the magpie exhibits the effects of
partial instruction by her miserably incomplete abode." (Halliwell's " Popular
Rhymes," pp. 168, 169.) '

6. " As the magpie alone knew the art of building a perfect nest, many of
the feathered tribe came to him for instruction, upon which the pie began :
' First of all, my friends, you must lay two sticks across, thus.' ' Aye,' said
the crow, ' I thought that was the way to begin.' ' You must then lay a'
feather on a bit of moss.' ' Certainly,' said the jackdaw, ' I know that must
follow.' 'Then place there tow, feathers, sticks, and moss, like this.' 'Yes,
doubtless,' cried the starling, ' every one could tell how to do that.' At last,
when the magpie had gone half way, finding every bird seemed to know as
well as he did what to do, he said, ' Gentlemen, I find you can all build nests,
so you need not my instruction.' And away he fiew. So to this day none but
the magpie can build more than half a nest." ("Birds of Prey,",by H. C.
Adams, 165, 166.) This appears tp be a variation of the Isle of Wight legend
respecting the woodpigeon (see infra).

I Bishop Mant gives an excellent description of the elaborate structure which
the inagpie erects, with its carefully guarded entrance and artistically furnished
dome — ,

" For skill
To build his dwelling few can vie
In talent with the artful pie :
On turf -reared platform intermixt,
With clay and cross-laid sticks betwixt,
'Mid hawthorn; fir, or elm tree slung,
Is piled for the expected young

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF ■BRITISH BIRDS. 81

A soft and neatly woven home :
Above of tangled thorns a dome
Forms a sharp fence thg nest about,
To keep all rash intruders out."

5. The magpie, like the woodpecker, swallow, and one or two other birds,
is supposed to know a plant which has the property of severing iron and
splitting stone or any hard substance by its application. In Franche-Comt^
the country-people say that when the bird leaves her nest she bars the entrance
firmly with thorny twigs. On her return she may be seen to bear a sprig of
this plant, called '• L'herbe h, la reprise " in her bUl, with which she touches
the prickly barrier, and so gains admittance. The herb may be found in
abundance under the magpies' nests. {Ddmocratie franc-comtoise, October 15,
1878.) Others say that if you wish to gain possession of the plant, you
must cover the nest closely with steel wire netting. Then the bird will apply
the sprig to the wire, which will give way, whereupon she will let the plant fall
to the ground.

Genus Corvus.
JACKDAW (Corvus monedula).

1. The following names have been given to this bird, from its
note, which may be represented either by "jack" or "daw" : —

Jack (general through England and Scotland).

Daw (do.) '(do.)

Caddaw (East Anglia). See below, 4.

Cadder and Caddy (Norfolk).

Carder (Suffolk).

Cawdaw (Suffolls; ; North country).

Cf. Chotwrd (Anjou).

Kae or Ka (Scotland ; Orkney Isles). i

Ka Wattie (North Scotland).
Cf. Kau'tp (HoUand).

Shakespeare applies the name " chough " to the jackdaw in one
instance. See under Chough.

2. Jackdaws as prognosticating rain.

"At Wells," says a contributor to Nates and Queries, Ser. III., v;ol. i., p. 67,
" whenever a jackdaw has been seen standing on one of the vanes of the
cathedral tower, the citizens hare often been heard to say, ' We shall have rain
soon ' ; 'and to my own knowledge it has always followed within twenty-four
hours. The same circumstance has been noticed at Groscombe, near Wells,
and at Romsey, Hants." So, too, at Norwich there is an old rhyme —
" When three daws are seen on S. Peter's vane together,
Then we're sure to have bad. weather." , ^

3. Folk lore respecting the jackdaw.

The flight of a jackdaw down a chimney is considered in the north of
England to portend death to one of the inmates of the house ; and in
Gloucestershire a solitary jackdaw is belieted to be a sign of ill luck.

82 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

It has been observed at Raglan Castle th6,t jackdaws, whilst buUding their
nests, never pick up a stick they have once let fall, but always fetch a new
one {Notes and Queries, Ser. III., vol. xi., p. 416).

*rhe old English- poets did not hold the jackdaw in much esteem. Thus in
Sen/ry VI., Part I., Act II., sc. iv., "Warwick says —

" But in these nice sharp quillets of the law,
Good faith,, I am no wiser than a daw," —

and old Thomas Churchyarde seemed to have the same opinion, : — ■
" No, no, here lies indeed
The bird within the straw,
For each maa pleadeth need ;
And he is held a daw,
• That gives to such as want,

And thinks himself in luck ;

This makes the world to skant.

And turneth all to wreck."

In the "Interlude of the Four Elements" (1510) we read —
" But he that for a commyn welth bysyly
Studieth and labqryth, and lyveth by Goddes law,
Except he wax riohe, men count him but a daw."

(Rep. Percy Society, 1848, vol, xxii.)

In Bohemia it is believed that if jackdaws quarrel among themselves there
win be war. Also that no jackdaws dare build at Sazava, being banished from
that place by S. Procopius. '

4. Proverbial sayings.

" Though he says nothing, he pays it with thinking, like the Welshman's
jackdaw."

"She can cackle like a cadowe."

CARRION CROW (Gorvus corone).

1. So called from the bird's habit of feeding on the flesh of
dead animals ; whence also

Oar crow.

Garner or Carener crow (Korfolk).
Of. Gfrolle oharniire (Anjou).

Flesh crow.

Gor crow (Oxon. ; Yorkshire).

Ger crow (Craven). From A.-S. gror=filth, carrion.

Ket crow (North country). "Ket"= carrion.

Midden craw". " Midden "=a heap of dung or filth.

2. From the Latin corvus are derived

Corbie crow (ITorth country),
dorbie (East Lothian).
Craw (Aberdeen).

3. Various names.
Black-nebb'd craw (Roxburgh)."

PKOYINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH ■ BIRDS. 83

Black neb (Westmoreland). '

Prom its black bill, as differing from that of the rook, which is covered at
th? base with a white membrane.

Land daw (Northants).
Crake (North country)
From its hoarse cry.

Hoddy or liuddy craw (South Scotland).

Dob or doupe (Westmoreland ; North Edding).

Bran.

4. Rhymes on the carrion crow, imitating its cry.

Chambers, in his " Popular Rhymes," gives two of these, the first from
Ctalloway :

" A hoggie dead ! a hoggie dead ! 'a hoggie dead !
where ? where ? where ?
Down i'e park ! down i'e park ! down i'e park !
Is't fat ? is't fat? is't fat ?
Come try ! come try !' come try !"

The other is from Tweeddale :

" Sekito says there is a hog dead ! • ,

Where ? where ?
Up the bum ! up the bum !
Is't fat ? is't fat ?
'T's a 'crebsh ! 't's a 'creesh !"

Another from Pulverbatch (Shropshire) :

" All glor, aU glor ( = fat) !
' Weer is it ? weer is it ? ' — ' Down i' the moor, down i' the moor.'
' ShaU I come along I shall I come along ? ' — ' Bar burins, bar burins. ' "

("Shropshire Polk-Lore," 224.)

The following is'an old Suffolt song for a bad singer : —

" There was an old crow
Sat upon a clod ;
There's an end of my song,
That's odd."

5. Proverbs.

" As the crow flies :" the shortest way between two places. This saying owes
its origin to the rook, which always flies in a direct line from its feeding ground
home.

" A gone corbie "= a dead crow. Meaning that it is " all up " with the person
referred to.

'' Crows are never the whiter for washing themselves.''

" No carrion will kill a crow."

" The crow thinks her own bird fairest.''

" Crows bewail the dead sheep and then eat them." ,

" If the master say the crow is white the servant must not say 'tis black."

" It's ill killing a crow with an empty sling."

" Like crow, like egg," — i.q. "Ex malo corvo malum ovum."
" Measure is a merry inean, as this doth show :
Not too high for the pye nor too low for the crow."

" Shoot at a pigeon and kill a crow.''
*' The bund man sometimes hits a crow."

84 PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

So Heywood in hia " Dialogue '' —

" Ye cast and conjecture this muche like in show,
As the blind man casts his ataffe, or shootes the crow."

" 'Tis all along with your eyes ; the crows might have helped it when you
were young."

" When the crow flees her tail follows." '

"You look as if you were crow-trodden.''

" You look as though you would make the crow a pudding," Equivalent to-
saying 'You look like a dying man.' See below, |8oXX' h Kopnras.

" A corbie will not pick out another's een." Spoken of those of the same
profession, who will do all they can to support each other.

The crow- is considered an emblem of blackness, hence "as black as a crow."
" Lawn as white as driven snow,
Cyprus black as e'er was crow."

Winter's Tale, Act IV., sc. iii.
" I have a crow to pluck with you ''■ — i.e., I am vexed with you and must call
you to account. I cannot find a satisfactory origin for this saying. It seems
to have a connection with the following apologue in John Tzetza, quoted by
Gubematis, " Zoological Mythology," ii., 246. " The crow was about to be
elected king of the birds, having arrayed itself in the feathers .that had fallen
from the other birds, when the owl comes up (in Babrios, instead of the- owl it
is the aifcallow that does the same), recognises one of its own feathers and
plu'cks it out, setting thus an example to the other birds, who in a short time
despoil the crow entirely."

6. Superstitions connected witli the crow.

In folk lore the crow always appears as a bird of the worst and most sinister
character, representing either death, or night, or winter. Hence in Hungary
it is called " the bird of death," while in Sicily, in Germany, and in the old
Latin writers, its cawing, especially if heard near a house in which a sick man
lay, portended evil. The sight of a crow, especially if it appeared on the left
hand of the beholder, was fraught with ill results — e.g. • ,

" Saape sinistra cava prsedixit ab ilice comix,''
and in the Earl of Northampton's " Defeusative against the Poyson of supposed
Prophesies" (1683), we read, "The flight pf many crpwes upon the left side of
the campe made the Bomans very much airayde of some badde lucke."

In India the crow " personified," says Gubematis, "the shadow of a dead
man : to give food to the crows is for the Hindpos the same as to give food
for the souls of the dead :* hence part of their meals was always, and is still,
according to all travellers, left for the crows." With this idea is doubtless con-
nected the Greek proverb, /3aXX' ^s xopaKas, go to the crows, meaning to die.

In German Switzerland it is believed that a crow perching on the roof of a
house in which lies a corpse is a sign that the soul of the dead is irrevocably
damned. And in Sussex its cry, thrice repeated, is considered a sure token of
death. Regarding it, therefore, as a bird of iU luck, the children in Yorkshire ,
and Lancashire cry at ifs appearance —

" Crow, crow, get out of my sight,
Or else I'll eat thy liver and lights."

And those in the neighbourhood of Lorient —

" Corbeau, corbeau, sauve toi,
Voil^ le petit-fils du roi
Qui te coupera le p'tit doigt !
Vinh, vinaigre !"

These birds are popularly supposed to lave an instinctive knowledge of the

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 85

presence of firearms, and hence to " smell powder." So we find in Cartwright'a
play of The Ordinary (1651): — ,

Si/r Thomas. " What, gone ? upon my life they did mistrust.
Meanwdl. They are so beaten that they smeU an officer
As crows do powder."

The Bohemian peasants declare that from springtime up to S. Laurence's,
or, according to some, S. Bartholomew's day, the crows dare not roost in the
■forest or on trees, because they were the birds who pecked out the eyes of Sv
Lawrence, or, as some say, of S. Carlo Borromeo. The children are also told,
on the birth of a baby, ths,t it was brought to the house by the crows, who let
it fall down the chimney. (Grohmann.)

There was an old belief that the crow and the screech owl eat each other's
«ggs:—

" Le chat-huant est un oyseau
Plus laid mille fois qu'il n'est beau
Et pour desrober, de huict veille
Humant les oeufs de comeille.
Quaud il s'en est remply le ventre
La oomeUle alors ne sommeille
Et au nid du chat-huant entre
Si bien qu'el' lui rend la pareille."

(Aneau.)

S. Cuthbert is sometimes represented in art with ^a crow, because, so the
story goes, these birds carried away part of the thatch of his hut to build their
nests. When he rebuked them, they not only made an apology, but brought
him some hog's lard to make amends. .

7. The crow stone.

" On the first of April ( !), boil the eggs taken out of a crowd's nest, until they
are hard, and being cold let them be placed in the nest as they were before.
When the crow knows this she flies a long way"to find the stone, and returns
with it to her nest, and the eggs being' touched with it, they become fresh
and prolific. The stone must be immediately snatched out of the nest. Its
■virtue is to increase" riches, to bestow honours, and foretell future events."
("Mirror of Stones," by LiOnardus CarmlluB.).

HOODED CROW (Gorvus cornix). *

1. So called from its black head and throat, contrasted ■with
the grey plumage of back and belly, ■wrhence

Hoodie, or Hoddie (Perth; Moray).
Of. MamieKe (France).

2. Names given from the colour of the back and under parts.
Dun crow (Craven).

Grey-backed crow (Hants).
Grey crow (Scotland generally).
Cf. Gorp gris (South of France).

3. Local names applied from its favourite haunts.
Royston crow (general).

Royston Dick (Midlands).
Kentish crow.

86 PKOVmCIAL NAMES OF BKITISH BIEDS.

Market Jew crow (Cornwall).
A name also applied to the Chough — which see.
Scremerston crow (Roxburgli) .

From the' large numbers which frequent the seashore in the neighhourhood
of that place.

4. It is supposed that those hooded crows which visit the
English coasts in the winter have been dxiven thither from
colder countries, hence they are called

Norway, or Northern crows (Norfolk ; Craven).
Danish crows.
Harry Dutchmen.

5. Various' names.

Cawdy mawdy (North country).*

Corbie (Perth*.

Craa (Shetland Isles).
Where the carrion crow is unknown.
In Ireland it is called

Scald crow ; and
Praheen cark, or the Hen crow
Bunting crow.
Prom its partiality for chickens and eggs ; and
Carrion crow.

6. Cry of the hooded crow. '

" Goiach, Goiach, Gawrach (i.e. ' Silly '), says thej[hoodie, as he sits on a
hillock by the wayside and bows at the passengers." See Campbell's " West
Highland Tales," i. 275, who relates several stories about this bird, all bearing
on its cunning and preternatural- wisdom.

•7. In allusion to its voracity there is an old saying,

" The gule, the Gordon, and the hoodie craw
Are the three warst things that Moray ever saw. '
Gule is a noxious weed ; and the raids of the Gordon clan were very de-
structive. Another version of the rhyme substitutes " water craw " {i.e. water
ouzel), which was believed to be destructive to salmon spawn." (" Zoologist,"
1092.)

ROOK {Corvus friigilegus)

(A.-S. Hroc, i.e. Croaker: akin to Icel. Hrokr; Gael. Rocaa; Fr.

Freux.)
1. Dialectic names from the bird's hoarse cry.
Cra (Westmoreland).
Craw (North Riding ; Lancashire).

Grow is common to rook and carrion crow alike.

PKOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 87

2. The rook is .well known to be one of the craftiest and most intelligent
of birds, while its Latin appeDation of frugilegus implies its acquisitive
nature; hence a "rook" became a term for a wily cheat or sharper, and a
rookery denoted at once their place of resort and its crowded character. In
some parts of Ireland this bird is so detested (justly or unjustly) by the
farmer, that " the curse of the crows " is substituted for " the curse of
Cromwell."

3. About June and July, should there be a drought of long duration, rooks
suffer terribly, from the burnt-up .condition of the ground rendering it almost
impossible for them to reach their natui;al food of worms and grubs; hence the
proverb " As hungry as a June crow."

4. Weather lore.

When rooks seem to drop in their flight, as if pierced by a shot, it is
considered to foretell rain.

" Quand I'agraule passe has,
Debat I'aile porte lou glas ;
Quand passe haut,

Porte lou quant." (Giroude.) '

^ i.e. ' Quand le corbeau passe has,

Sous I'aile il porte la glace ;
Quand il passe haut,
II porte la chaleur. '

" When rooks fly sporting high in air,
It shows that windy storms are near.''

■ If rooks fly to the mountains in dry weather, rain is near. (Isle of Man.)

The Devonshire 'people say that if rooks stay at home, or return in the
middle of the day, it will rain ; if they go far abroad it will be fine.

When rooks return to their roosting places in groups, they are said to be
" coming home," and rain is expected. (Lancashire.)

It is believed in some parts of Yorkshire that when rooks congregate on the
dead branches of trees there will be rain before night ; if they stand on the
live branches, the day will be fine. — Notes and Queries, Ser. VI., vol. ii., p. 165.

If rooks feed in the streets of a village, it shows thsft a storm is near at
hand. (Durham.) :

The following rhyme is common in the jiorth—

" On the first of March
The craws begin to search :
' By the ftrst of April
They are sitting stiU :
By the first o' May
They're a' flown away !
Croupin' greedy back again,
Wi' October's wind and rain. "

5. Folk-lore of the rook.

It is a common opinion that rooks desert a rookery previous to the downfall
of the family to whom it belongs. So Mr. Henderson says (p. 122) that they
deserted the rookery of Chipchase, in Northumberland, before the family of i
Seed left that place. Again, the following paragraph from the Stamford
Mercury ( Notes and Queries, Ser. V., vol. ix., p. 506) testifies to the same belief
prevailing in Rutlandshire. " A singular circumstance is reported in connection
with the recent suicide of Mr. Graves, of Linwood Grange. Near the house

88 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF -BBITISH BIRDS.

a colony of rooks had established themselves, and, on the day of the funeral,
immediately on the appearance, of 'the hearse, the birds left the locahty in a
body, deserting their nests, all of which contained yoiyig; A few only have
returned." So too, in Looe, East Cornwall, it is said that rooks forsake an
estate if on the death of the proprietor, no heir can be found to succeed hini.
(See infra , under Gulls.)

At Landebia, Canton de Plancoet, Haute Bretagne, exists the belief that the
rooks never scratch up nor devour the wheat of that commune, though those
in its immediate neighbourhood suffer terribly from their devastations. The
reason for this, so the country-people say, is because the widows ■ of Landebia
never marry again. (Sebillot, ii. 168).

In Shropshire it is believed that rooks never carry sticks to their nests on
Ascension Day, but sit quietly on the trees and do not' work ; also that if you
do not wear something new on Easter Day, they will spoil your clothes.

RAVEN {Corvus cor ax).
A.-S. Hrefn : from its cry.

1. Prom its hoarse cry the raven, as well as the other Oorvidse,
derive their name of Corvus ; French, Corheau ; Spanish, Cuervo ;
Italian, Gorv, Crovo. So the English-and Scotch titles

Croupy Craw (North of England).
Corbie (North of England and Scotland).
Corbie Craw (Scotland).

2. Familiar name.
Ealph.

3. Proverbs respecting the raven.

a. The raven said to the rook, " Stand away, black coat ! ''
A ProvenQal saying similar to this runs as follows : —
, • " L'agassa digufet un jour au courpatas :

Moun Diu, couma siSs negra.

L 'autre ie respoundegufet :

E tus auBsi n'as de bon rodes."

(i.e. ' The magpie said one day to the raven, " My goodness, how black you are ! "
The raven answered, ' ' Yes, and you have some fine blots on your feathers. " ')

4. Longevity of ravens.

The raven lives to a great age- — so great that the ancients believed the time
allotted to if was twenty-seven times that of a man. Another estimate was
"Trois hommes l'd,ge d'un cerf : trois eerfs I'age d'un corbeau." It will be
remembered that Medea's charm, which was intended to restore youth to her
father, contained, amongst other ingredients, the beak and head of a raven
more than nine hundred years old —

" quibus insuper addit
Ora caputque novem comicis SEecula passse.

5. Folk-lore of the raven.

a. The raven in Scripture.

In. the Book of Genesis we find Noah sending forth a raven to discover
whether the waters had abated ; and in the Chaldean story of the Deluge,
translated by Mr. George Smith, this bird also appears. (See "Transact.

PEOVINCIAL NAMBS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 89'

'$oc. Eibl. Archseol.," vol. ii., pt. 1, p. 222.) The Koran connects the raven
with the murder of Abel : " And God sent a raven which scratched the earth,
to sh6w hiin (Cain) how he should hide the shame of his brother. For he
{Cain) not knowing where to conceal it, it stank horribly. And God sent a
raven, who killed another raven in his presence, and then dug ■-■ pit with his
beak and-claws, and buried him therein." Some writers have supposed that .
the word translated "ravens," in the account of the miraculous feeding of the
prophet Elijah by those birds, should be rendered " merchants," as understood
by S.' Jerome and the Arabic version ; but this seems hardly probable. (See
CanonEawUnson, in "Speaker's Commentary" in loc, vol. ii., p. 586.) Jewish
authors tell strange stories of this bird : that it was originally white, and was
turned black for its deceitful conduct (a myth exactly corresponding with the
metamorphosis of Coronis by Apollo) ; also that it flies crooked, and not direct
like other birds, because it was cursed by Noah.

b . The raven in Northern mythology.

Woden was called Srafna-gud, or the Ravens' God, because he was supposed
to have two ravens, Hugin and Munin (Mind and Memory), which he sent over
the world to get intelligence : when they returned they sat on his shoulder?,
and told him all they had seen and heard. Hence the raven was held in high
"honour by the Norsemen, and its form transferred to their standards, the most
famous of which bore the name ot Landeyda — i.e. "land ravager." "It was
said to have been woven and embroidered in one noontide by the daughter of
Eegner Lodbrok, son of Sigurd, that dauntless warrior who chanted his death
song while perishing in a horrible pit filled with deadly sei-peuts. If the
Danish arms were destined to defeat, the raven hung his head and drppped
his wings ; if victory was to attend them, he stood erect and soaring." The
Vikings also, following Noah's example, used the raven as a discoverer of
land. When uncertain of their course they let one loose, and steered the
vessel in his track, deeming that the land lay in the direction of his flight ; if
he returned to the ship, it was supposed to be at a distance. A relic of the
<:onnection between the raven standard and the Danes seems to exist in the
West Riding, where naughty children are told that a Hack raven will come and
ietch them.

c. The raven as prognosticating death.

The superstitions regarding the raven current in Scotland and the North
of Erlgland, which may be noticed under this head, are well summed up by
Professor Wilson, " Recreations of Christopher North : Christopher in his
Aviary — third canticle." " Certain it is that he is aware of deathbeds and
funerals. Often does he flap his wings against door and window of hut,
when the wretch within is in extremity, or, sitting on the heather roof, croaks
horror into the dying dream. As the funeral winds its way towards the
mountain cemetery he hovers aloft in the air, or, swooping down nearer to
the bier, precedes the corpse like a sable saulie (i.e. mourner). The shepherds
maintain that the raven is sometimes heard to laugh. Why not, as well as
the hyena? Then it is that he is most diabolical, for he' knows that his
laughter is prophetic of human death. True it is— and it would be injustice
-to conceal the fact, much more to deny it — that ravens of old fed Elijah ; but
-that was the punishment of some' old sin committed by two who before the
Flood bore the human shape, and who, soon after the ark rested on Mount
Ararat, flew ofi' to the desoMion of swamped forests and the disfigured solitudes
of the drowned glens. Dying ravens hide themselves from daylight in burial
places among the rocks, and are seen hobbling into their tombs, as if driven
ihither by a flock of fears, and crouching under a remorse that disturbs instinct,
even as if it were conscience. So sings and says the Celtic superstition-
muttered to us in a dream — adding that there are raven ghosts, great bldok

90 PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIRDS.

bundles of feathers, for ever in the forest, night-hunting in famine for prey,
emitting a last feeble croak at the blush of dawn, and then all at once invisible."
This belief in the prophetic power of the raven is very widely spread. .In
Denmark its appearance in a village is considered an indication that the parish
priest will soon die. In Andalusia, if it was heard croaking over a house, an
unlucky day is expected ; repeated thrice, it is a fatal presage : if perching
• high, turning and croaking, a corpse will soon come from that direction.
In many parts of Germany they are believed to hold the souls of the damned,
sometimes to be the evil one himself. Witches ride on them. The hearts of
three ravens burnt, reduced to powder, and then swallowed, make the man
who is bold enough to take the dose an unerring shot. At least, so say the
Bohemians. In Languedoc it is believed that wicked priests become ravens
after death, aild wicked nuns crows. (Babou, " Les Payens Innocents.")

Another evil property of the raven was the power it was supposed to possess
of bringing infection. So Marlowe, in the Jew of Malta, speaks of

" The sad presaging raven, that tolls
The sick luan's passport in her hollow beak ;
And in the shadow of the silent night
Doth shake contagion from her sable wing."

And in the Tempest, Act I., sc. ii, Caliban says —

" As wicked dew as e'er my mother brushed
With raven's feather from unwholesome fen,
Drop on you both !"

To see one raven was accounted lucky, three the reverse. In M. Q. Lewis's
ballad of " Bill Jones," the following are the introductory stanzas : —

" Ah ! well-a-day, the sailor said,

Some danger must impend I

Three ravens sit in yonder glade,

And evil will happen, I'm sore afraid,
■ Ere we reach our journey's end.

And what have the ravens with us to do ? '

Does their sight betoken us evil ?

To see one raven is lucky, 'tis true.

But it's certain misfortune to light upon two,

And meeting with three is the devil !"

Saturday, according to Mr. Robinson ■(" Poets' Birds,' p. 381), is the raven's
day, and woe to the armies that fall on that day under the gloom of its
ominous wing !

d. The raven and its young.

Ancient writers held the opinion that the raven was utterly wanting in
parental care, expeUing its young ones from the nest, and leaving them pre-
maturely to shift for themselves, until it saw what colour they would be,
during which time they were nourished with dew from heaven. It was to
this that the pSalmist was gonsidered to refer (Ps. oxlvii. 9) — "He giveth to
the beast his food, and to the young ravens which 'cry." So, too, in Job
xxxviii. 41, we find, " Who provideth for the raven his food ? When his-
young ones cry unto God they wander for lack of meat." However, this
unkindneas on the part of the parents was repaid, for when " they be old, and
have their bills over-grown they die of famine, not sharpning their biUs again
by beating them on- a stone, as the eagle doth. Neither will their young,
ones help them, but rather set upon thejn when they are not able to resist."
(Swan's " Speculum Mundi," p. 389.)

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 91

e. The raven stone. i

The raven, like the woodpecker, the swallow, and the hoopoe, is believed in
some parts of Germany to have the power of procuring a marvellous .stone,
possessing talismanic powers. Kuhn (" WestfaUsche Sagen," ii. 76)j quoted
by Mr. KeUy (p. 197), gives the foUovring account of the manner in which it.
may be obtained, premising that its possession confers invisibility. " When
you have discovered a raven's uest you must climb the tree and take your
chance that the parent birds are at least a hundred years old, for otherwise
you will have your trouble for nothing. You are then to kill one of the-
nestlings, which must be a male bird, and not more than six weeks old. Then
you may descend the tree, but be very careful to mark well the spot where it
stands, for by-aud-by it will become invisible, as soon as the raven comes
back and lays a raven stone in the throat of its dead nestling. When it has
done this you may go up again and secure the stone." I find in Zingerle's
" Sitten und Brauche des Tiroler Volkes," p. 87, a simpler and more matter-of-
fact recipe. " Take an egg out of a raven's nest, boil it ha/rd and replace it.
Then the old bird will bring from the sea to her nest the stone in question."

/. The raven in art. In Christian art the raven' is represented with th&
following saints.

(as) S. Benedict (March 21) — ^from the following incident in his life :— '

A wicked priest, Florentius, being filled with jealousy and envy at the superior
sanctity of Benedict, sent bim a poisoned loaf. Benedict, aware of hi&
treachery, threw .the loaf upon the ground, and commanded a tame raven,
which was domesticated in the convent, to carry it away and place it beyond
the reach of any living creature. (Jamieson, " Legends of the Monastic
Orders," p. 22.)

(5) S. Pavl the Hermit (January 15).

S. Antony, having lived in the desert seventy-five years, began to be proud
of his life of self-denial ; and a voice said to him in a vision, "There is one-
holier than thoii art, for Paul the Hermit has served God in solitude for ninety
years." So he started ofi' in search of his superior, and, after being directed
by a centaur and a satyr, arrived at Paiul's cave the third day. As they sat
together, a raven brought them a loaf of bread ; on which Paul said that for
sixty years the raven had daily brought him half a loaf,, but, because Antony
had come, the portion was doubled.

After the martyr's death, accompanied by fearful torments, at Saragossa, the:
proconsul Daciau ordered his body to be thrown to the wild beasts, but it was
defended by a raven. In after years, when the Christians of Valencia, where-
his remains had been interred, fled from the Moors, they bore them with them,
and, the vessel being driven on a promontory on the coast of Portugal, stopped
there and buried them : hence the name Cape St. Vincent. Here, too, the
ravens guarded the remains, and a portion of the cape is still called "el Monte
de las Cuervas."

(d) S. Meinrad (August 14).

S. Meinrad was a hermit, who had built himself a cell on the site of the-
present monastery of Einsiedeln, in Canton Schwytz, where his sole companions
were two tame ravens. One day he was brutally murdered by two brigands,
who hoped to find treasures in his abode.but were naturally disappointed-
The ravens, burning to avenge their master's death, followed his murderers
to a little inn at Zurich, where they flapped their wings against the windows-
smd screamed for hours. The robbers thought this a warning from above.

■92 PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BKITISH BIRDS.

and confessed theii' crime. The little inn where they were found remained
till modem times, and was known as the " Rav/en's Inn," immortalised by
Longfellow (who still seems to have found it the abode of thieves) in the
■quatraia

" Beware of the Raven at Zurich !
'Tis a bird of omen iU,
With a noisy and unclean breast,
And a very, very, long'bill."

It had two ravens, carved in black stone, built inside the wall. Now it has
lieen almost entirely rebuilt, and, as the Hotel Bilhartz, has entirely changed
its character. (For a somewhat similar story, see "Shropshire Folk-Lore," 225.)

-(e) The raven is also depicted with SS. Oswald K. M., Ida, and William
Firmatu?. . '

g. yfhy ravens are black.

" In old days the ravens were of beautiful appearance, with plumage as
white as snow, which they kept clean by constant washing in a stream. To
this stream came once upon a time the Holy Child desiring to drink, but the
ravens prevented him by splashing about and befouling the water. Where-
upon He said — ' Ungrateful birds ! Proud you may be of your beauty, but
your feathers, now so 3no*y white, shall become black and remain so till
the judgment day ! ' and so they have ever been sinqe."— rTyrol (from
lingerie, p. 86).

Section ()scines Scutelliplantaees.

Family ALAUDiDiE.

Genus Alauda.

SKYLARK (^Alauda arvensis).

A.-S. Ldwerce, whence —

1. Laverock or Lavrock.

Learock (Lancashire).

Lerruck (Orknef Isles).

Sky laverock (Roxburgh).

Rising lark (Northants).
From its habit of soaring skywards while singing.

Field lark.

Short-heeled lark (Scotland).
See below, 5 (J).

Lintwhite (Suffolk). See under Linnet, 3.

Lady hen — i.q. Our Lady's hen (Shetland). See below, 5.

2. Weather sayings.

Even in winter, should the season be mild, the lark may be heard singing,
though not BO frequently, nor for so long a period, as in spring and early

PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 9$

summer. But her joyous note cannot be regarded so surely as that of otlier
birds as foretelling the advent of warmer weather. Hence the countryfolk in
BrandenTjurgh say,

" Eine Lerche, die singt,

noch keinen Sommer bringt,

doch ruf en Kukuk und Nachtigall,

so ist es Sommer Uberall. "

(i.c. 'ftie song of one lajk does not bring summer; but when the cuckoo and
nightingale are heard, then summer has really come ').

There is a Scotch proverb,

"As long as the laverock sings before Candlemas it will greet after it."

This corresponds with the French,

" Autant I'alouette chante avant la Chandeleur,
Autant elle se tait apr&a,"

and the German,

" So lange vor Liohtmess die Lerphe singt, so lange sohweigt sie naohher."
While the Belgian saying is exactly the reverse : viz. —

" Zoo veel dagen de leeuwerik voor Vrou\yen lichtmis zingt, zoo veel dagen
zingt hy daer na."

The two following are current among the peasants in Silesia : —

a. St. Agnes (January 21) drives the larks out of the town.

6. St. Gorgonius (September 9) drives the larks away.

If larks fly high and sing continuously fine weather may be expected.

3. Larks begin to sing, in the late spring and summer, before sunrise ; hence
it is said of an early riser, that he is " up with the lark." In the Limousin
those who leave their beds betimes have the reward promised them that " qui
se 16ve comme I'alouette, chantera oomme elle."

4. Catching larks.

" In Beary VIII. (iii. 2)," says Mr. Dyer f" Folk-lore of Shakespeare," 126),
' ' the Earl of Surrey, in denouncing Wolsey, alludes to a curious' method of .
capturing larks, which -yas effected by small mirrors and red cloth. These,
scaring the birds, made them crouch, while the fowler drew his nets over
them.

" Let his grace' go forward,
And dare us vrith his cap like larks."

In this case the cap was the scarlet hat of the cardinal, which it was intended
to use as a piece of red cloth.

5. Song of the lark.

The following lines illustrate successfully the skylark's note —
" La gentille alouette avec sontirelire,
Tirelire, relire et tirelirant, tire
Vers la volite du ciel : puis son vol en oe lieu
Vire, et semble nous dire — Adieu, adieu, adieu ! "
■with which may be compared the line in the song of Autolycus ( Winter's

Tale, iv. 2), _

" The lark that tirra-lirra chante.

The difference in the song of this bird whilst on the ascent, and descent
has been often remarked. A close observer of its habits has said, with

•94 PEOVmCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIEDS.

reference to this, that "the notes in the former case are of a gushing
impatience, huixied out, aei it were, from an excessive overflow of melody,
which becomes gradually modulated until the bird attains an elevation, when,
as if satisfied with its efforts, it sinks gradually towards the earth, with a
sadder and more subdued strain." Dante has noticed this variation in his
" Divina Commedia " : —

" Like to the lark.
That, warbling in the air, expatiates long :
Then, thrilling out her last street melody,
Drops, satiate with the sweetness."

Par different is the interpretation of the song which the French peasants
give. According to them, the lark in her upward flight pours forth prayers to
God, beseeching Him to allow her to soar to the sky, and promising never to
swear or take His name in vain. No sooner, however, has she reached the
wished-for height, than in her pride she begins at once to curse and abuse her
Lord. Another version is current in Touraine, where it is believed that while
a.scending the lark implores S. Peter to admit her to Paradise :

" Pierre, laisse moi entrer.
Jamais plus nf faut'rai,
Jamais plus ne faut'raL"

But the Apostle refuses because, in her descent, she sihgs out of spite,

"J'faut'rai: j'faut'rai : j'faut'rai."

The following are Scotch rhymes given by Mr. Chambers : —

(a) " Larikie, larikie, lee !

Wha'U gang up to heaven wi' me ?

No the lout that lies in his bed.

No the doolfu' that dreeps his head."

(h) " Up in the lift go we,'

Te-hee, te-hee, te-hee, te-hee !
There's not a shoemaker on the earth
Can make a shoe to me, to me !
Why so ? why so ? why so ?
Because my heel is as long as my toe ! "

6. Folklore.

In the.'line

" Some say the lark and loathed toad change eyes "

(Romeo amd Juliet, Act iii. sc. 5),

Shakespeare alludes to an old saying, which arose from the fact of the lark
having ugly eyes, and the toad very brilliant ones. The flesh of the lark was
supposed by the old mediciuers to strengthen the voice ajid increase its sweet-
ness, while in Bohemia its eggs are still believed to have the same property.
Aristophanes tells us that it existed, not only before the earth, but before
Zeus and Kronos. Hence, " when the lark's father died, there was no earth to
to bury him in : then the lark buried its father in its own head. Goropius
explains the belief thalt the lark existed before the earth, by observing that it
sings seven times a day the praises of God in the high air, and that prayer was
the first thing which existed in the world." (Gubematis, ii. 274.)

Montanus (" Die Deiltsohen Volksfeste," p. 177) tells us that in Germany the
lark is believed to be under the protection of the Blessed Virgin, whence the
Low Dutch name Lievding — i.e. Liehling del' Qottkeit. It is also called "the
pious lark," because it never forgets to say grace before and after meals.

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 95

Never should we poiat at a lark with the finger, because if we do a whitlow is
sure to f ome. If parents desire their children to be God-fearing, the first
meat given to them after birth should be a roasted lark.

7. S. Francis of Assisi and the lark. '

A lark brought her brood of nestlings to his cell, to be fed from his hand :
he saw that the strongest 6f these nestlings tyrannised over the others, pecking
at them, and taking more than his due share of the food ; whereupon the good
saint rebuked the creature, saying, " Thou unjust and insatiable ! thou shalt
die miserably, and the greediest animals shaU refuse to eat thy flesh ! " And
so it happened, for the creature drowned itself through its impetuosity in
drinking, and when it was thrown to the cats they would not touch it. (See
Mrs. Jamieson's " Legends of the Monastic Orders," p. 263.)

WOODLABE (^Alavda wrhorea).

So called from its habit of perching on trees. Its note resembles
the syllables " lu-lu " or " tur-lu," by which name, amongst others,
it is kaown in France. In Proven5e it is believed to say, " Cubri-
cubri " — i.e. ' couvre, couvre (ton grain).'

Order PiCAKiiE.
Sub-order Cypseli.
Family CYPSELiDiE,
Genus Oypselus.
SWIFT {Oypselus apus),

1. The swift's harsh unmusical scream has given it the names ,

■Screecher (Hants).
Screamer or Squealer.
Jack squealer (Salop).
Screech martin.
Shriek owl.

2. From its impetuous flight and its dark colour, which give
it an uncanny appearance, it is called

Devil (Berks).

Deviling (East Anglia ; Lancashire ; "Westmorelaad).

Devil -bird (West Riding).

Swing devil (Iforthumberland).

Skeer devil (Devon ; Somerset).

"Skeer,"' according to Halliwell, is "to 'move along quickly and slightly
touching."

96 PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BKITISH BIRDS.

Devil's screecher' (Devon).

Devil shrieker (Craven). «

3. Various names.

Black martin (Scotland ; Hants). See below, 5.

Brown swallow (Ilenfrew).
' Black swift (Kirkcudbright).

Oran, or Crane, swallow (East Lothian).

Harley (Forfar).

Bucharet (do.)

Whip (West Riding).

Hawk swallow.
From its habit of hawking for flies.

4. Swift in heraldry.

In heraldry the swift is known under the name of Martlet, and is a mark of
cadency belonging to the fourth son of the first house, the reason of which,
according to an old writer, is, " For that being in a manner like unto that bird
that lacketh feet wherewith to settle upon land, and they lacking land whereon
to set their feet, may be thereby more reminded of that necessity wherein
they stand of earning unto themselves an estate by prowess of arms and their
own endeavours." This alludes to the inability of the bird to perch upon the
ground or on a tree, hence its name of " apus," or without feet.

5. In France the swift is called Martinet (as in Brittany it has the title of
"labouz Sant Martin"), and in Norinandy the following legend is related of it.
The man who first cultivated the hemp plant, being unable to preserve his
crop from the depredations of the birds unless he was always on the watch,
was forced to remain absent from mass. In his .difficulty he called on Saint
Martin for aid, the result being that during service they were all shut up safe
in a bam, from whence they could not get out, though a harrow was the only
bar to their eSit. There was one exception : the martinet, Saint Martin's own
bird, was not kept in confinement ; but, though free, it .did no damage to the
crops. Ever since that time, when the harvest is over, the finest "and best
stalk of hemp may always be seen left standing in the field, (" L' Artiste,"
3i4me s^rie, ii. 300.) Compare with this the note on " the sparrows at Lind-
holme," p. 61, where the birds are represented as being starved to death in a
bam, though only a harrow was put before the door.

Famiily Caprimulgid.s;.

Genus Capeimulgus.

NIGHTJAR (Gaprimulgus europmus).

1. So called from the strange whirring, jarring noise, some-
thing like that produced by a spinning-wheel, uttered by the
bird on summer evenings ; whence also

Night churr.

Eve churr.

Wheel bird (Stirling).

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 97

' Spinner '(Wexford).
-Eazor grinder (Norfolk).
Scissor grinder (Norfolk ; Suflblk).
Screech hawk (Berks ; Bucks).
Ohurr owl (Aberdeen).
Jar owl.
The name of owl is appUed from its loose plumage, large,
prominent eyes, and nocturnal habits, which have also caused it
to be called

2. Night hawk (Norfolk; Hants; Cornwall; Salop; Lanca]

shire).
Night crow (Northants ; Cornwall).
Cf. Cm-beau de nuit (Vosges).

Night swallow.
Because it catches insects on the wing.
Cf. Hirondelle de nuit (Vosges) ; Naohtschvxdbe (Bavaria).

3. From its fondness for moths and beetles it has also the
names of

Dor hawk (Cornwall; East Suffolk).
"Dor "^dor beetle {Geotrupes stercorarius).

So Wordsworth writes : —

"The burring dor hawk round and round is wheeling ;
That solitary bird
Is all ^that can be heard
In silence deeper far than deepest noon."

Moth hawk (Forfar).
Gnat hawk (Hants).

Cf. Attrappe mouques (Picardy).

4. There is a popular belief that it sucks the teats of cows and
goats; hence

Groat sucker.

Cf. Tette chevre (France) ; Geismelker (Germany).

In many places {e.g., in the south of England and in some parts of Ireland)
it is considered that animals either become blind or are infected with disease
after being sucked. The country-people in West Sussex call this complaint
"puck "or "puckeridge" — ^perhaps from Puck, a malignant spirit — and the
bird itself " puck bird."

5. Various names.

Goat chaffer (Scotland).
Goat owl (Gloucestershire).
Fern owl (Salop ; East Lothian).
Because it conceals itself in the bracken during the daytime.

98 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BKITISH BIRDS.

In Nidderdale the country-people say that these birds embody the souls of
unbaptised infants doomed to wander for evpr in the air (Macquoid, " About
Yorkshire," p. 143), and call them "gabble ratchets," i.e., corpse hounds — a
name.which is equivalent to the " Gabriel hounds "of other localities — theunseen
pack which is heard by night baying in the air. Hence the Shropshire term
for the bird, " lich fowl," i.e. corpse fowl. Grimm ("D. M." iii. 1135) says that
a spectral, winged being is called LeicMiuhn (i.e. corpse hen), Graieule, and'
Todtenmgel, because of its lazy, lingering flight. And Molbech, in his Danish
Dictionary, writes of the Old Dan. StU/ralcTce (i.e. death hound), that it is "a
bird with a large head, staring eyes, crooied beak, sharp claws, which in days
of yore was believed to appear only as a harbiiger of some great mortality,
but then to fly abroad by night and shriek aloud." (For the etymology of
Gabble ratchet see Notes emd Queries, Ser. IV., vii. 439.)

The Spaniards call the night jar engcma ^osioi'^ shepherd's i deceiver ;
papa t'e«*os= father of the wind (cf. engoul^ent, a French name for the
bird) ; and "big mouth." The first of these titles is given because, from its
supposed habit of sucking goats, the shepherds consider themselves defrauded
of their proper yield of milk ; the two others from the way it has of opening
its enormous mouth when caught, and spitting like a oat.

Sub-Order Pici.
Family Vicidm.
Svh-fomiily PiciNiE.
Genus Dendrocopus.*

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER (Dendrocopus major).

Also called

Woodwall (Hants). See G-reen Woodpecker, 1 c.
Wood pie (Staffordshire ; Hants).
Black and white woodpecker (Norfolk).
French pie (Leicestershire).

" French " is here used in the sense of " strange, uncommon.'' In those
parts of France where the nuthatch (Sitta ccBsia) is rare, the peasants give it
the name of the country from which it is supposed to come — e.g., geai iia
Limousin, geai d'Espagne, geai d'Auvergne.

LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER (Dendrocopus minor).

.Also called

Little wood pie (Hants).
Barred woodpecker.
From the black bars on the bird's back.
Wood tapper (Salop).

PKOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIKUS. 99

Tapperer, Tabberer, or Tapper (Leicestershire).
Hickwall (Gloucestershire).

From A.-S. Megan, to try. See under Green Woodpecker, 1 h.

Pump borer (Salpp).

Because the noise it makes is like that produced by boring with an auger
through hard wood.

Crank bird (Gloucestershire).

From the ery of the bird reseinbliag the creaking produced by the turning
of a windlass.

French galley bird (Sussex).

" French ''=rare, uncommon, as before Galley bird=merry
or laughing bird (from A.-S. g'aiZ= merry).

Genus Gecinus.
GREEN WOODPECEEB, {Gecinus

1. a. From its well-known habit of tapping with its bill the
bark of trees, in search of worms and larvse, come the names

Sprite (Suffolk).

Wood spite (Norfolk).

Wood spack (Norfolk; Suffolk).

Cf. SpecKi (Germany) ; Latin pious.

Green peek (Lincoln).
Wood pie (Somerset).
Wood knacker, i.e. knocker (Hants)!

h. From A.-S. Megan, to try, are derived
Hecco (obsolete).

" The crow is digging at his breast amain,
And sharp neb'd hecco stabbing at his brain."

, (Drayton, "The Owl.")

Eccle (Oxfordshire).

Icwell (ISTorthants).

Eaqual or Ecall (Salop).

Yuckel (Wilts).

Yockel (Salop).

Stock eikle (Worcestershire).

Jack ickle (Northants).

c. Whetile (Essex ; Herts) : i.e. Cutter, from A.-S. thwitan,
to cut.

100 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIEDS.

Whitwall : i.q. preceding.

Wood hack (Lincoln).

Cutbill (North).

Awl bird ; wood awl ; hood awl (Cornwall).

Woodwall (Somerset). *

i.q. Wood awl ; mentioned in the ballad of " Robin Hood andl
Guy of Gisborne " : —

" The woodweele sang and wolde not cease,
Sitting upon the spray,
So l,owde he wakened Robin Hood,
In the greenwood where he lay."

Hewhole.

Pick a tree (North).

Nicker pecker ; Nickle (Notts).

2. Its loud laughing note has caused it to be called

Laughing bird (Salop).
Yaffle (general).
Yaffler (Hereford).
Yaifingale (Wilts; Hants).
High hoe, or Hai how (Salop).

Galley bird (Sussex). See previous page, under Lesser
I Spotted Woodpecker.

Hufil (East Eiding). ,

Popinjay.

3. The constant iteration of its cry before rain (which brings-
out the insects on which it feeds) gives it the names

Rain bird ; Rain pie ; Rain fowl.

Cf. Pic de la phiie (Jura) ; Pleu-pleu (Normandy).

Dirt bird.

Storm cock (Salop).

Hence the sayings

" Lorsque le pivert crie
II annonce la pluie."

" Quand'el picozz picozza (taps)
che I'e vent, o che I'e gozza (rain). "

(Milan.)

4. Various names.

Woodsucker (New Forest).

Woodchuck (Salop).

Snapper. •

Jar-peg (North ants).

" Because it stands on an old stump and strikes with its beak on a hard
knot or peg, so that the, jar is heard a great distance." (Baker.)

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 101

5. Folk lore of the woodpecker.

(1) The woodpecker as a lightuing-bringer, and the springwort.

The woodpecker was (Pliny, •' Hist. Animal." x. 18), and is stiU (Grimm,
■"D. M." iii. 973 ; Kuhn, "Herabkunft des Feuers ") popularly believed to be
■acquainted with a plant of great renown in art magic, |Called springwort,
which has the property of •opening doors and locks by its .appKcation, however
hermetically sealed they may. be. This is procured in the following manner :
\' by plugging up the hole in a tree in which a green or black woodpecker has
its nest with yoking ones in it. As soon as the bird is aware of what has been
done, it flies off in quest of a wondrous plant, which men might look for in
vain, and returning with it in its bill, holds it before the plug, which imme-
■diately shoots out from the tree as if driven by the most violent force. But
if one conceals himself before the woodpecker's return, and scares it when it
■approaches, the bird will let the root fall ; or a red or white cloth may be
spread below the nest and the bird will drop the root upon the cloth after it
has served its, own turn. In the Mark it is believed that the woodpecker
■drops the springwort upon a red cloth for the purpose of burning it, lest
t should faH into anybody's hands, for it mistakes the cloth for a fire.
In Swabia they say the hoopoe brings the springwort, and lets it fall into
water or fire to destroy it. To obtain it, thefefore, one must have in readiness
a pan of water, or kindle a fire, or spread out a red cloth or garment, on which
the bird will let the plant drop, believing it to be a fire. Evidently the original
notion was, that the bird must return the'plant to the element from which it
.springs, that being either the water of the clouds, or the lightning fire enclosed
therein." (Kelly, 174-7.) The same power of opening closed cavities by
means of a herb is attributed to the martin and the raven ; in Switzerland to
the hoopoe, in Tyrol to the swallow. The springwort is, according to some, the
root of E\iphorbia lathyris, which the. Italians call s/erwcat'oSo, because its
power over metals is so great that a horse stepping on it has to leave the shoe
behind ; but seems with greater probability to be the St, John's wort, which
can only be found among the fern on Midsummer eve, when it vrill be seen
.shining with golden light. (Kuhn, 219 : see for further particulars, Grimm,
^'D. M.," 971-3.) In France the legend assumes a sUghtly different form:
" The woodpecker plant is a magic root which has the virtue of communicating
superhuman strength to him who nibs his limbs with it. It is to be procured
in the following manner : Watch carefully the flight of a green woodpecker,
noticing at the same time in which direction his eyes are turned ; and when
jou see him ahght near a plant and rub his beak upon it, then congratulate
yourself on having discovered the precious talisman. This inestimable treasure,
which enables the woodpecker to pierce the heart of the largest oak, is also
sometiines to be found in the nest of the bird. It is remarkable that the
plant is covered with dew, winter and summer alike. No iron or steel instru-
ment must be used in cuttiag or uprooting it. In some of our vfllages not a
few poor wretches spend all their time in searc'hing for this treasure ; and their
number should be considerable if, as people say is the case, the woodpecker
makes the valleys ring with his prolonged mocking laugh, when he sees one
of these vagrants in quest of his herb. " (Laisnel de la Salle, " Croyances et
L^endes de la Centre;" vol. i., p. 216.) Hence the name of the woodpecker in
Luxembourg, Beche FU — i.e. Btc Fer.

(2) .Ab instances of the connection between the woodpecker and the clouds
(whence come the rain and lightning), I give two legends, differing in detail,
but with the same conclusion.

a. " In those days when our Lord and S. Peter wandered upon earth, they
•came to an old wHe's house, who sat baking. Her name was Gertrude, and
she had a red mutcli on her head. They had walked a long way, and were
both hungry, and our Lord begged Tiard for a bannock to stay their hunger.

102 PBOVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIRDS.

Yes, they should have it. So she took a little tiny piece of dough and rolled
it out ; but as she rolled it, it grew until it covered the whole griddle.

" Nay, that was too big ; they couldn't have that. So she took a tinier bit
still ; but when that was roUed out it covered the whole griddle just the same,
and that bannock was too big, she said. They couldn't' have that either.

" The third time she took a still tinier bit, so tiny that you could scarce see
it ; but it was the same story over again — the bannock was too big.

" ' Well,' said Gertrude, ' I can't give you anything ; you must go without,,
for all these bannocks are too big.' Then our Lord waxed wroth, and said,
' Since you loved me so little as to grudge me a morsel of food, you shall have
this punishment. You shall become a bird, and seek your food between bark
and bole, and never get a drop to drink save when it rains.'

" He had scarce said the last word before she was turned into a great black
woodpecker, or ' Gertrude's bird,' and flew from her kneading trough right up.
the chimney. And till this very day you may see her flying about, with her
red mutch on her head, and her body all black, because of the soot in the
chimney ; and so she hacks and taps away at the trees for her food, and
whistles when rain is coming, for she is ever athitst, and then she looks for a
drop to cool her tongue." (Daaent's " Popular Tales from the Norse," p. 230.)

Compare with the above the tales of the owl (p. 123), and the cuckoo (p. 120)..

h. "At the beginning of all things, when God had finished creating the
earth, He ordered the birds to excavate with, their beaks the hollows that were
destined, when filled with water, to become seas, rivers, and pools. All obeyed
except the woodpecker, who in sullen obstinacy sat still and refused to move.
What was the result? Why, that when all was completed the good God
declared that, as she was unwilling to peck up the earth, her lot would be to
be ever pecking at wood ; and moreover that, as she had nothing to do with
malking the cavities in- which water was to be stored, she should cbink nothing
but tjie rain, and get that as she could ! Hence it is that the wretched bird
is ever oaUing to the clouds ' Plui-plui,' and that she ever keeps -an upwarcl,
climbing attitude, in order to receive in her open beak the drops which fall
from the sky." (Current in the Gironde, from " Le Paysan Riche," by Honor^
Sclafer, quoted by M. RoUand, p. 63.) See also a Prussian folk tale, given by
Grimm, ii. 674. With this may be compared aii Esthonian story, given by
Jahlmann, " Dorpater Verhandlungen," i. 42. " When God had finished creating,
the heavens and the earth, He ordered the birds and beasts to set to work
and excavate the Embach (a deep ravine near Dorpat, in Esthonia, concerning
the origin of which strange tales are told). All obeyed except the woodpecker,
who flew lazily from bough to bough piping her song. Thereupon the Lord
asked her, ' Hast thou nothing else to do but to show off thy fine clothes and
give thyself airs ? ' The bird made answer, ' The work is a dirty one. I
cannot give up my golden bright coat and silver shining hose.' '0 vain
creature ! ' cried the Lord, 'henceforth thou shalt' wear naught but hose of
coaly black, neither shalt thou quench thy thirst from brook or stream.
Raindrops falling from the leaves shall be thy drink ; and thy voice shall
only be heard when other creatures are hiding themselves through fear of
the approaching storm.' "

In some parts of France (e.g., Normandy, the Centre, Burgundy) the green
woodpeokfer is called " I'avoeat " or "le procureur du meunier," because he is
supposed, in times of drought, to plead for rain as persistently as the owner of
a water-miU.

In Carinthia it is ^;he crow (in Bohemia the kite, see p. 137), according to.
popular belief, that is condemned to drink nothing but rain-water. (" Zeit-
schrift f. D. M." iii. 29.

PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BEIT'.SH BIRDS. 103

Suh-famiZy JyngiNjE.
Genus Jynx.

WRYNECK (Jynx torquilla).

1. So called from the extraordinary pliancy of its neck ; whence
also

Writhe neck.
Of. Torcol (France) ; Capu tortu (Sicily) ; Drehhcds (Germany)

Snake bird (Sussex ; Hants; Somerset).
Cf. Cou de couleuvre (Meuse) ; Nattervogel (Gtermany).

2. From its arrival the same time as, or a little before^ the
cuckoo, it has the names of

Ouckoo's mate (Hants ; Salop ; East Anglia).
Cuckoo's footman or cuckoo's fool (Gloucestershire).
Cuckoo's messenger.

Cuckoo's marrow, i.e. companion or friend (Midlands).
Cuckoo's leader (Norfolk).

The Welsh name is Gwas-y-gog, i.e. cuckoo's knave.

Hobby bird (Old Norfolk).

"Because," says Sir Thos. Browne, "it comes either with, or a little before,
the hobbies (i.e. cuckoos) in the spring."

3. Various names.

Long tongue or Tongue bird.

From its long projectile tongue. Cf. Languo lingo (Bouches du Rhone).

Emmet hunter.

From its partiality to ants. Cf. Formigui . (Pyrenees) ; Mierenjager
(Holland).

Pea bird.

From its sharp utterance of the word "pea-pea."'

Barley bird, barley snake bird (Hants).
From its appearance while barley is being sown.

Summer bird (Northumberland).

Mackerel bird (Guernsey).
Because it arrives at the time when mackerel are in season.

Slab (North).

Nile bird (Berks ; Bucks).

Little eten bird (Hants).

Weet bird . (Do.)
From its cry.

104 PBOVINCIAL NAMES OF BWTISH BIRDS.

Dinnick (Devon). ,

From its brown plumage.

Turkey bird.
Because it erects and ruffles the feathers of its neck when disturbed.

4. In Hampshire there is a saying that "the cuckoo whit"
the wryneck) orders his coat at Beaulieu fair (April 15) and
puts it on at Downton (April 23).

Sub-order AnisodactyljE. '

Family Alcedinid^.
Genus Alcedo.

KINGFISHER {Alcedo ispida).

Cf. Re pescatore (Italy).

Dipper (Salop).

Called in Normandy, Oiseau de Saint Marti/n ; in Brittany,
Oiseau de S. Jean or S. Nicolas; in Germany, Eisvogel,
Konigsfischer.

The ancients believed, so Pliny ("Nat. Hist." Lib. X. cap. 32 and xxxii. 8)
informs us, that the Halcyon, as they called the kingfisher, constructed a nest
of the bones of fish, which fioated on the water, and that so long as the female
sat on the eggs, no storm ruffled the ocean. The period of incubation began
seven days before the winter solstice, and lasted for seven days after, which
were the halcyon days to which Shakespeare refers, Hmry VI., Pt. I.,
Act i., sc. 2 : —

" Expect St, Martin's summer, halcyon days."

Sir Thomas Browne, in his "Vulgar Errors," Book III., chap, x., says,
" That a kingfisher, hanged by the bUl, showeth us in what quarter the wind
is, by an occult and secret propriety, converting the breast to that part of the
horizon from whence the ■ blow, is a received opinion, and very strange^
introducing natural weathercocks, and extending magnetical positions as far as
■ animal natures ; a conceit supported chiefly by present practice, yet not made
out by reason or experience." This opinion is still currently received in some
parts of England and in France (e.g. on the Loire, where the bird is called
"vire vent") : and is alluded to by Shakespeare (King Lear, Act ii. sc. 2),
where Kent speaks of those who

" Eenege, afflrm, and turn their halcyon beaks
With every gale and vary of their masters : "

alsa by Marlowe, Jew of Malta ; see Dodsley's " Old Plays," ed Reed, vol. viii.,
p. 307—

" But how now stands the wind ?

Into what corner peers my halcyon's bill ?

Ha ! to the east ? Yes : see how stand the vanes

East and by south. "

PEOVINCIAI, NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 105

M. GrubematiB writes, with reference to the connection' of the kingfisher
•with winds and storms, and also with reference to its French name (also
common in Italy) of St. Martin's bird, "This bird, several kinds of woodpeckers,
the wren, the crow and the redbreast — -who throws funeral flowers on unburied
bodies — are all sacred to St. Martin, the holy gravedigger, the bringer of
winter, who, according to the Celtic and German traditions, divides his own
cloak with poor men and covers them " (vol. ii., p. 270).

In the neighbourhood of Metz the kingfisher is called the "blue bird," and
the following legend is narrated of it. After Noah had despatched the dove
from the ark he Caught the blue bird, saying, " At any rate you vrill not be
•afraid of the waters, as you are flo stranger to them ; so take wing and see if
the earth is visible." Day was just about to dawn as she departed, and she
had hardly left the shelter of the ark when such a tremendous storm came on
that, to avoid being dashed into the waves, she flew directly heavenwards.
For months had her wings been at rest, so she was fresh and vigorous, and
rose so quickly that she soon came to the blue ether, into which she dashed
unhesitatingly. And with what result ? That her plumage, once a sober
grey, became a shining, brilliant azure ! Higher and higher she flew, till at
last the sun began to rise beneath her ; and, unable to resist the attraction of
seeing it when close at hand, she turned downwards. But the nearer she
approached the greater became the heat, till before long her breast feathers
began to be scorched by the blaze. This made her retrace her flight towards
^he earth, in order to quench the ' smouldering flame in the waters with which
it was covered. After having enjoyed several refreshing dips she remembered
her errand, but alaa ! the ark was nowhere to be seen. In fact, during her
absence the dove had returned with the olive leaf, and then the. ark, driven
hither and thither by the storm, had grounded on Mount Ararat, and Noah
had broken it up, intending to .build a house out of the materials with which
it was constructed. Whereupon the blue bird, seeing nothing, uttered shrill
cries, calhng for her master, but all in vain. And so, even to this day, you
may see her flying along the river banks and looking for the ark. or for some of
its remains ; so too. even to this day, you may see, reflected in her upper
plumage, the azure of the celestial blue, while her breast stUl^flames with fiery
red from her imprudence in approaching the sun,

Giraldus Cambrensis gives us some strange information about the kingfisher,
which he calls the martinet, in his "Topography of Ireland" (ed. Wright,
p. 39) — " It is remarkable in these- little bu'ds that, if they are preserved in a
■dry place when dead, they never decay ; and if they are put among clothes
and other articles, they preserve them from the moth and give them a pleasant
•odour. What is still more wonderful — if, when dead, they are hung up by
their beaks in a dry situation, they change their plumage every year, as fi
they were restored to life, as though the vital spark- stiU survived and vegetated
through some mysterious remains of its energy."

To the kingfisher was ascribed by the ancients the power of enriching its
possessor, of- preserving peace and harmony in families, and imparting to the
lady who wore its feathers additional grace and loveliness.

The Ojibway Indians give the following reason for the white mark on the
kingfisher's breast, and the tuft of feathers on its head. " They say that '
Manabozho, their supreme deity, once gave it a white sort of medal for useful
informa)tion, and that the bird hardly escaped with the ruflling of its head
feathers the attempt of the god to wring its neck while he was so rewarding
it." (J. A. Farrer, quoting Schoolcraft's "Algic Researches," ii. 225.)

The Bohemians believe that he who is fortunate enough to catch a kingfisher
•ought to keep it in his house confined in a cage, because it is the spirit of good
luck (Grohmann). Gmelin ("Voyage en Sib^rie") tells us that the Tartars
pluck the feathers from a kingfisher, " cast them into the water, and carefully
preserve such as float, pretending that if with one of these feathers they

106 PKOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

touch a woman, or even her clothes, she must faU in love with them. The
Ostiacs take the skin, the bill, and the claws of this bird, shutting them up ia
a purse, and so long as they preserve this sort of amulet, they believe they have
no ill to fear. The person who taught me this means of living happy could
not forbear shedding tears while he told me that the loss of a kingfisher's skin
had caused him to lose both his wife and his goods. "

In Brittany the counti-y people say that a kingfisher's head shines by night
hke a Will-o'-the-wisp, and .that the bird is much given to swearing. (SebiUot.>

Family IJpuPiDiE.
Genus TTpupa.

HOOPOE {Up-wpa epops).

1. The name hoopoe corresponds with the Latin upupa,
French huppe, all of which words are intended to express the
bird's cry.

2. The hoopoe is commonly considered to be extremely filthy
and unclean in its feeding and general manner of living. Hence
Ihe Germans call it Stinker or Mistvogel, but more generally
Wiedehopf; and in Anjou the country-people give it the title of
Goqpuant. In the " Penny Cyclopsedia,''' xxvi. 35, the following old
French lines are given as referring to its unsavoury reputation —

" Dddans uu creux avec fauge et ordure
La huppe fait ses ceufs et sa maison."

There is no doubt, as Mr. Wood remarks (" Nat. Hist." ii. 201),
that its nest has a very pungent and disgusting odour ; but this
arises from the fact that the tail glands of the bird secrete . a
substance that is extremely offensive to human nostrils, although
it is unheeded by the birds themselves.

3. From its striking appearance and remarkable form ar&
derived the names

Ooq des bois (Vosges).
Coq d'6t6 (Brittany).
Serviteur an roi (Montbeliard).
Gallo di Marzo (Genoa).

In Sweden it is known by the name of Hwr Fogel, the army bu'd, because
from its ominous cry, frequently heard in the wilds of the forest, while the
bird itself moves off as any one approaches, the common people have supposed
that seasons of war and scarcity are impending (Lloyd's " Scand. Advent,"
ii. 321).

The Arabs, according to Mr. Tristram ("Ibis," i. 27), call it "the doctor,"
believing it to possess marvellous medicinal qualities, its head being an indis-
pensable ingredient in all charms, and in the practice of witchcraft.

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 107

The Turkish name is Tir-chaouah or Courier bird, because its tuft resembles,
the plume of feathers worn by a courier in token of his office.

4. Polk lore of the hoopoe.

(1) As a lightning bird.

In Swabia (Meier, " Schwab. Sagen," No. 265) the hoopoe is supposed to be
acquainted with the mysterious springwort, the plint before which doors and
rocks fly open, as in North Germany the woodpecker and in Tyrol the swallow
are believed to have the same knowledge. Jewish fable (Buxtorf, "Lex
Talmud.," coL 2455) tells us that it was by means of this bird that Solomon
gained possession of the coveted " schamir," a worm the size of a barleycorn,
but able to penetrate the hardest flint, with the aid of which he wrought the
stones fpr his temple. So, too, iElian relates of the hoopoe that, by means of
a plant called Troa, she can burst through any obstacle separating her from her
young (" Hist. Animal ," iii. 26). For more information on tlus subject see
Baring Gould's " Curious Myths," ii. 130, 131.

(2) O^^g to the peculiarity of its appearance this bird has been the subject
of many quaint legends : e.g. —

a. Oriental.

" It is related that Solomon was once journeying across the desert, and
was fainting with heat, when a large flock of hoopoes came to his assistance,.
and by flying between the sun and the monarch formed an impenetrable
cloud with their wings and bodies. Grateful for their ready help, Solomon
asked the birds what reward they would choose in return for their services.
After some consultation among themselves the hoopoes ansv/ered that they
would like each bird to be decorated with a golden'orown ; and in spite of
Solomon's advice they persisted in their request, and received their crowns
accordingly. For a few days they were justly proud of their golden decora-
tion, and strutted among the less favoured birds with great exultation, and
repaired to every stream or puddle, in order to admire the reflection of their
crowns in the water. But before very long a fowler happened to see one of
the promoted birds, and on taking it in his net, discovered the value of its
crown. Immediately the whole country was in an uproar, and from that-
moment the hoopoes had no rest. Every fowler spread his nets for them,
every archer lay in wait for thenf, and every little boy set his springle or laid
his rude trap in the hope of catching one of these valuable birds. At last.
they were so wearied with persecution that they sent one or two of the
survivors to Solomon, full of repentance at their rejection of his advice, and
begging him to rescind the ^tft which they had so unwisely demanded.
Solomon granted their request, and removed the golden crown from their
heads ; but, being unwilling that the birds should be left without a mark by
which they might be distinguished from their fellows, he substituted a crown
of feathers for that of gold, and dismissed them rejoicing." (Wood's "Nat.
Hist." vol. ii., p. 200 ; Curzon's "Visits to the Monasteries in the Levant,"
p. 152.)

Like the lapwing (see infra), it has the credit of being able to point out th&
locality of hidden springs. This idea seems to have arisen from the habit of
the bird, when settling on the ground, of bending down the head and raising
it suddenly with a jerky motion.

b. Egyptian.

Mr. Houghton, in his " Natural History of the Ancients," p. _ 207, says-
that when the Egyptians -wished to represent the quality of gratitude^ they
delineated a hoopoe, because this is the only dumb animal which, after it has-

108 .PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

been brouglit up by its parents, repays their kindness to them when old,
for it makes a nest in the place where it was reared, and trims their wings and
brings them food, till the old birds acquire a new plumage, and are able to
look after themselves. This agrees with a Hindu story — a variation. of the
legend of King Lear, narrated by .lElian., (Gubematis ii. 230.)

c. German.

In Tyrol the hoopoe is believed to possess magical power. The man who
carries its eyes about with him-in his pocket is beloved by all, and is ever suc-
cessful in the law courts, while its head protects the bearer againpt enchant-
ment. (Busoh, " Deutsche Volksaberglaube," p. 209.)

(3) The hoopoe as prognosticating weather.

Gubernatis (ii. 230) says that by the ancients its song before the vines
jipened was looked upon as a prediction of a plentiful vintage and good wine.
It is believed to foretell rain by its hoarse cry.

(4) The hoopoe and the bittern.

" Which is your favourite pasture for your cows ? " asked a. gentleman of an
old herdsman. " Here, sir," was the answer, " where the grass is not too rich
and not too poor ; anywhere else would be useless." "Why so?" The herds-
man replied, " Do you hear that booming cry proceeding from the meadow ?
That is the bittern, who once kept, cows, as did the hoopoe also ; and I wiU tell
you a story about them. — The bittern fed his herds on rich green pastures,
where flowers grew in abundance, so that his cattle became wild and frisky.
But the hoopoe drove his on to high and barren hills, where the wind blew the
sand about in clouds, and they got thinner and thinner, and lost all their
.Strength. One day, towards evening, when the herdsmen were about to return
home, the bittern could not get his cows together, they were so mettlesome,
frolicking and kicking up their heels all round him. He called ' Bunt herum ! '
ii.e. Here, Dapple, here !), but all to no purpose — they would not listen. On
the other hand, the hoopoe could not make his cows stand up, they were so
weak and tired. ' Up ! up ! up ! ' he cried ; but it was of no vise — there they
lay on the ground, and refused to stir. That is what happens if you go to
extremes. Even now, although these birds have given up keeping cattle, the
bittern stUl cries Herum, and the hoopoe Up ! up ! " (Grimm, " Kinder- und
Hausmarohen, No. 173.)

(3) .The hoopoe and the woodpecker.

The hoopoe is the friend and companion of the woodpecker (Gecinus viridM),
Once upon a time the two birds resolved to quit their native land for foreign
parts ; but the sea lay in their,'path ! However, they flew half-^ay across ; but
-then the woodpecker, who was tired, went fast asleep ! The hoopoe, to save
his companion from drowning, cried, " Hoop-hoop ! " thus keeping his drowsy
friend awake, and enabling him to make the passage in safety. The woodpecker,
who was aware of, the kindness that had been shown to him, was anxious to
show his gratitude, and so sfet himself to bore a hole in a tree to serve as a nest
for the hoopoe. This was the first time the woodpecker exercised his boring
powers. (Haute Bretagne.)

(6) The hoopoe and the cuckoo.

Tn early times the cuckoo had a crown, but the hoopoe has deprived her of
it. It happened in this wise. When the birds were -about to celebrate a
wedding, the hoopoe being selected to give away the bride, and therefore
anxious to add to the dignity of his appearance, asked the cuckoo to lend him
his crown. . The latter kindly consented, but when the hoopoe discovered how
well it suited him he kept it and never returned it to its owner ! Ever

PROVINCIAL names' OF BRITISH BIRDS. 10&

since the cuckoo has been calling " Kluku ! Kluku I " — i.e. ' You knave ! you
knave ! ' while the hoopoe answers " Jdu ! Jdu ! " — i.e. ' I'm coming ! I'm
coming ! ' (Grohmann, p. 68).

In Bavaria the hoopoe is supposed to .play the part of attendant or lackey
to the cuckoo (as the wryneck is called in Devonshire tha " dinnick " or
cuckoo's mate), and, according to Mr. King ("Sacred Trees and Flowers,'' in
Qimrterly Review for July 1863), has a mysterious connection with the plantain,
or waybread, which is said to have been once a maiden who, watching by the
wayside for her lover, was changed into the plant which still loves to fix itself
beside the Ijeaten path. Once in seven years it becomes a bird — either the
cuckoo or the hoopoe. (This seems to require corroboration ; but Simrook
refers to Panzer's '• Bayerische Sageu," ii. 204, for further particulars — a work
to which I have failed to obtain access.)

Sub order Coccyges.

Family CiuouLiDiE.

Genus CuouLUS.

CUCKOO {Guculus ccmorus).

1. So called from its cry.

Cf. Coucou (France); Kukuk (Germany); Koekoek (Holland);
Gucoo, Gucullo (Italy) ; Eohu (Persia). .

2. Other names are

Gowk (North; Scotland).
Cf . Gaec, Geac (Anglo-Saxon) ; Goek (Sweden) ; Gouk (Norway).
Gawky (Dorset).

In Middleton's Trick to catch the Old One, Act iv., sc. 5, the cuckoo is
called " the Welsh ambassador." It has been suggested that this name was
given to it because its notes resemble words in the Welsh language (G^mSteii ■«»'«.
Magaiim, 1840) ; also from the annual arrival of Welshmen in search of
summer or other employment, who might enter England about the time of the
cuckoo's appearance (Dyer's " Folk-Lore," p. 61). But the following song,
which occurs in a pamphlet entitled "The Welsh Ambassador, 1643 -Her
Embassador's Message described, to the tune of the Merry Pedler," etc.,,
seems to point to a different reason : — '

1 " On a day when Jenkin

Did waUce abroad to heare
The birds rejoyce.
With pleasant voyoe ;
In spring time of the yeare ;

Proudly and loudly
Her heard a bird then sing,

Cuokoe, Cuckoe.
The cuckoe never lins (i.e. ceases),
But still doth cry so mery merily,
And Cuckoe, cuckoe sings,

i 10 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

" He thought her had flouted
Poore Jenkin with a jeere,

And told her in soorne

That the home
Should on her brow appeare ;

Soundly and roundly
This bird one note doth sing

Cuokoe, cuekoe.
The cuekoe never line, etc,

" It is knowne her country
Doth many profits bring,

Sheepe and goates

And cloathe for coates,
And many a good thing ;

Cheeses and friezes;
And that fine bird that sings

Cuokoe, cuokoe, etc.

" Her colour is most comely.
And a Round-head is she.

And yet no sect

She doth respect
But of her note is free :

'Tis pity

in City
That this same bird neare sings

Cuekoe, cuokoe, etc.

" If that she iu Cheap-side
Upon the Crosse were scene.

Out of hand

The trayned band ;
Would come against her in spleen ;

Drumming and gunning.
To kill this bird that sings

Cuekoe, cuekoe, etc.

" Therefore her Embasgadour
No pedler is of wares.

Her hath no pabk

Upon her back.
Nor for no Cuckold cares :

"Without feaj-e

Doth jeere
And in one note still singe -

Cuckoei cuokoe, etc."

3. Folk lore of the cuckoo.

The folk lore of the cuckoo is almost inexhaustible. Mr. Hardy has com-
3)iled a most valuable and interesting store of information on this subject in his
■"Popular History of the Cuckoo," which appeared in the "Folk-Lore Record,"
Part II., and to which I am much indebted. To it I must refer those who are
anxious for further particulars ; also to Mannhardt's most learned paper in
the " Zeitschrift fur Deutsche Mythologie," vol. iii., pp. 209-98.

PKOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. Ill

(1) The ouckooas announcing spring.

" There is no bird," says Grimm ("D. M."675), " to which the gift of prophecy
is more universally conceded than the cuckoo, whose clear and measured voice
lings in the young foliage of the grove. " In this respect, as the herald of
warmth, he seems to be intimately connected with S. Gertrude, the successor
of Freya or Iduna, goddesses of love, of spring, of beauty, wjiose tears were
pearls and flowers. Therefore, hke S. Gertrude, who is believed to be the
banisher of ice and snow, he announces spring. There are many rhymes com-
memorating the several epochs of his stay with us, are which the reader is
referred to Mr. Hardy, the best known of which is perhaps the following : —

" In April, the cuckoo shows his biU :
In May, he sings both night and day ; ,

In June, he altereth his tune ;,
In July, he prepares to fly ;
Come August, go he must." (Norfolk.)

To which the Suffolk people add —

" In September, you'll oilers remember ;
In October, 'ull never get over."

In Northumberland his advent is earUer, for

" The cuckoo comes of mid March,
And cucka of mid Apenll ;
And gauns away of Midsummer month (or Lammas-tide),
When the com begins to fill."

This date for his departure agrees with the Guernsey rhyme —

" Le coucou s'en va en Aoftt ;
L'^pi d'orge ltd pique la gorge.''

A West Shropshire proverb runs —

" The cuckoo sings in April
The cuckoo sings in May ;
The cuckoo sings at Midsummer,
But not upon the day."

So a common Lancashire saying runs —

" The first cock of hay
Frights the cuckoo away ; "

corresponding with the Breton story that the first time the cuckoo came to
Brittany, he made his riest like the other birds, and then, highly delighted
with himself, took a walk in the fields. But alas ! a waggon full of hay passed
over him and crushed bis loins, hence it is that he files so heavily. ' Ever since
«that fatal day, he leaves the country when the hay is ready for cutting
(Sebillot ii. 172). The west of Scotland ploughman coincides with the
Guernsey fisherman in the opinion that the cuckoo files away on the first sight
of barley in the ear ; and in Lanarkshire they say that " the cuckoo comes wi' a
haw-leaf, and gangs away wi' a bear (four-rowed barley) head." It is believed
in many countries that the cuckoo always appears on some pai-fcicular day.
Thus—
a. In some parts of England there is a saying that — <

' ' On the third of April
Comes in the cuckoo and nightingale,"

on which see under Nightingale, 1 (1).

112 PEOVINCIAL .NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

In Sussex it is believed that a certain old woman has charge of all the
cuckoos, and fills her apron with them in the spring. If she is in a good
humour she allows several to take flight at Heathfield fair, April li, but only
. permits one or two to escape if cross or vexed.

In Northamptpnshire the 15th of April is calledcuckoo-day.

In Worcestershire they say that you never hear the cuckoo before Tenhury
fair (April 20th), or after Pershore fair (June 26), where he buys a horse and
rides away on it.

In the West Riding the cuckoo is supposed to arrive on April 21st.

In Wales, according to Mr. Dyer (" English Folk-Lore,'' p. 57), "it is con-
sidered unlucky to hear the cuckoo before the 6th of April, but you wUl have
prosperity for the whole year if you hear it on the 28th."

Mr. Hardy says that " in Scotland the advent of the cuckoo calls forth the
old season's spite,," and the consequence is " a gowk storm." Hence in Craven
the proverb : —
, ' "In the month of AvereL

The gowk comes over the hill
In a shower of rain."

6. In France.

The cuckoo is considered in the south of France to arrive on St. Benedict's
day (March 21), and there is a saying ''that he ought to be heard on that
festival ; and that if he has not begun his song by the 25th (the Feast of the
Annunciation of the B. V. M.) he must be either killed orirozen." The latter
half of this is current in N^ormandy ; while the Breton peasants make the three
last days of March the date of his arrival ; and in Franohe Comt^ he is expected
on April 1st. (Rolland.)

c. In Germany.

The German country -people make the 14th of April (the festival of SS.
Valerian and Tiburtius). the date of his visit, when he is accompanied by the
nightingale (which see). '

d. In Switzerland.

The Swiss imagine that the cuckoo never sings before the 3rd of April, and
never after Midsummer ; but he cannot sing till he has eaten a bird's egg. This
is a superstition shared by the Bohemians'(Grohmann, p. 69).

e. In Norway.

" The 1st of May (SS. Plulip and James) is called in Norway ' Gawk's mass '
(cuckoo's mass), because then the cuckoo was expected to make its appearance.
Heiice the emblem for the day is a cuckoo." ("Cambridge Antiquarian
Communications," iv. 159.

■/. In Italy.

" The Venetians say that this bird ought to come on the 8th of April ; if he'
does not come on the 8th he has either been caught or is dead ; if he does not
come on the 10th he has been caught in the hedge ; if he does not come on the
20th he has been caught in the corn ; and if he does not conie on the 30th, the
shepherds must have eaten him -n^ith polenta." (Pasqualigo, "Proverbi
Veneti," ii. 100.)

The arrival of the cuckoo naturally leads to the question, Where does he
come from ? ' The inhabitants of Towednack, in Cornwall, wiU refer you for an
answer to their cuckoo feast, which takes place on the nearest Sunday to the
28th of 'April ; the origin of which is as follows : — " It happened in very
early times, when winters extended further into the spring than they do now,
that one of-the old inhabitants resolved to be jovial, nowithstanding the in-

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 113

clemency of the season ; so he invited all his neighbours, and to warm his
house he placed on the burning faggots the stump of a tree. It began to blaze,
and, inspired by the warmth and light, they began to sing and drink ; when lo !
with a whiz and a whirr, out flew a bird from the hollow in the stump, crying .
' Cuckoo ! cuckoo 1 ' " (Hunt's " Popular Bomances of the West of England,"
ii., 200). This reminds us of Willoughby's story of the cuckoo lying dormant
in a bundle of feathersiu the hollow of an old tree, which shouted ' Cuokoo ! ' in
winter when aroused from its slumbers by the heat of a stove ; and Mr. Hardy
(p. 20) tells us that in Qassendus, " Physiose, etc.," the cuckoo is said to have
issued froiii a Christmas log in Champagne. But the notion of the hibernation of
swallows, etc., without food is very old, alluded to by Aristotle, amongst others.
Having got the cuokoo, the next thing seems to have been to keep him, as it
appears he was considered as the cause of summer. Hence we have several
tales, recorded by Mr. Hardy, of various attempts on the part of sages to
enclose him — e.g., the "vrise men of Gotham," in Nottinghamshire ; the " coves
of Lorbottle," in Northumberland ; certain Cornishmen, residence unknown ;
and the " cuckoo , penners " of Somerset, to all of whom apply the words of
Fulke GreviUe, Lord Brooke (1654—1628), that

" Fools only hedge the cuckoo in."

If his origin was mysterious, so too was the change which he was supposed
to undergo. Aristotle and Pliny both mention that it was the belief of some
that during a portion of the year he was converted into a real bird of prey. A
belief not yet extinct, as the following table will show : — •

In Durham and Yorkshire the cuckoos are said to turn into hawks in the

winter {Times, Sept. 3, 1863).
In Cambridgeshire they are cuckoos for three months, and then

, change into hawks.

In Derbyshire they change into hawks, and whistle and sing

during the transformation (" Long Ago," 205).
In Switzerland the eucko* heard in one year will be young eagles

in the next. *

In Bohemia the bird is » cuokoo during the spring, but the

rest of the year he is a hawk w^o steals fowls
and kills pigeons (Grohmann, 69).
In North Germany he becomes a sparrow-hawk (after S. John's day),

which in the main agrees with a statement in
Plutarch (see Gubernatis, "Zool. Mythol," ii. 235).
In Normandy " Enlre Juin et JuiUet

Le coucou devient ^mouchet."
In some parts of France it is believed that about S. James' day he becomes
a bird of prey, but resumes his former shape in the spring, when he returns
on the kite's back. (This arises from the feeble and lean appearance of the
bird, owing to its moulting about the end of March.)

(2) The cuckoo as prognosticator of the weather and harvest

Freya, whose attributes S. Gertrude inherited, was, as Sir G. W. Cox points
out ("Aryan Mythology," i. 381), the bringer of rain and sunshine for the
fruits of the earth. Hence the song of the cuckoo, who is intimately con-
nected with her, marks the growing, rains of spring, and also foretells the
character of the coming harvest.

a. The cuckoo is the bird of spring ; hence, says Gubernatis, " When it
appears, the first claps of thunder are heard in the sky, announcing the seasop
of heat." The Germans connect it with good and warm weather, and in
Franche Comt^ the country people have a proverb,

" Quand le coucou chante et que le soleil lu (luit)
Les chemins sont toue rassu {i.e. sont bientot sees),"

114 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIBDS.

corresponding witli the Devonshire. saying that "the cuckoo comes to eat up
the dirt," and thus makes the roads dry. On the other hand, in Switzerland,
when the cuckoo approaches a town, especially if it enters it, it forebodes rain ;
and in the Vosgea the name of " neige du coucou " is given to the snow which
frequently whitens the mountain tops after the first note of the bird has been
heard ; and in Canton Vaud they call the cold weather which often prevails
in April " la Eebuse du coucou." A Welsh proverb runs,

",The first week of May
Frights'the cuckoo away," —

and the Germans declare that by that time his voice is frozen ; a change of
voice to which Heywood alludes in his epigram " Of Use," 1.587, —

" In Aprill, the koocoo can sing her song by rote,
In June, of tune, she cannot sing a note ;
At first, koo-coo, koo-coo, sing still can she do,
At last, kooke, kooke, kooke ; six kookes to one koo."

In the Basses Alpes it is believed that if the cuckoo sings in the direction of
the north, there wiU be rain the next day,; if in the south, fine weather
(RoUaud).

6. The cuckoo as prognosticating the harvest.

In Germany and Switzerland, if the cuckoo sings after S. John's day, the
vintage will be bad and the harvest scanty. In Norway, if it continued to
utter its call after it had seen the first hayrick [cf. 3. (1)], it foretold coming
famine, or hard times at least.

The Norfolk country-folk say that if, on the last week before he goes, the
.cuckoo keeps on the top of the oaks and makes a noise, it is the sign of a good
harvest, but if he keeps on the lower branches, it is a bad sign. This mention
of the oaks reminds us of Hesiod's statements 'that " when the cuckoo sings
among the oak trees it is time to ploftgh " ; and " that if it should happen to
rain three days together when the cuckoo sings among the oak trees, then
late sowing will be as good as early sowing." In the "Bath Papers" (v. 266),
so Mr. Hardy tells us, a Norwich farmer writes as follows : " The present
appearance for the greatest appearance of barley is from the seed sown on
the earliest sound of the cuckoo, and while the buds of blackthorn were
yet turgid. " In some districts the following proverb is much used : —

" Cuckoo oats and woodcock hay
Make a farmer run away,"

which means (Notes and Queries, Ser. III., v. 450) " that if the spring is so
backward that the oats cannot be sown till the cuokoo is heard, or the autumn
so wet' that the latter-math crop of hay cannot be gathered in tall the wood-
cocks come over, the farmer is sure to suffer great loss." In Norfolk there is
a saying called " the WUby warning," frequently quoted by labourers, to this
effect, — •

" "WTien the weirling shrieks at night.
Sow the seed with the morning light,
But 'ware when the cuckoo swells its throat,
Harvest flies from the moonoall's note."

Here "the mooncall" is probably the nightingale. In the Gironde the
country-folk say,

" Quand lou cocut ben aux arbres deshuillat
II y a petit de paUle, et beaucoup de blat "

(i.e. ' When the cuckoo comes to bare trees, there will be little straw an
much grain '). This corresponds with the English proverb given by Ray, —

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS, 115

" When the cucioo comes to the bare thorn,'
Sell your cow and buy you corn ;
But when she comes to the full bit,
SeU your corn and buy you sheep."

So the Welsh—

" Os cto y g6g a'r berth yn llwm, i.e. > if thecuokoo sings when the hedge is brown,

Gwerth dy GeSyl a phryn dy bwn. Bell thy horse and buy thy com.

Os o^n y g6g a'r berth yu glyd, If the cuckoo sings when the hedge is green,

Cadw dy Gefiyl a gwerth dy yd." Keep thy horse and sell thy corn.*

' The Servian kaiduks, however, according to Grimm (ii. 679), declare that " it
betokens evil when the cuckoo comes too soon and cries out of the black
(leafless) forest ; and good luck when it sings from the green wood. - But as
regards the French and English sayings, they appear to refer not so much to
the early arrival of the cuckoo, as to the lateness of the spring, which the
•Servians also consider as beneficial to their crops.

" When the cuckoo purls its feathers, the housewife should become chary
of her eggs," is recorded by Mr. Hardy as a popular saying ; and seems to
mean that when the bird's feathers become ruffled and awry, it is a sign of
approaching cold.

(3) We have already noticed the connection of the cuckoo with Freya as the
divinity of spring, germinating showers, sunshine, and harvest ; but besides
giving fruitfulnesa to the earth, this goddess also imparts to men a long life,
prosperity, , and the joy of marriage, with its fruit — a numerous offspring.
Hence it is that the cuckoo is invoked by those desirous of knowing how long
they will have to live, how soon they will be married, and with how many
children they will be blessed.

a. The cuckoo as prognosticating length of Ufe.

It was a custom in Yorkshire (Har'dy, 41) for children to sing round a cherry
tree « (i^^Jj-qq^ cherry tree.

Come down and tell me
How many years afore I dee,"

And in Northamptonshire —

" Cuckoo, cherry tree.
How many ^ears am I to live ?
One, two, three."

Each child then shook the tree, and the number of cherries which fell betokened
the sum of the years of its future life. This agrees with what Grimm (ii. 679)
says, that " when the cuckoo Jias eaten his fill of cherries three times he leaves
off singing." bo, too, in the west of Scotland, " the cuckoo, the first time you
hear it in spring, cries once for every year you have yet to live." (Glasgow
HeraU, Oct. 1869.)

A similar superstition exists iif France, where in Franche Comt^ the bird is
thus addressed- »Cuccou, '^

Bolotou,

Kegaide sur ton grand liyre,
, Comben i a d'enfes h vivre."

(Bblotovi means a boy who robs birds' nests in order to make a meal off the
eggs they contain. So the cackoo is called in North^nts "suck-egg." — Stem-
berg's " Northamptonshire Glossary," 109.)
In Switzerland the children cry —

• " Guggu, ho, ho,

Wie lang leben i no ?"

116 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

In Westphalia —

' ' Kukuk vam Heaven
' Wu lang sail ik noch leaven ? "

to which, in Ditmarschen, are added the Unes—

" Sett dy in de grbne Grastyt
Un tell myn Jaerstyt." '

{i.e. ' Set thee in the green grass-tide and tell my year's tide.')
In Lauenburg —

"Kukuk, 'Cuckoo,

Spekbuk, Fat-paunch,
Ik bir dy ; I pray thee :

Seg my dooh, Tell me now,

Wo vael Joer How many years

Law 'ik noch.'' I yet shall live.'

(The last two are from Thorpe iii. 131.)

In Swabia —

"Kukuk, kukuk,
Schrei mir meine Jahre an.
Schrei mir sie in 'n Deekelkrabe (basket)
Wie viel Jahr darf ich noch lebe.^'

In some districts the rhyme runs, according to Grimm (ii. 676) —

"Kukuk, beckenkneoht {vid. inf.)
Sag mir recht,
■\yie viel jar ich leben soil."

So, too, in modem Greek we have, koOko '/lov, kovkAki /iov, ki apyvpoKOVKdiia'
fiov, voffovs XP""""^ ^^ ".^ f^ffw ;
In Sweden they say —

" Goker gra, ' Cuckoo grey,

Saeg mig da, Tell me now,

Uppa gvist, ■ Up on bough,

Sant och vist, True and sure,

Hur mansra Sr How many years

Jag leva fjr ? " I have to live ?,'

The same belief prevails in Poland a,ud Bohemia (Grimm ii. 679),, and in one
of the old French poems of the cycle of " Renard the Fox," we find it existing in
France in the thirteenth century. ("Le Roman du Renart," torn. iv. p. 9,
V. 216, quoted by Rolland, p. 93.)

b. The cuckoo has also the reputation of being able to tell maidens how
many years they will remain unmarried. In England he is invoked with the
lines —

"Cuckoo, cherry tree.
Good bird, tell me
How many years I shall be
Before I get married."

In France (Rolland, p. 94) the young girls salute the bird thus — ,;

" Coucou des villes
Goucou des boia

Comb^ ai z'y d'ann^ea •

A me maria ?"

PKOVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIRDS. 117

In Holsteiu the question is-^

. " Kukuk aoMer de Hecken

Wo lang schall min Brut noch gaen de bleken ?"

The answer to which is considered to ,be given directly the bird utters his
harsh second note (or as they call it in Berwickshire, his " muck it out ") once
between his usual cry. As many times as he has called " cuckoo " up to this,
so' many years will the inquirer remain celibate. (Busch, 203.)

In Oldenburg the girls ask, directly they hear the first call of the bird^ —

"Kukuk in den Suxinenscheiu
"Wo lange sohaU ick Jumfer sin ?"

This belief is general throughout Germany. When the cuckoo is first heard
in spring the young maidens interrogate him with the same rhymes that were
quoted above ("Gbker gra," etc.), altering the last line into

Jag ogift gar ? i.e., I shall ungiven go ?

If he cries oftener than ten times they say he sits on a bejritched bough, and
give no heed to his prophecies. ' .

Ip connection with this may be mentioned the reason, as given in Denmark
according to Mr. Horace Marryat (" Jutland and the Danish Isles," i. 270),
why the cuckoo builds no nest of his own. — " When, in early springtime, the
voice of the cuckoo is first heard in the woods, every village girl kisses her
hand, and asks the question, ' Cuekoo ! Cuckoo ! when shall i be paarried ? '
and the old> folks,- borne down with age and rheumatism, inquire, 'Cuckoo!
when shall I be released from this world's care ? ' The bird, in answer, con-
tinues singing ' Cuckoo ! ' as many times as years will elapse before the object
of their desires will come to pass. But as some old people live to an advanced
age, and many girls die old maids, the poor bird has so much to do in answering
the questions put to her, that the building season goes by ; she has no time to
make her nest, but lays her egg in that of the hedgesparrow." In Bohemia
they say that the Festival of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin used
always to be held sacred even by animals ; and the birds left off building their
nests on that day. The cuckoo, however, was an exception ; she .was there-
fore cursed and deprived of her husband. Hence it is that she has no nest of
her own, l?ut lays her eggs in that of a linnet or hedgesparrow. (Grohmann, 68.)

c. Grimm ("D.M.," ii. 677) informs us that in Goethe's " Oracle of Spring"
the cuckoo announces to a fond couple their approaching marriage, and the
number of their children — which is also a Bohemian superstition.

(4) Superstitions connected with the hearing of the cuckoo's first call.

a. "In the maritime Highlands and Hebrides," says McGiUivray, "about
the time of the arrival of the wheatear, every one is on the look-out for
the cuckoo. Both birds are great favourites with the Celts, more especially
the latter ; but both may be the harbingers of evil as well as of good, for should
the wheatear be first seen on a stone, or the cuckoo first heard by one who has
not broken his fast, some misfortune may be expected. Indeed,' besides the
danger, it is considered a reproach to one to have heard the cuckoo while hun-
gry, and of such a one it continues to be said that the bird has muted on him,
' ohae ia. chuaig an.' But should the wheatear be seen on a turf, or on the
grass, or should the cuckoo be heard when one has prepared himself by re-
plenishing his stomach, all will go well." In France, to hear, the cuckoo for
the first time fasting is believed to make the hearer an idle do-nothing for thfe
rest of the year (Pdrigord), or to numb his limbs for the same period (Canton
de Loulay), and it is said of such a one that "le coucou I'a-t-attrapp^ ! " So
in Somersetshire (N. and Q., Ser. V., vol. iii., p. 424), " When boys first hear

118 PKOVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIEDS.

•

the cuckoo they run away as fast as they can, = prevent their being lazy all
the yeaj- after." In Germany the belief is that to hear the bird's ciy before
a meal entails constant hunger for the next twelve months ; while in Denmark
(Thorpe ii. 271), if a person sees the cuckoo for the first time in this same
condition, it is said, "The cuckoo befools us." If it is a male person, he
shall not find ary cattleor anything else he may seek after. If it is a girl, she
must be on her guard against young men, lest she be befooled by them. If
it is old folks, they have good reason to fear sickness." In Norway, if the
maidens hear the bird sing before breakfast it is considered an evil omen
(" Cambridge Antiquarian Communications," iv. 159). .

b. Importance, too, is attached to the quarter or direction in which the
_ cuckoo utters his first call. Thus, in Cornwall (" Choice Notes," p. 90), " If,
' on first hearing the cuckoo, the sounds proceed from the right, it signifies that

you will be prosperous ; or, to use the language of the informant, a country
lad, " Tou will go right vore in the world " ; if from the left, iU hick is
before you. On the other hand, Mr.* Pengelly saya (Hardy, 42), " Cornishmen
not only take it as a good omen to hear the cuckoo from the right, but also
from before them ; to hear him, in short, on the ' starboard "Bow," as a eaUpr
would say." Mr. lEirikr Magnusson, in his "Description of a Norwegian
Calendar" ("Cambridge Antiquarian Communications," iv. 159), tells us
. that if the cuckoo was heard ou May 1st in the north, it was a ndgavkr,
' death cuckoo,' and boded the hearer death ; if in the south, it was a saagamhr,
'seedcuckop,' and foretold good luck to harvest ; ifinthe west, itwasaiiiiyaMfe-,
* wlll-cuckoo,* signifying that the hearer's will and wishes would be fulfilled ;
if in the east, it was an aMgcmkr, ' guile-cuckoo,' hinting that the hearer's love
would be responded to." / ■

c. The belief is almost universal in England and the Continent that if a
person has money in his pocket when he first hears the cuckoo he will never
be in want of it throughout the year. Should he, at the same time, indulge
in a vrish, it will be gratified, provided it be within reasonable limits, if he
turn the coins which he has in his possession (Somerset, Northants, Belgium,
Swabia), or jingle them (Westphalia, Carinthia), or roll on the grass (Saxony
— see Busch, 203) ; while in some places it is thought that if, in addition to
money, he happen to have a knife with him, he will have good sport for the
next twelve months (" Monthly Packet," New Series, vol. xix., p. 413). With
regard to this connection of the cuckoo with money, it may be observed that
Freya's tears were golden, that gold was named after them, and that Holla,
with whom she stands in close relationship, bestowed the gift of weeping such
tears — in other words, had the power of granting wealth and fortune.

d. Various superstitions.

At Wooler, in Northumberland, you are told, if you are walking on a hard
road when the cuckoo first calls, the ensuing season will be full of calamity ;
■ but it you should stand on soft ground it is a lucky omen (Hardy, 3.9).

In Scotland it is lucky to be walking when the cuckoo is first heard, sitting
when the first swallow is seen, to see the first foal of the year walking in front
of its dam : —

" Gang and hear the gowk yell,
Sit and see the swallow flee.
See the foal Jifore it's mither's e'e,
'Twill be a thriving year with thee."

("Zoolo^st,"1094.)

The firct time you hear the voice of the cuckoo, sit down on a bank, and,
pulling the stocking off' the right leg, say —

" May this to me,
Now lucky be,"

• PKOVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIKDS. 119

and then put it on again.- (" Cuckoo Cries," p. 8. By M. A.,I}enliani.) And
Pliny attributes to the earth on which the right foot stands when the cuckoo
is first heard, the virtue of keeping off fleas ; " Aliud est cuculo miraoulum, ,
quo quis loco piimo audiat illam, si dexter pes circumscribatur, ae vestigium
id efFodiatur, nongignipulioes, ubicunque spargatur." ("Nat. Hist.,"xxx. 25.)
In the west of Scotland, on hearing the cuckoo for the first time, pull off
your shoes and stockings, and, if you find » hair on the sole 8f the left foot,
it will be the exact colour of the hair of your future spouse. If no hair is
found, then another year of single life must be endured " (Glasgow Herald,
October, 1859). " I got up the last May morning," says the " Connoisseur,"
No. 56, " and went into the fields to hear the cuckoo, and when I pulled off
jny left shoe I found a hair in it exactly the same colour with his."

" When first the year, I heard the cuckoo sing.
And call with welcome note the budding spring,
I straightway set a-running with such haste,
Deb'rah that won the smock scarce ran so fast.
Tin spent for lack of breath, quite weary growu^ •
Upon a rising bank I sat.adown,
And doff'd my shoe, and by my troth I swear.
Therein I spied this yellow frizzled hair,
As like to Lubberkin's in curl and hue,
As if upon his comely pate it grew.

With mysharp heel I three times mark the ground.

And turn me thrice, around, around, around — "

writes Gay, in his " Sheijherd's Week " (Pastoral iv.) ; and the same super-
stition prevails in Ireland, only in that country it is believed that the hair
must be sought for under the right foot. (Carleton, ' ' Traits, etc., of the Irish
Peasantry," vol. iv., p. 268.)

In some of the north-western counties, and also in Norfolk (Hardy, 44),
people believe that whatever they chance to be doing when they first hear the
cuckoo they will do all the year. In Berwickshire, if the circumstances in
which its note is first heard be attended to, they afford unerring signs
whereby the secrets of a man's destiny for the ensuing 'year may be disclosed.
In wha,tever direction he may be looking when its tones arrest him, there will
he be on the anniversary of that day next year. If he be gazing on the ground,
he is warned of an untimely fate. This is also common to Midlothian and
Cornwall. (Hardy, 44.)

To hear the cuckoo's first note when in bed betokens, so they say in Norfolk
and also in Sussex, illness or death to the hearer or one of his family (" Norf.
Arch. Orig. Pap." ii 301).

In Westphalia (Busch, 203) the peasants, on hearing the cuckoo for the
first time, roll over and over on the grass, and by so doing insure themselves
against lumbago for the rest of the year. This is , considered all the more
, likely to happen if the bird repeat his cry while they are on the ground.

(5) The monotony of the cuckoo's song is proverbial. A " cuckoo tune " is to
harp on one string, to weary by iteration. Mr. Hardy (p. 27) says that it early
became a proverb in Scotland that " the goik hes na sang but ane." In Fer-
guson's " Scots Proverbs," cited in Dean Ramsay's " Reminiscences," we have
it " Ye bried of (take aiter) the gowk, ye have not a rhyme but ane " ; but the
more modem saying is, " Ye're Uke the cuckoo, ye have but one song," which
is a parallel to the German " Du singest immer einen Gesang, wie der Guck-
guck. " So the French declare that the cuckoo is so proud of himself that he
can do nothing but repeat his own name ; and in East Frieslaud the- children
have a rhyme,

" Kukuk, Breebuuk
Rbppt sien eegen Naam ut," - '

120 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

used when one of them indulges in silly boasting talk. In Tennyson's " Lover's
Tale "' occurs the passage : —

" We loved
The sound of one another's voices more,
Than the grey cuckoo loves his name."
While in North 0-ermany the country boys and girls say that
" Eiu Kuckuck sprach mit einer Staar
Per aus dem Stadt entflohen war, "
and asked what people thought . of the nightingale. " The whole tovm is
praising her," said the starKng. " And the lark? " " Half the city are talking
of her." " 'The blackbird ? " "I have heard a few say that they admire him."
" Well, what do they say of me ? " "I never heard your name mentioned."
"Then," said the cuckoo, "I must praise m.yself. Cuckoo!"

There are many 'legaids to account for the bird's cry. The Germans say that he
is a bewitched baker or miller boy, and thus has pale or meal-coloured feathers.
In a dear season he robbed poor folks of their dough, and, when God blessed
the dough in the oven, drew it out, plucked some off, and every time crieid out
as he did so, " Gukuk " ! (' Look, look.') He was therefore punished, and
turned into a thievish bird who continually repeats this cry. Tlusis why he is
called Bedcerlenecht in Germany; though another legend (Grimm, ii. 729) also
connects the two together. " Christ was passing a baker's shop, when He smelt
the new bread,, and sent His disciples to ask for a loaf. The baker refused,
but the baker's wife and her six daughters were standing apart, and secretly
gave it. For this they were set in the sky as the Seven-stars, while
the baker became the cuckoo (baker's man), and so long as he sings in
spring,'from St. Tiburtius'a day (April 14th) to St. John's (June 24th), the
Seven-stars are visible in heaven." Compare with this the Norwegian tale of
Gertrude's bird (see "Green Woodpecker," ii. 1), which is so similar that it
makes us ask with Simrock (" Handbuch der Deutschen Mythologie," pp. 504,
605), Was the cuckoo itself the Gertrude's bird (Gertrude being the representa-
tive of Freya and Iduna) ? and has the latter been considered the red-headed
woodpecker only through confusion with the Martin's bu-d (St. Martin and St.
Gertrude being both connected with death and burial) ? This is the more
likely, as the point of the story lies in the baking, and the woman's red hood
is only thrown in as an accessory because of the bird's colour, whilst there was
no necessity to invent the grey mealy plumage of the cuckoo.

The Bohemians take the cuckoo for a transformed peasant woman who hid
herself when she saw the Lord Jesus approaching, lest she should be obliged
to give him a loaf. After He had gone by she put her head out of the window
and cried " Cuckoo ! " whereupon she was at once changed into that bird.
(Grohmann, 68.) Another legend connecting the cuckoo with the hoopoe will be
found under the latter bird, p. 108, 109. They also say that she is a transformed
maiden who is calling for her lost brother, or else proclaiming by her cry that
he is found. This agrees with the Servian song, which tells how. the spirit of
a dead man was detained in misery on earth because his sister was perpetually
weeping at his grave. At last he became angry at her unreasonable sorrow,
sfiA cursed her ; whereupon she was immediately changed into 'a cuckoo
(Kukavitza), and now she has enough to do to lament for herself. Albanian
folk-lore supplies us with more details. There were once two brothers and a
sister. The latter accidentally killed one of them, by getting up suddtaly from
her needlework and piercing him to the heart with her scissors. She and the
surviving brother mourned ao much that they were turned into birds ; he cries
out to the lost brother by night, " Gjon, Gjon," and she by day " Ku Ku, Ku'Ku,"
which means " Where are you ? " (J. A. Farrer, " Primitive Manners and
Customs."

The Norwegian children say the cock, the cufikoo, and the blackcock bought
a cow between them, and settled that whichever of them woke first in the

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 121

morning should have the cow. The cock woke first, and called out, " Now the
cow's mine ! now the cow's mine ! Hurrah ! '■ This woke up the cuckoo,
who sang, "Half cow! Half cow!" Then the • blackcock woke — "A like
share I A like share ! dear friends, that's only fair ! " So they were no
wiser than they were before ! (Dasent, "Norse Tales," p. 211.)

Tte old Sclavonians (Grimm, ii. 679) believed that Zywie {zyiiy= alive), the
ruler of the universe, used to .change himself into a cuckoo, and declare to
men the number of years they had to live. (See above, 3 a).

(6) The most remarkable trait in the character of the cuckoo is its confiding
the charge of hatching its eggs and rearing its young to some other bird,
always much smaller than itself. In Scotland (M'Crillivray, sub Cuckoo) the
species on which it thus imposes its progeny is generally the meadow pipit
(Anthus pratensis') ; in England its eggs have been found in the nests of the
hedgesparrow, redbreast, whitethroat, redstaijt, willow warbler, pied wagtail,
meadow pipit, skylark, yellowhammer, chaffinch, greenfinch, and Imnet ; those
of the hedgesparrow, pied wagtail, and meadow pipit being usually selected.
The Border shepherds (Hardy, 24) declare that the hlame for this apparently
unnatural alienation of the parent from her offspring does not attach to the
female, but is really attributable to the male, who, if he had his way, would
devour the eggs and drive his partner from the nest. To avoid this she
conveys the egg out of his reach and deposits it in the home of some other bird.

It is this depositing its offepriug with alien parents that has given rise to
the connection between the cuckdo and cuckoldom. Originally, among the
Hindus for instance (Gubernatis ii. 231), the male cuckoo was considered
the faithless one, as they believed that it entered into an alliance with
the strange female bird to which it afterwards confided the eggs. Later
on, amongst the Romans, the derisive title " Curruca " was given to th^
paramour of the guUty wife (that being the name of the bird in whose
nest the cuckoo's eggs were usually deposited) ; whUe afterwards, in the
transition from classic to mediaeval periods, the application of ihe term coou
or cuckold was transferred from the paramour to the unsuspicious husband.

(7) The meadow pipit {Anthus praUusis — which see) is the cuckoo's constant
companion in Ireland, Scotland, and the north- of England. In Devon and
Cornwall the peasantry beheve (Gentleman's Magazine for 1796, p. 117) "that
the cuckoo feeds on the eggs of other birds, and that the little bird as they
call it, accompanying him (the Yunx torquiUa, wryneck or svunmer bird)
seaj'ches for them for that purpose, and feeds him." This is entirely erroneous,
as the wryneck gets its names of " cuckoo's mate, marrow, maiden," etc., not
from any fondness for the cuckoo's society, but because it arrives and departs
about the same time as that bird. Its Swedish name is Ooktita. Mr. Broderip,
in his " Zoological Recreations," p. 75, says that in Herefordshire the rfed-
backed shrike (Lanms coUurio) is called " cuckoo's maid " probably because it
has been seen feeding a young cuckoo. In North Germany the hoopoe has
the name of the " cuckoo's clerk or sexton," pointing, as Grimm observes,
(" D. M." ii. 681) to old heathen traditions now lost, the hoopoe, by the way,
being frequently connected with the cuckoo in folk taJes (see Hoopoe, p. 109),
both being birds that were thought to have received their forms by metamor-
phosis. The peewit or lapwing is also called in .Germany the " cuckoo's lackey. "

(8) In the north of England and in Scotland, to send a person on a fruitless
errand on the first of " April is called a " gowk's errand." Sometimes
(Hardy, 39) the April fool is, the bearer of a missive containing this distich —

" The first and second day of April,
Hound (or hunt or send) the gowk anpther mile.''

The reply by parties too old or too experienced to be thus played on ia —
" April gowks are past and gone,
You're a fool and I am none."

122 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIRDS.

• •

At Wooler, in Northumberland, those who thus resisted being made
" feul gowks " on " feul-gowk day," April 1st, replied :—
' " The gowk and the titlene sit on a tree,

Ye're a gowk as weel as me."

It seems likely that this phrase is derived from tie habit the euckoo has of
changing its place so quietly and suddenly. Frequently, when children are
anxious to catch a sight of the bird, and think that they are alfnost within
reach of it, they hear its cry at a distance, and f oUow it, only tp be again
deceived. It is in this character of a derider that, as Guberuatis remarks
(ii. 233), when " children play at , hide-and-seek, they are accustomed in
Germany and Italy, as well as in England, to cry out " Cuckoo " to him who
is to seek them, in vain, as is hoped."

Young cuckoos are stupid creatures, and from this trait in their nature
may come the terms "gowk," a' simpleton, and "gawky," the corresponding
adjective. Grimm ("D. M," ii 681) points out that as far back as the tenth
century gouh has the meaning of fool, aiid Gauchsberg is equivalent to
Narrenberg (' fool's mount '). Animals whose stupidity was proverbial of old
are the ox, ass, ape, goat, goose, gowk and' jay. See Hardy (^26, 27) for
an amusing anecdote as to the significatioij of a gowk's nest, quoted from
Constable's Edirihurgh Magazine, September 1817.

(9) The euckoo has given his name to many plants ; the real cuckoo flower
being Cardamime pratensis, so called from its coming into bloom when the bird
first begins to call. Other cuckoo flowers are the Zychms Jloscidi, the Lychnis
diurna, or red-flowered campion, the cuckoojpint (Arwm macidatvm), the hare-
bell, the Orchis mascvZa, and others. The wood-sorrel has the name of cuckoo
bread, "because the cuokowes deligbt to feed thereon," and this is common to
many languages. In French it is pain de coucou ; in Italian, pan cucidi ; in
German, KuhuJcsbrot ; in Danish. giSge-syre ; in England, besides cuckoo-bread',
it is called cuckoo-spice ; in Scotland, gowk's meat. (For an exhaustive list of
flower lore connected with the cuckoo, see Hardy, 32-5.)

The froth on plants, discharged by young frog-hoppers {Pytelus spumarius],
is the cuckoo's or gowk's spittle, frog spit, toad spit, snake's spit, or wood-sear
of England and Scotland ; the Kuknks- or Hexenspeichel of the Germans ; the
Swiss guggerspeu, Danish giSgespyt, Norwegian trold-Kiaringspye, French
crachMt de coucou. In Devonshire, boys take the insects in tlie spittle for
cuckoos in their early stage ; and jonston, in his " History of the 'Wonderful
Things of Nature," p. 174, teBs us that the grasshoppers (for so he considered
them to be, following Isidore) "before the dog dayes when they hear the
cuokowe sing, run upon her in troops' (it is to be remembered that they are her
offspring), and get under her wings and kill her.", (For an account of the part
the cuckoo spittle played in the trials of the famous " "Witches of Blockiia,"
see Broderip, " Zoological Recreations," p. 72.)

(10) In the ancient pharmacopoeia the cuckoo was of great use. Beingapplied
to the flesh in a hareskin it caused sleep, while the ashes helped the pain and
moisture of the stomach, the epileptic, and those that had agues, being given in
the flt. (Lovell's " Panzoologicomineralogia," p. 149.)

(11) Miss Bume ("Shropshire Folk Lore," p. 222) mentions a Shropshire
saying, " 'When it rains and the sun shines, the cuckoo is going to heaven." In
Scotland, on the same occasion, children say " that the fairies , are baking, and
the rain waters their bannocks " {N. ^ Q, Ser. I'V., v. 273). In Germany the
combination is viewed with much disfavour, for then it is " Kermes in hell," or
" poison is falling from the sky," or " the witches are making butter or pancakes,"
or " the devil is beating his grandmother ; he is laughing, and she is crying."

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 123

Order Steiges.
• Family STRiGiDi;.

1. The following names are given indiscriminately to owls (A.-S.
•tile = howlers).

Howlet.

Hoolet. Cf. Hidotte (France).

Screech owl.

Jenny howlet.

2. The cry of the owl foretells a change, if heard in bad
weather. Hen'ce the Italian proverb,

" Quand la aoigu&ta cria
El temp briit el scapa via : "

and the Sussex saying, " When owls whoop much at night, expect
a fair morrow."

3. Owls are often nailed up on barn doors or walls. The
meaning of this custom is now unknown in our own rural districts ;
but in Germany the peasants will tell you it is done to avert
lightning. The owl, it is to be observed, is a lightning bird.

4. The owl a baker's daughter.

The following legend (alluded to by Shakespeare, Samlet, Act IV., so. v. :— :

" They say the owl was a baker's daughter,")

is related by Mr. Stauntpn, in his edition of Shakespeare's Plays. "Our
Saviour went into a baker's shop where they were baking, and asked for some
bread to eat. The mistress of the shop immediately put a piece of dough into
the oven to bake for him, but was reprimanded by her daughter, who, insisting
that the piece of dough was too large, reduced, it considerably in size. The
dough, however, immediately afterwards began to swell, and presently became
of an enormous size. Whereupon the baker's daughter cried out, ' WhBugh !
wheugh ! wheugh ! ' which owl-like noise, it is said, probably induced our
Saviour, for her wickedness, to transform her into that bird." Mr. Waterton
says his nursery maid used to sing two stanzas of an ode. which gave to the
bird a nobler origin : —

« " Once I was a moiiarch's daughter.
And sat on a lady's knee :
. But am now a nightly rover.
Banished to the ivy tree.

" Crying hoo hoo, hoo hoo, hoo hoo,
Hoo ! hoo ! hoo ! my feet are cold !
Pity me, for here you see me.
Persecuted, poor and old ! " •

124 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

(So in Haute Bretagne the peasants say that when " chouette " cries, ' c'est
qu'elle a fret fes pieds.) While Mr. Nuttall declares that the north-country
nurses made her out to be no less than the daughter of Pharaoh, and sang

"Oh! 8 0, —
I once was a king's daughter, and sat on my father's knee.
But now I'm a poor hoolet, and hide in a hollow tree ! "

In several German popular songs the owl laments that she is alone, and
deserted in the forest. One tradition represents her as an old weaver spinning
with silver threads.

5. a. A Breton legend (Luzel, " Rapports sur une mission en Bretagne," 4'^"«
rapport, p. 203), gives the following reason for the nocturnal and solitary hahits
of the owl. " Once upon a time all the birds gave each of them one of their
feathers to the wren, who had lost his own ; the owl alone refused to take part
in this act of charity. ' I,' he said, ' will never give up a single feather : the
winter is coming on, and I fear the cold. ' ' Very well,' repHed the king ;
' thou, owl ! from this day forward shalt be the most wretched of birds :
thou shalt always be shivering with cold, thou shalt never leave thy abode but
by night, and if thou art daring enough to show thyself in the daytime the
other birds shall pursue and persecute thee unsparingly.' And from that
time the owl has never ceased to cry ' Hou ! hou ! ' as if he were nearly dead
with cold. "

6. In " L'Artiste," Ser. III., vol. ii., p. 300, the tale is presented in another
fornj. " It was necessary for a messenger to fetch fire from heaven to eSrth ;
and the wren, weak and deUcate though he was, cheerfully undertook to
perform the perilous mission. The brave little bird nearly lost his life in the
undertaking, for during his flight, the fire scorched away all his plumage, and
penetrated to the down. Struck with such unselfish devotion, the other birds,
with one accord, each presented the wren with one of their feathers, to cover
his bare and shivering skin. The owl alone, in philosophic disdain, stood aloof,
and refused to honour, even with such a trifling gift, an act of heroism of which
he had not been the performer. But this cruel insensibility excited against
him the anger of the other birds to sach a pitch that they refused from that
time to admit him into their society. And so he is compelled to keep aloof
from them during the day, and only when night comes on does he dare to leave
his melancholy hiding-place." Another reason for the owl's' love of night is
given by Wolf (" Beitr. zur D. M.," ii 438). " The birds, wishing to procure for
themselves a king, determined that whichever of them could fly the highest
should be selected. The eagle had succeeded in the task, but when he was
tirdd, the wren, who had perched on his tail, rose up and flew yet higher. For
this deceit he was confined in a mousehole, and the owl appointed to guard
the entrance. But whilst the other birds were taking counsel as to the, punish-
ment to be inflicted, the owl went to sleep and the prisoner escaped. Never
since has the owl dared to appear in the daytime." (See above, under
Wren, p. 36).

6. Pnblic-liouse sign. The owl in the ivy-bush.

A bush of ivy was supposed to be a favourite place for the Owl to rest in.
The old dramatists abound in allusions to this : e.g. *

" And, hke an owle, by night to go abroad.
Roosted all day within an ivy tod." (Drayton.)

In a masque of Shirley's, entitled The Triumph of Peace, 1633, one of the
scenes represented a wild, woody landscape, " a place fit for purse taking,"
where "in the furthest part was scene an ivy-bush, out of which came an owle."
(Hotten's 'Tlistory of Signboards," p. 223.)

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIRDS. 125

J
An old Puritan divine likens an Episcopalian priest to an owl in an ivy-bush
in the following terms : —

" For you plainly may see
The owl's ivy signifieth his library,
By which the bush blinded all the dark angels (church clergy)

vrith the black evil,
That they do not know the true God from the false devil."

7. Proverbial sayings.

" You bring owls to Athens " — i.e., " carrying coals to Newcastle."
" An ass is the gravest beast, the owl the gravest bird."
" The owl is not accounted the wiser for living retiredly."
" The owl thinks all her young ones beautiful."

" Owl light," in the old writers, was equivalent to twilight ; so Taylor,
water-poet, says —

" When straight we all leap'd over-boord in haste.
Some to the knees, and some up to the waste.
Where sodanely 'twixt owlelight and the darke
We pluck'd the boat beyond high-water marke."

Genus Stbix.
BAEN OWL {Strixflammea).

1. So called from its predilection for buUding ia barns, churches,
ruins, etc. ; whence also

Church owl (Craven).
Ci.-Hibou d'eglise (France).

2. From the snowy whiteness of the under plumage and the
light tawny yellow pf the upper parts are derived the names of

White hoolet or White owl (General).
Silver owl (Forfar).
Fellow owl.

The Gaelic term for this bird is Caillcbch-oidhche gheal=" white
old woman of the night."

3. The barn owl is known by its shrill screech in the night and
prolonged hiss in the daytime ; hence

Hissing owl.
Screech owl (General).
A term also, but improperly, applied to the tawny owl {Syraium aluco).

Roarer (Borders).

126 PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRBS.

4. Familiar names.

Billy wix (Norfolk).

Jenny howlet (North Eiding).

Madge howlet (Norfolk).

Padge, Pudge, or Pudge owl (Leicestershire).

5. Also called

Woolert, Oolert, or Owlerd (Salop).
Hoolet (Lowlands).
Hulote, or Hullat (Orkney Isles).
Cherubim.

Povey (Glojucestershire).
Hobby owl (Northants).
' Gill howter (Cheshire ; Norfolk).

From A.-S. jil = noctua.

In Shropshire the young birds are called Gilly owlets.

6. The screech owl as a messenger of death.

The common consent of all nations has decided that it is a bird of evil
omen. In the twelfth book of the " JEneid," previous to the end of the

■ combat between Maes.s and Turnus, no sooner does Juturn^i hear its boding
cry and see the flapping wings; than she despairingly utters —

" alarum verbera uosco
Letalemque sonum."

Ovid, too, speaks, in the iifth book of the "Metamorphoses," of
" Ignavus bubo, dirum mortalibus omen."

So too in France, in Germany, in Italy, in England, its appearance forebodes
misfortune, its shriek foretells woe and ill. Even in Borneo the screaiji of an'
owl, if heard at night previous to going out to the jungle, is considered to be
" a sign that sickness will follow if the design be pursued ; and it its screech
be heard in front of a party on the war path, it is an evil sjgn, and they must
return " (St. John, " Lite in the Forests of the Far East," i. 202).

" In China," says Mr. Doolittle (" Social Life of the Chinese," quoted by
Dennys, " Folk-lore of China," p. 35), "some say that its voice resembles the
voice of a spirit or demon calling out to its fellow. Perhaps it is on account

■ of this notion that they so often assert having heard the voice of a spirit,
when they may have heard only the indistinct hooting of a distant owl.
Sometimes, the Chinese say, its voice sounds much like an expression for
' cbiggmg ' the grave. Hence, probably, the origin of a common saying, that
when one is about tp die, in the neighboilrhood vrill be heard the voice of an
owl, calling out ' dig, dig.' It is frequently spoken of as ' the bird which
calls for the soul, or which catches or takes away the soul.' Some assert that
it 'its cry is dull and indistinct, as though proceeding from a distant plaoe, it
betokens the death of a near neighbour ; whereas, if its notes are clear and
distinct, as it proceeding from a short distance, it is a. sure harbinger of the
death of a person in a remote neighbourhood, — the more distinct the voice,
the more distant the individual whose decease is indicated, and the more
indistinct the voice, the nearer the person whose death is certain ! It is a
common saying that this bird is a transformation of one of the servants of

, PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIRDS. 127"

the ten kinga of tlie infernal regions — i.e., is a devil under the guise of a bird.
It is also frequently referred to as ■ A constable from the dark land.' "

7. The owl as connected -with birth.

An ancient belief prevailed in England that if an owl appeared at a birth,
it foreboded ill luck to the infant. Shakespeare alludes to this (^Senry VI.,
Part III., Acfy. so. vi.), where the King, addressing Gloucester, says— "The
owl shrieked at thy birth, an evil sign."

In the south of France there is an idea that if an owl shrieks when perched
on the chimney of a house in which " une f emme enceinte " Ues, the child will
' • be a girl. Others say 'that its cry near a village shows that a birth wiU soon ■
take place in one of the dwellings. In Berne it is believed that the screech
of an owl foretells either the birth of a child or the death of a man.

8. The owl in magic.

No witch's charm could be efficacious, unless an owl, or a portion of an owl,
was an ingredient. Horace's witch, Canidia, used its plumage in "her incanta-
tion ("Epod. Lib." ode v.) : — . •

" Et unota turpis ova ranse sanguine,
Plumamque nocturnse strigis."

Ovid, too, mentions it, referring to the potion prepared by Medea. And
among our own poets Ben Jonson, in his Masque of QUemes, sings how

" The screech owl's eggs and the feathers black,
The blood of the frog and the bone in his back,
I have been getting, and made of his skin
A purset, to keep Sir Cranion in."

While the vritches in Macbeth were careful to introduce the " owlet's wing 'i
into the bubbling caldron. (Act IV., sc. i.)

9. The owl as the bird of wisdom.

" The owl was sacred to Athene, the goddess of wisdom, because she sees
in darkness : the flight of the bird of night was, therefore, for the Athenians,
a ,sign that the goddess who protected their city was propitious." Longfellow
■ has a good word to say for him, in " Hyperion " : " The owl is a grave bird — -a,
monk who chants midnight mass in the great temple of nature — ap anchorite
— a pillar saint — a very Simon Stylites of his ueigh"boiirhood " : and who does
not remember Tennyson's lines^

" Alone and warming his five wits.
The white owl in the belfry sits " ?

It is true that the five wits were generally considered to be equivalent to
the five senses ; so

" I comforte the wyttys five.
The tastying, smelling and herynge,
I refresh the sighte and felynge.

To all creatures alyve." •

(_Fyve Elements : an Interlude.)

But in his 141st Sonnet Shakespeare distinguishes between wits and

" But my five vrits nor my five senses can
Dissuade one foolish heart from serving thee " — ^

128 • PEOVINCIAL NAMES GF BRITISH BIRDS.

the five wits being, according to Staunton, " common wit, imagination,
fantasy, estimation, memory " : and who would deny an owl the possession of
these ? (It may be noticed that the five wits, or five senses, are illustrated in
Bunyan's allegory of "The Holy "War" ; and in the "Aucien Biwle" the
heart's wardens are the five wits— sight and hearing, tasting and smelling,
and the feeling of every limb.)

Family Asionid^e.

Genus Asio.

LONG-EARED OWL {Asio otus).

1. So called from the elongated tufts of feathers on its head;
whence also the names

Long-ears (Berks).
Horn-coot.
Horned owl.

Cf. Ghoue cornerotte (France), Homeule (Germany).
Hprnie oolet, or hoolet (Stirling ; East Lothian).

2. Superstitions respecting the long-eared owl.

"In Sicily,'' says M. Gubernatis, vol. ii., p. 249, "the horned Owl (the
homed moon), jacobu, qr ohiovu, or chi6, is especially feared. The horned
owl sings near the house of a sick man three days before his death ; if there
are no sick people in the house, it announces to one at least of its inhabitants
that he or she will be struck with squinanoy of the tonsil. The peasants in '
Sicily, when in spring they hear the lamentation of the horned owl for the
first time, go to their master to give notice of their intention of leaving his
service ; whence the proverb —

. " Quannu canta lu chib

Cu' avi patruni, tinta canciar lu p6."

An omelette made of this bird's eggs is believed in Belgium to be a remedy
for drunkenness.

3. Folk- lore.

In the neighbourhood of Bordeaux, the country-people throw a pinch of salt
into the fire on hearing the cry of this bird, to counteract any evil effects it
might portend. (Vioomte de Mdtivier, p. 433.)

4. The long-eared owl in Christian art.

A bas-relief in the church of Puyp^roux (Cbarente) represents a long-eared
owl crowned, on horseback ; holding with one hand the bridle, in the other a
lance. Opposed to him is a man having a shield on his left arm, who attacks
the owl with a sword. On the ground lie three heads. The warrior's shield is

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 129

rounded at one end and pointed at the other ; he is clothed in a tunio, reaching
juat short of the knee. This represents the strife between man and Satan, a
subject of continual occurrence in mediaeval symbolism. The crowned" owl is
the prince of darkness, the heads or naked bodies signify souls. (Michon,
" Statistique de la Charente," p. 266.)

SHORT-EARED OWL {Asia hraohyotvs).
Various names.

Hawk owl.
So called from its small head aiid habit of looking for food during the day.

Mouse hawk.

Moss owl (rorfar) — i.q. Mouse owl.
Brown yogle (Shetland Isles).
Greyyogle „ „

Red owl (Dartmoor).
From the pale orange of its under plumage.

. Fern owl (Ireland).

Woodcock owl (Berks ; N'orfolk ; Cornwall ; Ireland).
Because it comes in October, and leaves in March, with the woodcock.

&enu8 Syrnium.
TAWNY OWL {Syrnium aluco).

1. So called from its reddish-brown colour ; whence also
Tawny hooting-owl (Salop).

Brown owl, or brown hoolet.

2. ifames given from its hooting cry : —

Ullet, or hoolet,
Jenny howlet.

Billy, or gilly, hooter (Salop).
Hoot owl (Craven).
'Ollering owl (Sussex).
Screech owl.
Improperly applied to this species.

3. From hiding in the woods during the day-time, and reposing
in trees, it has received the names

Wood owl.
Ivy owl.
B.eech owl.

130 PKOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

4. Also called
Ferny hoolet.

Because sometimes it nests in bracken.

The Gaelic name is cailleach oidhche, i.e. "old woman of the
night."

In the neighbourhood of Chatillon-sur-Seine, according to M. RoUand, it is
called Choue de iois, or Ohoue d'Auvergne, from the following reason :— r"^Once
upon a time, an Auvergnat, who had lost his way in a dense wood, heard the
cry of the Hulotte (the usual name for this bird in France), and thought, it
was the voice of God (Dieu). So he shouted, ' Mon Dieu ! Mon Dieu ! I am
lost in the forest ; help me to get out I ' and endeavoured to turu his steps in
the direction whence the voice seemed to sound. The bird flew from tree to
tree, and drew on the luckless traveller farther and farther, till day dawned,
and it ceased its cry." This reminds us of a similar story current, under
dilferent forms, in many English counties. One version, taken from Jfotes and
Queries, Ser. V., vol. i., p. 433, runs as follows (the scene being Earl Bathurst's
park, near Cirencester) : "More than fifty years ago, a local 'character,' named
Robert Hall, was returning home through the woods late one night, and lost
his way. ' Man lost ! ' shouted the frightened traveller. ' Whoo I whoo ! '
cried the owl. ' Bobby Hall ; lost in the Three Mile Bottom ! ' replied the
man. This went on for hours. The story reached the ears of the townspeople,
and ' Bobby HaU ' was famous ever after."

5. The night crow. (3 Henri/ VI., Act. V., sc. vi. ; Leviticus
xi. 16, Welsh version ; the English has " night hawk.")

Pugh, in his Welsh Dictionary (1832), under the word DeUuan, says that
the " corpse bird " (by which name the night crow of Leviticus xi. 16, Welsh
version, is known in Wales) is the Brown owl. One rhymer wrote of that
bird —

" The corpse bird with his dog's nose " —

/.e., its sense of smell is so acute that it scents afar off, as does a dog, the trail
of its prey. (iVI and Q., Ser. V., vol. i., p. 115.)

Genus Bubo.
EAGLE OWL {Bubo ignmus).

1. So called from its superior size and strength, which rendered
it the rival of the royal bird.

Other names are

^ Stock owl (Orkney Isles).

, From its habit of pressing against the stem (stock) of a tree with unrujBed
feathers, so as to assimilate itself to the stump, and elude notice.

Cat ogle (Orkney Isles).

Norw. Kaiugl — from its similarity in habits and appearance to the cat.
They pursue the same prey (mice) by night ; and the owl'a round white head,

PKOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 131

with tuffa resembling ears and eyes gleaming bright in the darkness, gives it
an additional resemblance to pussy.

The old French name for this bird was " Grand Due," from a tradition that
it " acted twice a year as leader or guide (cJwc) to the flocks of quails at their
periods of migration." So the quatrain runs : —

' ' Le Duo est dit comme le conducteur

D'autres oyseaux, quand d'un lieu se remuent.
Comme Bouffons ohangent de gestes, et muent,
Ainsi est-il folastre et plaisanteur. "

Mr. Broderip tells us that the French falconers turned him out with the
appendage of a fox's brush, in order to catch the kite that was sure to fly
after him.

2. Folklore.

When Agrippa, who had fallen into disfavour with Tiberius, was arrested at
Caprese, an eagle owl was sitting on the branches of ,ii tree to which he was
tied. A (^erman augur, who was present, thereupon prophesied that he would
be released and would become king of the Jews — adding, however, that when
he saw that owl again, his death would be near. An'diso it came to pass ; for,
when sitting on his throne in state at Csesarea (Acts xii. 21), he cast his eyes
upwards and beheld an owl perched on one of the cords which ran across the
theatre. Recognising the portent .of ill, he fell back smitten with disease, and
in five days was dead.

Among the Tartars this bird was highly honoured and esteemed, and its
feathers worn in their caps to insure success in war. They attributed the
preservation of their chief, Genghis Khan, from his enemies, to the fact of an
eagle owl settling over the place where he was hiding from his pursuers, who
passed by, believing that it would never rest quiet if any man was near.
(Broderip, " Zoological Recreations," p. 97.)

Ord&r ACCIPITEES.

Family Falconidjb.

Qenus Circus.

MAS.SH HAS.S.IEB {Circus ceruginosus),

1. So called from being generally found in the neighbourhood
of bogs and marshes, and from its preying on and destroying
(harrying) fish, reptiles and aquaitic birds ; whence also

Marsh or Moor hawk ; Moor buzzard.
Cf. Busard de marais (France) ; Rohrweih (Germany).

Bog gled (East Lothian). '

Duck hawk ; Snipe hawk (South of Ireland).

2. Names given to it from its colour.
Dun pickle (Wilts) : obsolete.
Brown hawk (Ireland).

132 PROVINCIAE NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

Bald buzzard (Essex).
White-headed harpy.

3. Various names.
Puttock.

Kite (Ireland).
Namea improperly applied.

4. Weather prognostic.

It used to be said in Wilts that these birds alighted in numbers on the
downs before rain. I

HEN HARRIER {Circus cyaneus).

1. Also called "Hen driver," two synonymous titles: for
" Harrier," see above, under Marsh harrier.

2. The male of this species is of a greyish-blue colour ; hence
the names

Blue hawk (East Lothian ; Wicklow).
Blue kite (Scotland).
Called in- Wales " Baroud-glSs," which has the same meaning.

Blue gled (Scotland).

Blue sleeves (ditto).

Grey buzzard (Hants).

White hawk, or kite (Donegal).

Miller.

White aboon gled (Stirling).

3. The plumage of the female is composed of various shades
of dark-brown ; hence she is called

Ringtail (East Lothian, where it is applied to both sexes).
Prom the brown bar on the tail.
Brown kite.
Brown gled (Scotland).

4. Various names.
Paller.

Katabella (Orkney Isles).

Dove hawk.

Sea-gull hawk (Oonnemara).

Called in France " I'oiseau de Saint Martin," as it makes its passage through
that country about November 11th (St. Martin's day).

" In the Hebrides it is said of any one, should he be more than ordinarily
fortunate on a certain day, that he must have seen the ' clamhanluch ' (from
damhan, a hawk, and luch, a mouse) or hen harrier."' (*' Zoologist," 1006.)

PKOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 133

Genus Buteo.

BUZZAHS {Buteo vulgaris). — O. F. Buse, Busard.

1. Also called

Puddock, or Puttock (Eastern and Midland counties).

A name'also applied to the kite ; from " poot " (i.q. Poult), short for " pullet,"
and " ook," corruption of " hawk."

Bald kite.

Kite (Ireland).

Goshawk (ditto).

Buzzard hawk (Forfar).

Gled (North Scotland) : i.e. Glider ; from A.-S. glidam, to glide.

2. Weather prognostic.

The cry of the buzzard is supposed to foretell rain ; so Clare writes : —

" Slow o'er the wood the puttock sails ;
And mournful, as the storms arise,
His feeble note of sorrow walls, ^

To the unpitying, frowning skies. ''

("Village Minstrel," i. 96.)

3. The saying, "a blind buzzard," or " as blind as a buzzard," does not refer
to the' bird of that name, which is extremely quick-sighted, but rather to the
beetle, from the buzzing sound of its flight. Compare the French expression,
" ^tourdi comme un hanneton." Nares, sub voc, says that all night-moths as
well as beetles were thus called familiarly in his childhood.

Genus Aquila.
GOLDEN EAGLE (Aquila chrysmtos).

1. Also called

Black eagle.
Eingtailed eagle.
So called from the dark-grey tail being barred with brownish-black.

The name Golden eagle seems to have been given from the
•golden-red tinge of the head and neck, and also from its yellow
feet.

2. Nest of the eagle.

Called " aerie, " French aire, which Littr6 (deriving from the Low Latin
area) defines as " surface plane de rocher oti I'aigle fait son nid, et par
extension, nid des grands oiseaux de proie." '

134 PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

3. Sight of the eagle.

The eye of the eagle is so quick that the expression " eagle-eyed " has become
proverbial. It was believed that she could gaze upon the sun, undazzled,,and
compelled her young to stand the test before they were fledged, to prove if
they were degenerate or not. Robert Chester refers to this in hia " Love'B
Martyr," p. 118 :

" She brings her birds being yong into the aire,
And sets them for to looke on Phosbus light,
But if their eyes with gazing chance to water,
Those she aooounteth bastards, leaves them quight."

4. Rejuvenescence of the eagle.

There is an old legend that when the bird begins to feel advancing age it
plunges into the sea or into a fountain, from which it rises with new life" and
strength, (Spenser, " Faerie Queene," Bk. I., cant, xi., st. 34), writes :

" At last she saw, where he upstarted brave
Out of the well wherein he drenchfed lay ;
As eagle, fresh out of the ocean wave,
Where he hath lefte his plumes all hory gray.
And deckt himselfe with fethers youthly gay ;
Like eyas-hauke up mounts unto the skiesj
His newly budded pineoiis to assay, .

And marvelles at himselfe, stil as he flies.''

5. Damian (Epist. ii., 18, 19) adds that, before immersion, it so places
itself in the focus of the sun's rays ("ad circulum solis "), as to set its wings
on fire, and' in this way to consume the old feathers. Rabbi David (" Comment.
Esaiae," cap. xiv.) adds, that when it delays the operation too long it has not
strength to rise from the water, and is .frequently drowned.

Albertus Magnus (on the veracious authority of Jorachus and Andelinus)
vprites as follows : " TTiey say that an old eagle, at the period the young ones
are fledged, as soon as she has discovered a clear and copious spring, flies
directly upwards even to the third region of the air, which we term the region
of meteors, and when she feels warm, so as to be almost burning, suddenly
dashing down and keeping her wings drawn back, she plunges into the cold
water, which by the astringing of the external cold increases the internal heat.
She then mses fronj the water, flies, to her nest, and nestling under the wings
of her warm young ones melts into perspiration, and thence vrith her old
feathers she puts off her old age, and is clothed afresh ; but while she under-
goes the renovation, she makes prey of her young for food." He adds, " I can
only consider 'this as a miraculous occurrence, since in two eagles which I kept,,!
I observed no changes of this sort ; for they were tame anddocile, and moulted
in the same manner as other birds of prey." This old legend seems to be
referred to in Ps. ciii. 5 — " makidg thee young and lusty as an eagle," com-
menting on which S. Augustine refers to another strange belief — viz., " that
since the upper mandible of th? eagle's bill, as she becomes old, grows over the
under one and prevents its opening, so that the bird can no longer feed, slie
seeks out a rock or rough stone on which she rubs her beak, and by etriking off
the obstructive part, recovers her strength and power of feeding."

5. The eagle in art.

a. The eagle is given to S. John as a symbol of the highest inapiiatipnf>|
" because," as S. Jerome says, " he ascends to the very throne of God." -*

h. It is also the emblem of SS. Bertulph, Medard, and Servatiua ; of
S. Bertulph, abbot of Rentrey in Flanders, and of S. Medard, bishop of

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIEDS. 135

Noyon, bepause these saints, when overtaken by storms, were protected by
the outspread wings of an eagle ; of S. Servatius, bishop of Tongres, because
this bird sheltered him from the blaadng rays of the sun when sleeping by the
wayside.

6. The eagle in heraldry.

It is, generally speaking, the symbol of majesty and power. Austria has
a two-headed ■ eagle, one for the eastern and one for the western empire ;
claiming to be the representative of the Caesars of Bon^e. The double-
headed^or imperial etigle is also borne by Russia, who added the kingdom
of Poland to her own. The crest of the earls of Derby is an eagle with
wings extended, or preying on an infant in a kind of crsdle, at its head a
sprig of oak, all proper. This is derived from the family of Latham, and
the following legend is told to account for its origin: — "In the reign of
Edward III. Sir Thomas Latham, ancestor of the house of Stanley and Derby,
had only one legitimate child, a daughter, but at the ^ame time he had an
illegitimate son by a certain Mary Oscatell. This child he ordered to be laid
at the foot of a tree on which an eagle had built its nest. Taking a walk with
his lady over the estate, he contrived to br;ng her past this place, pretended
to find the boy, took him home, and finally prevailed upon her to adopt him
£^s their son. This boy was afterwards called Sir Oscatell Latham, and con-
sidered the heir to the estates. Compunction or other motive, however, made
the old nobleman alter his mind and confess the fraud ; and at his death the
greater part of his fortune was left to his daughter, who afterwards married
Sir John Stanley. At the adoption of the child, Sir Thomas had assumed for
crest an eagle upon wing regardant ; this, out of ill feeling of the Stanley
family towards Sir Oscatell, was afterwards altered into an eagle preying upon a
' child." Unfortunately, as Mr. Picton has pointed out {Notes and Queries, Ser. V.,
V. 2 — i), the legend bears absurdity on its face. The eagle bearing a shield,
emblazoned or, on a chief indented az. three bezants, is found on a seal of the
father of the Sir Thomas to whom the legend attributes it. The legend itself
is as old as.the time of King Alfred, to whom a similar incident is ascribed.

7. Eagle's feathers.

" Eagle's feathers will not lie with any other feathers, but consume them
which lie with them " (" The Wedding Garment," Lond. 1614).

8. The eagle stone.

This, which was supposed to be found in the nest of an eagle, was red, or
black spotted with yellow in colour, and believed to bring good fortune to the
lucky possessor ; also to be of sovereign virtue in cases of pregnancy. So, in
the " Mercurius Rusticus," we read that a cock eagle's stone was stolen from a
certain house, for which thirty pieces had been ofiered by a physician. Pyrrhus,
king of Epirus, so Pliny (xxxvii. 1) tells us, had one of these gems in a ring,
in which were to be seen the nine Muses and Apollo with his lyre, not engraved
by art, but " sponte naturse ita disourrentibus maculis."

9. There is an Irish tradition that Adam and Eve still exist as eagles in the
island of Innis Bofln, at the mouth of Killery Bay, in Galway.

10. An old French naturalist (Aneau, " Description Philosophale de Nature,"
Paris, 1571) tells us that the eagle wages continual war with the wren and the
tree creeper {Certhea familiaris), the latter of which troubles him sorely, inas-
much as, when he Imows that the eagle is absent from the nest, he enters it
and breaks all the eggs.

(For the enmity between the eagle and the wren see under Wren, ii. 1.)

136 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

Genus HALiiBTUS.

WHITE-TAILED EAGLE {Hdicetus alhiciUa)'.

Also called
Sea eagle.
Erne (Shetland, Orkney, Isles). '

. Cf. A.-S. Earn; Breton, Er ; Danish, Oem.

In Norway Ijliis bird is beUeved, before attacking cattle, to throw dust into
their eyes, and so, by blinding, make them an easy prey. An old writer
describes the process thus : " When she laboureth to drive the Hart headlong
to ruine, she gathereth much dust as she flieth, and, sitting upon the Hart's
horns (!), shaketh it into his eyes, and with her-wings beateth him about the
mouth, untiU at last the poore Hart is glad to fall fainting to the ground"
(Swan's " Speculum Mundi," p. 384).

Qenus Astub.
GOSHAWK — i.e. Goose-hawk {Astur podumhariii^).

To the male goshawk, as well as to the male peregrine, the
name " tercel " (see under Peregrine Falcon) was applied by fal-
coners ; but in the case of the latter the epithet of " gentil " or
" gentle " was added, because being a long-winged hawk it was
considered the more noble of the two.

The French name is Autour (Ital. Astore, Lat. Astur), or
"Starred bird" (from Greek dcn-^p), as its plumage is starred
with brown and red spots.

Oenus Acci-PITEE.
SPARROW-HAWK {Accipiter nism).

Called Spur-hawk or Spar-hawk in Aberdeenshire, Cf. Spmr-
hok (Sweden), Spar/el (Brittany).

1. The slaty blue or leaden colour of upper parts of the body
has caused to be applied to it the names

Blue hawk (Berks; Bucks; Oxon; West Riding; Stirling;

East Lothian).
Blu6 merlin (Perth).

2. Also called

Maalin — i.e. Merlin ^Shetland Isles).

G;leg hawk (Renfrew). " Gleg " = quick-eyed.

Pigeon hawk.

PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 137

3. The name given by the old falconers to the male sparrow-
hawk was "Musket" (Fr. Motiohuet, Ital. Mosquetto, Dutch
Mosket), either from its colour " gris de mouche," or from its small
size. So we find, in the Merry Wives of Windsor, Mrs. Ford
addressing Falstaff's page with

" How now, my eyas musket ? "

Here, as Mr. Harting observes (" Ornith. of Shakespeare," pp.
74, 75) "eyas" signifies a nestUng; hence Mrs. Ford probably
intended to imply no more than we should mean by a " perky
Uttle feUow."

An " eyas " is probably a mispronunciation of " a niais," which
is a French word for a bird taken from the nest — nid (^Niaso,
Italy ; Nestling, Germany).

4. The higher a sparrow-hawk flies, so the Bretons say, the
better can he see the small birds which are on the ground. He
cries to them —

" Sauvez-vou3 oil vous voudrez,
Plus je serai haut, mieux je vous verrai ! "

They also declare that these hawks flap their wings to lull the
small birds to sleep.

Genus Milvus.
KITE {Mihms ictinus). A.-S. Cyta.

1. From its forked tail this bird has received the names of
Fork tail.

Crotch tail (Essex).
" Crotch " = a post with a forked top, used in building.

2. Also called

• Gled, Glead, or Greedy gled (Salop; North o? England;
Scotland).

" Kites and buzzards," says White in his " Selbome," " sail round in ciircles
with wings expanded arid actionlesB ; and it is from their gliding manner that
the former are still called in the north of England ' gleads ' or ' gleds,' from the
Sa^on glidam., to glide." (See under Buzzard.)

Sir Walter Scott writes in " Guy Mannering'' : —

" When the gled's in the blue cloud
The laverock lies still."

Puttock (see under Buzzard).

" A puttocke, set on pearch, fast by a falcon's side.
Will quickly show itselfe a kighte, as time hath often tried."

(Gasooigne, " Councell to Duglas^ Dive.")

138 PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIRDS.

3. Folk lore of the kite.

The kite, so the Czechs believe, is not allowed to drink from a spring, but
only from the pools formed by the rain in the clefts of rocks. Hence in dry
summers he ia sorely troubled with thirst, and flies aloft, calling " Pit ! pit! pit ! "'
(i.e. to drink ! to drink ! to drink !) thus intreating God to send refreshing
showers. (Grohmarm, p. 66.) See Green Woodpecker, ii. 2, h.

The kite is also considered in Bohemia to be the bearer of messages from the
devil to the village sbrcerers ; he flies in and out of their houses by the <
chimney..

A curious peculiarity of this bird is noticed in the Winter's Tale, IV. iii,,
where Autolycus says, " My traffic is sheets ; when the kite builds, look to
lesser linen " — ^meaning that his practice was to steal sheets, leaving the
smaller linen to be carried away by the kites, who will occasionally carry itoff
to line their nests (Singer's "Shakespeare," iv. 67, quoted by Dyer, "Folk
Lore of Shakespeare," p. 124). Mr. Dyce ("Glossary," p. 243) quotes the
following remarks of Mr. Peck on this passage :— " Autolycus here gives us to
understand that he is a thief of the first class. This he explains by an allu-
sion to an odd vulgar notion. The common people, many of them, think that
if any one can find a kite's nest, when she has young, before they are fledgisd,
and sew up their back doors, so as they cannot mute, the mother kite in com-
passion to their distress, will steal lesser linen, as caps, cravats, rufBes, or any
other such snaall matters as she can best fly with, from off the hedges where
they are hanged to dry after washing, and carry them to her nest, and there
leave them, if possible to move the pity of the first comer to cut the thread
and ease them of their misery."

Genus Peenis.

HONEY BUZZARD {Pemis apivorus).

The Welsh name for this bird is Bod y mel, or Honey kite. Bee
kite, or Bee buzzard, which corresponds with the Latin title, would
be more suitable, as the bird does not feed on the honey, but on
the insect which produces the honey. Also called

Capped buzzard.

Genus Falco.

PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco per egrinus).

A name given to it from its wandering habits.

Of. Faucon peUrin (France) ; Wander/alk (Germany).

1. From the dark bluish-grey of its upper plumage it is called
Blue-backed falcon.
Blue hawk (Mid Scotland ; Ireland).

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 139

2. Prom its prey

Gtame hawk (Scotland generally). '

Duck hawk.

3. Various names.

Saker — i.e. sacker or plunderer (obsolete).
Cliff hawk (Devon ; Cornwall ; Ireland).

Prom the place of its nest

Hunting hawk (East Lothian ; the Cheviot Hills).

Stock hawk (Shetland Isles).

Paakin — i.e. Palcon hawk (Aberdeen).

Goshawk (Ireland).
Improperly applied. The true Goshawk {Astur palumbarius) is short-winged.

In falconry the male peregrine was called the tiercel, tassel, or
tercel, gentle ; the former name being given to it because it was
about- one-third smaller than the falcon, by which title the female
was known ; the latter from its tractable disposition.

Cf . Terzuoh (Italy) ; Terzelot (Germany) ; Ta/rsel (Holland).

HOBBY {Falco suhhuteo). — Pr. Hohereau.

Prom the Latin albus, the whitish tint of its plumage dis-
tinguishing it from the other species of hawks, whose colour,
generally speaking, is dark. The formation of the name "hobby"
may be seen from the following Prench provincial names : —

Alhwn (Old Provengal), Auhier, Aubreau (Old Prench), Oiereau,
Hohereau (Mod. Prench).

Called Alhanella (Italy), Hoherell (Brittany), Weissbach (Swabia).

Vanrwinged hawk (Hants).

DttERLIN {Falco asalon).
Cf . EmerUlon (Prance), Smerlo (Italy), Schmerl (Germany).

1. Prom the greyish-blue of its upper plumage it is called

Blue hawk (North Eiding).
Small blue hawk (Stirling).

2. From its habit of sitting on a bare stone or piece of rock it
has received the names of

Stone falcon (Jforth Wales ; Scotland).
Rock hawk, Stone hawk.

140 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BBITISH BIRDS.

3. Various names.

Sparrow-hawk (Scotland).
Hobby (Shetland Isles).
Hawk kestrel (Do.).

KEST'R'EL (TinnuTiculus alavdarius). - .|

Of. Crescelle, Crescerelle (France) ; Cristel (Burgundy) ; Crista- ' ■ij

rello (Naples). So ;i

Creshawk (Cornwall). i

1. From its well-known habit of remaining stationary (stand- jl
in-gale), hovering and poising itself over a particular spot, are
derived the names

Stand hawk (West Riding).
Stannel or Stanchel.
Stannel hawk.
StonegaU, or Steingale.
Windhover (South and West of England).
Hoverhawk (Berks ; Bucks).
Fleingall, i.e. Fly in gale.
Vanner hawk, Wind fanner.
From the fanning movement of the wings.

Windcuffer (Orkney Isles).

Windsucker (Kent). y]

" Kistrilles or windsuokers, that filling themselves with winde fly against -.It
the wind evermore " — Nashe, ' ' Lenten Stuffe " (in Harleian MisceUany, vi. 170). !'

Windbibber (Kent). ;

A Welsh name is Cudyll y gwynt, i.e. wind hawk.

2. Names given from the red tint of its plumage.

Red hawk (Stirling). • i

Cf. Eousset mohet (Luxembourg) ; Cudyll cdch (Wales). The ]

Gaelic title is Clamhan ruadh, i.e. red kite.

3. Various names.
Kite (Salop).

Keelie (neighbourhood of Edinburgh).

From its loud, shrill oiy.

Blood hawk (Oxon).
From the blood-red colour of the eggs. (C. M. Prior.)

Maalin, i.e. Merlin (Shetland Isles).
Sparrow-hawk (Ireland).
Called in Norway Taarn/cdk, or tower falcon.

PKOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 141

4. Kestrel and sparrow-hawk.

" The aparrow hawk," says Lupton in his " Thousand Notable Things," " is
a fierce enemy to all pigeons ; but they are defended by the castrel, whose sight
and voice the sparrow hawk doth fear — which the pigeons or doves know well
enough, for where the castrel is, from thence will not the pigeons go (if the
sparrow hawk be nigh), through the great trust she hath in the castrel, her
defender."

The Bohemians believe the kestrel to be a bird of good omen. He shows
them the best watering places in the rivers and pools, and if a robber approaches
any one who has fallen asleep out of doors, wakes the sleeper with his warning
voice. Hence he is the dread of forest thieves and poachers. (Grohmann.)

Genus Pandion.
OSPREY (Pamdion halicetus).

From the Latin ossifraga, i.e. bonebreaker, because fragments
of bone are found in its stomach.
1. Also called

Pishing hawk or fish hawk (Scotland ; Shetland Isles)'.
Cf. Fischhabicht (Germany).

Mullet hawk.
Eagle fisher.
Cf. Aigle peeheur (Prance).
Bald' buzzard.

From its white head and feathers. Cf. Balbusard (France).

Water eagle (Old Scotch). Equivalent to the Gaelic lolair-

Called in Italy Angiusta plrmiheria, i.e. the leaden eagle, because
its sudden descent on its prey is like the fail Of lead.

The Welsh names are Pysg eryi, i.e. fish eagle, and Gwahh y
i, i.e. sea hawk.

2. Shakespeare alludes to the ospreyin CoriolanuSjAcb IV. sc. vii.

Aufidius loq. " As is the osprey to the fish who takes it
By sovereignty of nature."

" Here," says Mr. Staunton, " the image is founded on the fabulous power
attributed to the osprey of fascinating the fish on which it preys. Thus in
Peele's play called The Battle of Alcazar (1594), Act II., sc. i. ;

" I will provide thee of a princely ospray,
That, as she flieth over fish in pools,
The fish shall turn their glistering bellies up.
And' thou shalt take thy liberal choice of all."

142 PKOVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIRDS.

And also in Drayton, Polyolhion, song xxv.,—

" The osprey, oft here seen, tho' seldom here it breeds,
■ Which over them the fish no sooner do espy, ,^
But, betwixt him and them by an antipathy,
Turning their bellies up, as though their death they saw,
They at his pleasure lie, to stuff his gluttonous maw."

3. An old belief is mentioned by Harrison, in his "Description of Britain,"
prefixed to Holinshed's " Chroniclej" vol. i., p. 382, who writes' respecting the
osprey, " It hath not beene my hap hitherto to see' ariie of these foules, and
partlie through mine owne negligence ; but I heare that it hath one foot like
a hawke to catch hold withall, and another tesemWing a goose, wherewith
to swim ; but whether it be so or not so, I refer the further search and trial
thereof to some other." Giraldus Cambrensis ("Topography of Ireland,"
p. 38, ed. Wright) improves on this, moralising as follows : — " In lite manner
the old enemy of mankind fixes his keen eyes on us, however we may try to
conceal ourselves in the troublesome waves- of this present world, and ingra-
tiating himself with us by temporal prosperity, which may be compared to the
peaceable foot, the cruel spoiler then puts forth his ravenous claws to clutch
miserable souls and drag them to perdition."

Order Steganopodes.

Family PelecaniDjE.

Genus Phalacrocorax.

CORMORANT (PAafcj-ocoma; carlo).

(Fi'. Gormoran — i.e. Corvus marinus, or Sea raven. Another
derivation is from Cor =t Gorbeau and Moran, a contraction of
the Breton word Mdrvran, which means Sea crow.)
Also called
Sea crow.

Coal goose (Kent).

Scart (Lancashire; North of Ireland; Orkney Isles).
Cf. Scarf (Norway). See below, under Shag, 1.

Gorma — i.e. Gor mew. See under Carrion Crow, 1. .
In the Shetland Isles the young cormorants are called "brongie,"
the adults " loering."

Cowe'en elders (Kirkcudbright).
From Colvend, a coast parish in that county.
Mochrum elders (Wigtown).

From a loch of that name. "Perhaps their present appellation was bestowed
on the cormorants by our Presbyterian forefathers in the days when the kirk
session held supreme sway in rural places, and might be one way in which the
people showed theu- dislike to its inquisitorial functions." (Robert Service, in
Zoologist, 1878, p.- 428.) ^

Isle of Wight parsons (Hants).

PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 143

2. Thompson, in his "History of the Birds of Ireland" (iii. 241), says that
the country-people about Lough Neagh believe that these birds daUy visit the
sea, and that they would die if they did not get a drink of salt water within
the twenty-four hours.

The voracity of the cormorant has become so proverbial, that a greedy and
voracious eater is often compared to this bird.

At certain states of the tide — chiefly about low water— cormorants may
often be seen standing on the rocks, with outspread wings, drying their
feathers : —

" The cormorant stands upon its shoals,
His black and dripping wings
Half open to the vrind.' '

So, too, does Kilton say of Satan, that he

" On the tree of life, .
The middle tree, the highest there that grew.
Sat like a cormorant,"

3. On Sunday, September 9th, 1860, a cormorant took up its
position on the steeple of Boston church, in Lincolnsl^ire, much
to the alarm of the superstitious. There it remained, with the
exception of two hours' absence, till early on Monday morning,
when it was shot by the caretaker of the church. The fears of
the credulous were singularly confirmed when the news arrived
of the loss of the Lady Elgin at sea, with three hundred passengers,
amongst whom were Mr. Ingram, member for Boston, with his
son, on the very morning when the bird was first seen.

SHAG (Phalotcrocorax graculus),

1. So called from the tufted rough feathers that appear on the
heads of the male birds when young. (A.-S. scega, akin to
Swedish skagg, a beard). Whence also

Crested cormorant.
Tufted skart.
Skart (Orkney Isles).
Scarf (Shetland Isleg).

2. Various names.

Crane (Northumberland).
Green cormorant (Ireland).
From the rich dark-green colour of its plumage.
Cole goose (Kent).

144 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

Genus Sula. >
GANNET {Sula hassana).

1. A.-S. gemot (akin to Dutch gent = a gander) ; whence

Gan (Wales ; Forfar).
Herring gant (Norfolk).

2. Also called
Solan goose.

" Solan is derived from Icelandic Sulan = the gannet, where n stands for the
definite article " (Skeat).

Bass goose, or BaSser (Forfar).

From their favourite haunt, in the Firth of Forth, the Bass rook ; hence the
Latin bassana. Mr. Rennie ("Hahits'of Birds," p. 377) states that the
more uninformed of the Scottish peasantry believe- that this bird grows by the
bill upon the cliffs of the Bass, of Ailsa and of St. Kilda.

Channel goose (North Devon).
Spectacled goose.

Order Herodiones.

Family Aedeid^.

Genus Aedea.

HERON (Ardea cinerea).

1. The heron, or hern, is so called from its harsh cry. Other
forms of the same word are

Ham (Norfolk).
Harnser (Suffolk).
Hamsey (Norfolk).
Hernsew, Heronseugh (Yorkshire).
Hemshaw, Heronshaw (Notts).
Huron (Roxburgh).
Herald (Forfar).

Hegrie, Skip hegrie, HegrU's skip (Shetland Isles).
Cf. HSgron (Savoie) ; Aghirone (Italy).

2. Familiar names.

Jack hem (Sussex).
Moll hern (Midlands).
Jenny crow (North). .

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 145

Jenny heron (Kirkcudbright),
Tammie herl (Perth).
. Jemmy lang legs (Hundred of Lonsdale).
Jemmy lang neck „ „

3. Also called

Frank (Suffolk ; Stirling).
From its harsh cry.

Crane (Somerset; !N'orthants; Westmoreland; Lancashire;

Ireland ; Scotland).
Longie crane (Pembroke)."
Long-necked heron (Ireland).
Craigie heron (Stirling ; North Scotland). " Craig " = throat.

4. Herons prognosticating rain.

" Herons," -writes an old author, " flying up and down in the evening, as if
doubtful where to rest, presage some evill approaching weather." The Germans
say, " Wenn der Fisohreiher das Wasser au^fliigt, holt er Wasser."

5. Proverbial saying.

"He does not know a hawk from a handsaw": referred to in SfanUet,
Act II., Sc. ii. : — " I am but mad north-north-west ; when the wind is southerly
I know a hawk from a handsaw." Here " handsaw " is a corruption of " heron-
. shaw," or "hemshaw" ; and the saying is one of contempt. Mr. J. C. Heath
points out that as the morning used to be the favourite time for the sport of
hawking, when the wind blew from the north-west the birds would probably
fly so that any person watching them had the sun in his eyes, and could not
easily distinguish the quarry from its pursuer ; but that when the vrind was
southerly, the birds flew from the sun and one could easily "know a hawk
from a handsaw." (See "Notes to Samlet," by Clark and Wright, 1876,
p. 159.)

6. The heron in medicine.

' The fat of a heron, killed at the full of the moon, is believed in the north of
Ireland to be an excellent remedy for rheumatism.

7. Folk lore of the heron.

In Angus there is a popular superstition that this bird waxes and wanes
with the moon ; that it is plump when the moon is full, and so lean at the
change that it can scarcely raise itself, so that it can almost be taken with the
hand. -(Jamieson.)

It is said in Ireland that small eels pass through the intestines of a, heron
uninjured, so that it swallows the same individual several times in succession.
This belief was shared by Pontoppidan, who goes most minutely iito particulars
to explain the process.

The Bohemians declare that the heron warns men of their danger when lost
in the marshes, and endeavours by her cry to lead them to a safe place.

8. Vow of the heron.

When Robert of Artois, having been outlawed by Philip of Valois, and
driven from Namur, took refuge at the coyirt of Edward III., he endeavoured

^ 10

146 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

to excite the ambition of that moaaroh by urging him to tear the French crown
from the brows of Philip, and place it, as his rightful inheritance, on his own
head. ' To effect this, he had recourse to the following device. One day he
proceeded to the palace, accompanied by minstrels, and bearing in great state
two silver dishes, each of which contained a roast heron. Kneeling before the
monarch, he offered them for his acceptance, declaring that they, the most
cowardly of all birds, were well suited as a present to the greatest coward that
ever lived. The plan was successful ; and Edward, with all his knights,
pledged themselves to enter France, sword in hand, before a year had expired.
This incident forms the subject of a historical poem of the fourteenth century
(published in 1781 by M* La Cume de ^t. Palaye) entitled " The Vow of the
Heron, " which may. be found in Mr. Thomas Wright's " Political Poems and
Songs, etc., temp. Edw. III. to Eio. III. "

Qenus Botaurus.
BITTERN (Botaurus

1. 0. E. Bitoure J wkence also
Bittour.

Buttel.

Butter bump, or Bottle bump (Yorkshire).

Bitter bum.

Bumpy cors — i.e. Welsh, Bwmp y govs = Boom of the

marsh.
Bumble.

2. It frequents moist and boggy places ; which habit, combined
with its hoarse cry, have caused it to be called

Bog bumper (Scotland).
Bog blutter, or Bog jumper.
Bog drum (Ireland ; Scotland).
Bull o'the bog (Koxburgh).

3. The deep and solemn character of the booming noise peculiar to the male
bittern, has vested the bird with an uncanny character. " I remember," says
Goldsmith in his " Animated Nature," " in the place where I was a boy, with
what terror the bird's note affected the whole village : they considered it the
presage of some sad event ; and generally found, or made, one to succeed it.
I do not speak ludicrously, but if any person in the neighbourhood died, they
supposed it could not be otherwise, for the Night Raven had foretold it." (For
" Night raven " see under "Brown Owl.") The cry to which Goldsmith alludes
was formerly supposed to be produced by the bird plunging its bili into the
mud : hence Chaucer writes

" And as a BUtore burnbleth in the irwre.''

(" Wife of Bath."

But Dry den, in his corresponding line, follows another explanation — viz.j that
the bittern puts its bill into a reed, and then' blows through it : ',' ,

" Then to the water's brink she laid her head, ,. ■ , ';

And aa a Bittern Jnwi's within a reed."

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 147

Biehop Hall, in his " Characters of Verfcues and Vices,'' speaking of the
superstitious man, says, " If a Bittowm fly over his head by night, he makes
his will."

4. WeatEer prognostics from the bittern's cry.

" ThereTl either be rain or else summut waur,
When Butter Sumps sing upon Potteric Carr "

.'(J. Hawley, in Zoologist, February 1869,)

writing from the neighbourhood of Doncaster : a proverb used by old people'
as the bird is now extinct.

The Geimans say : " If the bittern is heard early, we may expect a good
harvest."

5.. 'Folk lore of the bittern.

" I knew a man of very high dignity," says Sir Humphrey Davy, " who was
exceedingly moved by omens, and who never went out shooting' without a
bittern's claw fastened to his button-hole by a riband, which' he thought
insured him ' good luck.' "

Order Anseres.

Family Anatid.*.

Getms Ansee.

GREY-LAG GOOSE (Anser cinereus).

1. Yarrell states that the term "lag," as applied to this bird,
is either a modification of the English word " lake " (Latin locus),
or perhaps an abbreviation of the Italian lago, from which latter
country it is even probable that we may originally have obtained
this our domesticated race. Also called

Wild goose.
Fen, or Marsh, goofee.
Stubble goose (East Lothian).
Grey goose. '

2. Wild geese as prognosticating the weather. .

•These birds fly in the shape of A or V, or in an irregular wavy line, the
strongest males being the leaders, and the youpg and weak forming the rear :
hence the belief that the figure in the form of which they flew denoted the
number of weeks of frost that would follow their appearance. In Morayghirfe
they have a saying,

" Wild geese, wild geese, ganging to the sea,
Good weather it will be :
Wild geese, wild geese, ganging to the hill,
The weather it will spill.

148 PROVINCIAIi NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

3. In Scotland, says Chambers, when they see wild geese on the wing, the
boys cry at the top of their voides —

" Here's a string o' wild geese,
How mony for a penny ?
Ane to my lord.

And ane to my lady,
Up the gate and down the gate^
They're a' flown frae me."

4. It was beUeved that wild geese were peculiarly affected when flying By
St. Hilda's Abbey, near Whitby. Camden writes, referring to this, " that those
wilde geese which in winter time flie by flockes unto pooles and rivers that are
not frozen over, in the south partes, whiles they flie over certaine fields neere
adjoyning, aoudainely fall downe to the ground, to the exceeding great admira-
tion of all men : a thing that I would not have related, had I not heard it
from very many persons of right good credit. But such as are not given to
superstitious credulity, attribute this unto a secret property of the ground,
'and to a hidden dissent betweene this soUe and those geese, such as is betweene
wolves and squilla root "

5. The proverbial expression, "a wild goose chase,'' equivalent to an unsuc-
cessful undertaking, is derived from the shyness and extreme wariness of the
bird, which render approach extremely difBcult.

BEAN GOOSE {Anser segetum).

1. Also called Corn goose ; names given from the bird's
partiality to grain and pulse. Cf. Oie des moissons (France).

Wild goose (East Lothian ; Ireland).

2. Mr. Yarrell (Noteg and Queries, Ser. I,, vol. v., p. 596) states that the
noise in the air attributed to the Gabriel or Wish hounds, or Seven whistlers
(see Widgeon, Lapwing, Curlew), is really caused by the bean geese coming
southwards on the approach of ' winter, who choose dark nights for their
migration, and utter loud and pecuUar cries.

WHTTE-FEONTED GOOSE {Anser albifrons).

1. So called from the bird's white forehead; whence also
White-faced goose.
Bald goose (Scotland).

2 Various names.

Laughing goose. Cf . Oie rieuse (France), ,

Tortoise-shell goose (Ireland).
From the mottled markings on the abdomen.

PROVINCIAL NAMKS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 149

Genus Behnicla.

BRENT GOOSE {Bernicla hrenta).

From Welsh hrenig, Breton hrenaiig, a limpet,

1. From the cry of this bird, which is varied, sounding like
the different expressions " prott," " rott," and " crock," are derived
the names

Kott goose, or Rat goose.
Road goose, or Bood goose.
Clatter goose (East Lothian).
Quink goose.
Crocker. Cf. Crot (Picardy).

" The Swedes call it the prut, as the peculiar noise it makes is supposed to
resemble the voice of an old woman who is beating . down the price [prtU) of
an article she wishes to buy." (" Naturalist in Norway," p. 178.)

2. Also called

Ware goose (Durham).
Because it feeds on seaweed, called "ware.''

JSorie, or Horra, goose (Shetland Isles),
From being found in the Sound of Horra.

Brant (Norfolk). See above.

Black goose (Essex).

Barnacle (Ireland).

The common name for this species in. Ireland — a name entirely erroneous.
But in some parts the true Barnacle goose and the Brent are distinguished as
the Norway Barnacle and the Wexford Barnacle.

.BAEITACLE GOOSE {Bernicla leucopsis). See below.

1. Also called

Bar goose (Essex).

Clakis or Claik (Bast Lothian, and Scotland generally).
Perhaps from the claik or clack, the noise they make.

White-faced barnacle.

Norway barnacle (Ireland).

Rood goose (obsolete).

Routherbck (Orkney Isles : an almost obsolete term).

2. Tree goose.

So called from the old legend which declared this bird to be produced from
trees, resembling willows, which grew in the Orkney Isles ; it being also

150 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

believed that each end of the branch produced small round balls, which, when
ripe, dropped into the sea, and then appeared as a.perfeot goose.

A little later on, this story became .modified. Gerard, Meyer, Gesner,
Turner, and others declared that the germ of the bernicle was to be found in
a species of shell (Lepas anoMfera) which adheres in clusters to decayed
timber arid the bottom of ships. The quaint account Gerard gives of it is
worth transcribing. After saying that barnacles were produced, according to
the testimony of others, in the north of Scotland and the adjacent islands
called Orcades, he proceeds to declare "what his own eyes have seen and
hands have touched. There is a small island in Lancashire called the Pile of
Foulders, wherein are found the broken pieces of old ships, some whereof
have been cast thither by shipwreck, and also the trunks or bodies, with the
branches, of old rotten 'trees, cast up there likewise, whereon is found a
certain spume or froth, that in time breedeth into certain shells, in shape like
those of the mussel, but sharper pointed, and of a whitish colour ; wherein
is contained a thing in form like a lace of silk, one end whereof is fastened
unto the inside of the shell, even as the fish of oysters and mussels are. The
other end is made fast unto the belly of a rude mass or lump, which in time
Cometh 'to the shape and form of a bird ; when it is perfectly formed, the
shell gapeth open, and the first thing that appeareth is the foresaid lace or
string ; next come the legs of the bird hanging out, and as it groweth greater
it openeth the shell by degrees, till at length it is all come forth and hangeth
only by the bill. In short space after it cometh to full maturity, and faSeth
into the sea, where it gathereth feathers and groweth to a fowl, bigger than a
mallard, and lesser than a goose ; having black legs and 'bill, or beak, and
feathers black and white, spotted in such a manner as is our magpie, which
the people of Lancashire call by no other name than a tree goose." That
there might be no mistake pn the subject he adds, " For the truth hereof, if
any doubt, may it please them to repaire unto me, and I shall satisfie them by
the testimonie of good witnesses" (Herbal, p. 1587). Many old writers—
e.g. Shakespeare {Tenypeit, iv. 1) ; Butler ("Hudibras," iii. 2. 655) ; Du Bartaa
("Divine Week," p. 228) ; Bishop Hall (" Virgidemiarum," lib. iv. sat. 2)—
mention this strange idea. The marine animal— a triton, having many ciirhi
or fine feather-like tentacula, with a long worm-like stem by whidi it hangs— •
that gave rise to this error, is to be found adhering in clusters to floating
pieces of wood and the sides of rocks. Its shell is milk-white, thin, smooth
and semi-transparent, with the top open.

3. As regards the derivation of " bemacle," Max Mtiller (" Lectures on the
Science of Language," 2nd series, 1864, pp. 533-51) thinks that "barnacles,"
the oirripeds, " pernaculse," were confused with the geese that came from
Ireland, " hibemiculse." (List of British Birds.)

Genus Cygnus.
MTJTE SWAN {Cygnus olor).

1. So called from its comparative silence j though not ab-
solutely voiceless, for it utters now and then a soft, low,
plaintive note, especially while with its young.

Col. Hawker (" Instructions to Young Spoftsmen," ed. xi., p. 269) writes
that he was " amused with watching and listening to a domesticated swan, as
he swam up and down the water in the Eegent's Park. He tuned up a sort

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 151

of melody, made with two notes, C and the minor third, E flat, and kept
working his head as if delighted with his own performance."

2. Various names are given to the male and female of the domesticated
swan. YarreU says that the former jp called Cob, the latter Pen. On the
Thames the cock birds are called Tom, or Cock ;'the hens, Jenny, or Hen. In
the " Arohseologia " (xvi. 16) it is stated that the old Jjincolnshire names were
Sire and Dam, respectively.

3. Swans singing before death.

This old superstition has been thoroughly disproved by modem research.
How it originated it is impossible to say, but it is found, according to Douce
("Illustrations of Shakespeare," i. 262), in Plato, Ghrysippus, Aristotle,
Eiiripedes, Philostratus, Cicero, Seneca, and Martial, though discredited by-
Pliny, .^lian, Athenseus, and, more recently, by Sir Thomas Browne.' It is
aUu^ed to several times by Shakespeare — e.g. in the Merchant of Venice,
Act iii., sc. 2 : —

" A swan-like end, fa.ding in music " ;
and in OthMo, Act v., sc. 2 : —

" I win play ^he swan, and die in music"

4. Weather lore.

Swans are believed in Hampshire to be hatched in thunderstorms, the
reason of which bit of folk lore is not known. There is no doubt that they
have an instinctive prescience of floods, for it is a well-known fact that before
heavy rains the birds whose home is on the banks of the Thames raise their
nests so as to save their eggs from being chilled by the water.

5. The swan a royal bird. ,

In England the swan is a royal bird, and by. a statute (22 Edward IV.), it
was ordered that no person who did not possess a freehold of ' a clear yearly
value of five marks should be permitted to keep any swans ; and in
11 Hen. YII. it was ordained that "any one stealing or taking a swan's egg
should have one year's imprisonment, and make payment of a fine at the
king's wiU." Even at the present time it is felony to steal, or injure in any
way, " a yoimg swan." The privilege of keeping " a game " of swans is
manifested by the grant of a swan mark, which is cut in the skin, or on the beak,
of the swan, with a sharp knife. , The Queen's mark is composed of five long
ovals, pointed at each end. Two of these are placed in a longitudinal direction ;
the other three transversely, a little lower down. The mark of the Vintners
Company consists of two nicks in. the form of a V ; hence thes origin of the
inn sign — the " Swan with Two Necks " (i.e. nicks). It used to be the
custom of the Dyers and Vintners Companies, who own many swans on the
Thames, to go up the river on the first Monday in August for the purpose of
nicking, or marking, and counting their birds. This yearly " progress " was
qommonly called "swan-hopping," the correct title being " swan-upping " ;
the swans being taken up, nicked or marked. (For further information on
swans' marks, see Yarrell ii). >v.b voc.)

6. Oath on the swan._ .

The peacock, swan, heron, and pheasant were birds of high esteem in the
days of chivalry. The swan was the device of Edward I. ; and in 1306, when
the young Prince Edward, after receiving knighthood from his father,
conferred that honour on three hundred young gentlemen, his friends, " after

152, PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

he had dubbed and embraced them all," two. swans were introduced, " gor-
geously caparisoned, their beaks gilt, a most pleasing sight to all beholders,"
and upon them Edward vowed that he would avenge the death of John
Comyn. It was also an old German custom (see Grimm's " Rechtsalter-
thiimer," 900) to swear upon the swalh, probably because it was sacred to
Freyr, whose cloud-ship, Skidbladnir, it would resemble.

7. The swan lamenting.

"The swan," says Braithwaite ("The Penitent Pilgrim," 1641 — Reprint
Pickering, 1853, p. 128), "if at any time she pride herseK in her beSuty, no
sooner looks upon her black feet th^ she wails her plumes."

WHOOPEE SWAN {Gygnus musicus).

1. So called from its powerful voice ; other names are

Whistling swan.
WUd swan."
Elk.
Cf . the Breton term, alaro'h.

As these birds fly in wedge-like figure they utter a shrill, whooping cry,
which produces a pleasant effect as it comes down from, the upper air,
modulated by distance. So Drayton' writes of the Lincolnshire fens, —

" Here in my vaster pools, as white as snow or milk,
In water black as Styx, swims the wild swan, the ilke (i,e. elk)
Of Hollanders so termed, no niggard of his breath,
(As poets say of swans who only sing in death) ;
But, as other birds, is heard his tunes to roat.
Which like a trumpet comes, from his long' arched throat."

(" Polyolbion," Song xxv.)

2. Swan maidens.

In the old Aryan mythology the sky was regarded as a sea or great lake, and
the clouds either as ships sailing over it or as bright birds, the fleecy cirrhi
being looked upon as swans. From this thought it was easy to pass to the
idea that these birds were maidens with swans' plumage, who could assume the
human form at will. (See for a full treatment of this subject Baring Gould's
"Myths of the Middle Ages," ii. 296 et aej., also Cox's "Aryan Mythology,''
, ii. 282, 283.) _ ^

It is believed in county Mayo, on the authority of Mr. E . Glennon, " that
the souls of virgins who, whilst living, had been remarkable for the purity of
their lives, were after death enshrined in the form of these birds, as emblematic
of their purity and beatitude. For this reason they remain in safety, as it is
also believed that whoever should be so unlucky as to meddle with them would
pay for his temerity by the forfeit of his life ere the year had elapsed. " (Walters'
" Nat. Hist, of the Bu'ds of Ireland," pp. 194, 195.)

3. Order of the Swan.

Connected with the above myth of the Swan maidens are the romances of
Lohengrin and Helios, the Knight of the Swan, in commemoration of which

PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. ' 153

Frederic II. of Brandenburg instituted the Order of the Swan, in 1440. There
was also an order of 'knighthood of the same name at Cleves, of which duchy
one Tersion of the story made Helias duke. Through Anne of Cleves the White
Swan became a favourite tavern sign,

a. Romance of Lohengrin.

Lohengrin was son of Percival, and Knight of the Holy Grail. Summoned
mysteriously from Montsalvatsch he came to Brabant in a. boat drawn by a
swan, and, having freed the Duchess Elsen from Frederic of Telramund, who
claimed her as his wife, married her, on the condition that she should not ask
his race. For some time they lived happily together ; but one day his wife,
being laughed at by her friends for not knowing whence her husband had
sprung, resolved to ask him of his family. He told her that his father was
Percival, and that God had sent him from the custody of the Grail ; and then
the white swan reappeared with the boat and carried >"'Tin away.

h'. Romance of Helias.

Helias, Knight of the Swan, was son of Oriant, King of Lilef ort, and Beatrice.
This Beatrice had seven children at a birth, one of whom was a daughter.
Matabrune, her mother-in-law, caused them, when young, to be ei^posed in a
forest, where they were taken care of by a hermit. However, they were
discovered by the old queen's servants, and robbed of the silver chains which
each wore ; whereupon .they were all changed into swans except Helias, who,
being absent with the hermit, escaped. The rest of his life was spent in
recovering his brothers' chains and restoring them to their former shape, which
he succeeded in doing, except in the case of one whose chain had been melted
down, and who therefore was doomed to remain a swan all his life. These two
were the heroes of wonderful adventures, till Helias married the heiress of
Bouillon, becanje ancestor of Godfrey, and finally disappeared for ever from
his wife's sight m a-boat drawn by a swan, his brother.

Gmms Tadorna.
COMMON SHELDSAEE {Tadm-na cornuta).

1. Called sheldrake from its variegated plumage, "shelled "or
" sheld " having that meaning still in the Eastern counties.

Shell duck (Lancashire).
Skeldrake or Scale drake (Orkney Isles).
Skeel goose ; Skeel duck (Scotland).
Sheld fowl (Orkney Isles).

2. The bar or belt of bright red-brown which passes round the
breast on to the back has obtained for it the names of

Bar gander (Essex).

Bar drake (Ireland).

Bay duck (Norfolk).

From the colour of the belt.

154 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

3. Various names.

St. George's duck.
Burrow duck.

• Because it makes its nest either in a rabbit burrow or in a hole hollowed out
by itself. Cf. XtiPaWwr;^ (Greece) ; Canard Menard or Camard lapin (France) ;
Volpoca (Tuscany).

Pirennet, i,e. Pied ent or Pied duck.

Stock annet (East Scotland).
i.e. Stock ent. (See Jamieson, under " Stock Duck.")

Sly goose (Orkney Isles).
So called from its craftiness.

Links goose (Orkney Isles).
Because it frequents the links, or sandy plains near the sea.

Genus Mareca.
WIGEOlf (Mareca penelope).

From vipio (Lat.) =a small crane, as pigeon ivora. pipio.

1. From its loud whistling call-notes this bird has .received the
names

Whistler.
Cf . Canard siffieur (France) ; Pfeifer (Bavaria).

Whim.

Whewer, or Whew duck. (See below, 3.)
Cf. Vioux (Savoy).

" Pandle '" whew (Norfolk).
" Pandle," in Kent, means a shrimp.

2. Various names.

Bald pate.

Half duck (Norfolk).
Because worth only half the value of a wild duck.

Smee duck (Norfolk)..
Cock winder (ditto).

3. The difference in the colours of the male and female has
caused the following names to be applied to each : —

Golden head, or Yellow poll.

The male is so called on the east coast of Ireland ; while the

PROVINCIAl NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 155

females are called in the same district ^' Black wigeons," and in
Norfolk, according to Ray, " Whewers."

Latham says that the young males were sold in London under
the name of " Easterlings," and the females under that of " Lady
fowl."

4.. In Shropshire every species of wild duck, with the exception
of Anas bosaas, is called wigeon.

5. The loud ringing sound of the wigeons' wings, combined with
their long, clfear call-notes, heard during the night while the
birds pass over in their flight, has caused the name of the " Seven
whistle;;s " to be given to them in Portugal ; where they are
supposed to be the spirits of unbaptised children. (See under
Lapwing, Curlew.)

6. The wigeon was supposed to be a sUly bird, hence the word
was sometimes used as synonymous with a fool. So

" Th' apostles of this fierce religion,
Like Mahomet's, were ass and wigeon,"

(« Hudibras," I. i. 231,)
i.e., silly beast and silly bird.

Genus Dapila.
PINTAIL {Bafila acuta).

1 . So called from the pointed appearance of the bird's tail, the
two middle feathers of which are longer than the rest. Cf . Pointard
(Anjou), Pfeilschwcmz (Swabia), Schwalbenente (Switzerland), Guda
longa (Sicily). From this, as also from the beauty of its plumage,
it has the name of

Sea pheasant (Hants ; Dorset).
Cf. Faisan de mer (France).

2. Also called

Cracker.
"Winter duck.
Lady bird (Dublin Bay).
From its grace of form.
Harlan (Wexford).

156 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

Genus Anas.
WILD DUCK {Anas boscas).

1. The male is called
Mallard, i.e. male duck.

Of. Mala/rt (France), Malla/rdo (Naples).

The female
Duck.

The young ones

Flappers.
From the maimer in which they ecuffle along the water with feet and wings.

2. Various names.

Stock duck (Orkney Isles).

Cf . Stock Ente (Germany).

Mire duck (Forfar).

Moss duck (Renfrew ; Aberdeen).

Muir duck (Stirling).

Grey duck (Lancashire ; Dumfries).

3. Weather prognostic, derived from habits of wild ducks ^

" When ducks are driving through the bum
That night the weather takes a turn-"

4. As the wild duck is undoubtedly the original of our domestic
varieties, it will be well to take this opportunity of noticing any
scraps of folk-lore connected with the latter.

(a) It is believed in Rutlandshire that ducks' eggs, brought into a house
after sunset, will never be hatched.

(6) The All Souls' Mallard.

The story of this bird is, or perhaps used to be, well known to Oxonians. A
full account of 'the occurrence which gave rise to the annual festival, held at All
Souls' College on January 14th, may be found in Hone's "Year Book," pp. 44,
45, 46, and summarised in the following extract 'from Pointer's " Oxomensis
Academia": — -"Another custom is that of celebrating their Mallard-night
every year on the 14th of January, in remembrance of a huge mallard or drake
found (as tradition goes) imprisoned in a gutter or drain under ground,, and
grown to a vast bigness, at the digging for the foundation of the CoUege."

" The Merry Old Song of the All Souls' Mallard,.

" Griffin, bustard, turkey, capon,
Let other hungry mortals gape on ;
And on their bones their stomach fall hard.
But let All Souls' men have their Mallard.
Oh ! by the blood of King Edward,
Qh ! by the blood of King Edward,
It was a swapping, swapping MaUard.

PBOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 157

" The Romans once admired a gwnder
More than they did their chief commander ;
Because he saved, if some don't fool us,
The place that's called the head of Tolus,
Oh ! by the blood, etc.

" The poets feign Jove turned a swan, *

But let them prove it if they can :
As for our proof 'tis not at all hard,
For it was a swapping, swapping Mallard.
Oh ! by the blood, etc.

" Therefore let us sing and dance a galliard,
To the remembrance of the Mallard :
And as the Mallard dives in pool.
Let us dabble, dive, and duck in bowl.
Oh ! by the blood, etc."

This game is so called from the rebound of the stone on the water (French
ricochet) resembUng the half flying, half running motion of the duck when
shooting along the surface. Hence " to make ducks and drakes of one's
money " is to spend or squander it in as foolish a manner as if it were a stone
to make ducks and drakes with. -

To " swim like at duck " is proverbial.

(d) Divination from the breastbones of ducks.

" In Richmondshire some perspps say that the breastbones of ducks after
being cooked are observed to be dark coloured before a severe winter, and
much lighter coloured before a mild winter."

{Notes amd Queries, July 31st, 1878.)

Gemos Chaulblasmus.

GASWALL (Ghaidelaamus strepenes).

Grey duck.
Cf. Griset (Eastern Pyrenees).

Kodge.

Sand wigeon (Essex-).

Gemi8 QUERQUEDULA.

GARGANET {Querqueduld circia).

? = Small duck ; Gameta — i.e. petit canard (Provence) ;
Gannette (Perry) ; Raoanette (Aube) ; Arccmette (Pajte Messin) ;
so Grarganey.

158 PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIRDS,

Pied wiggon or wigeon.
Summer teal (Somerset ; Norfolk).
From the time of its appearance.

Summer duck.

Cricket teal.
From its cry .

Cf . Cric eric (Jura) / Criquet (Savoy) ; Kriechentlein (Ger-
any).

COMMON TEAL [Querquedula crecoa).

Dutch Teling.

Jay teal (Kirkcudbright).
From its colour.

Tael dmk — i.e. Teal duck (Scotland generally).

Genus Spatula.
SHOVELLER {Spatula olypeata). ■

1. So called from its brpad, curiously formed bill; \(rhence also
Shovel bill.

Broad bill.

•Shovelard (Norfolk, Sir Thos. Browne). ' .
Spoon bill, or Spoon beak (Norfolk).
Whinyard (Waterf ord). '
Whiuyard is the name for a knife like the shoveller's bill in shape.

Cf . Bee en cvMer (France) ; Paletione (Italy) ; Loffelente (Ger-
many).

2. VariSus names.
Maiden duck (Wexford).
Sheldrake (Waterf ord).

From the rich varied plumage of the male hird. .

Kirk tuUock.
' Blue- winged shoveller.

Oemis FunauLA.

TUFTED DUCK {FuUgula cristataX

1. So called from the pendent crest of very narrow feathers on
the back of the head.

PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 159

2. The following names, given to this bird, nearly all, have
reference to its colour, viz. : —

White-sided duck, or diver (Armagh).
. Black wigeori (Devon).

Of. Nigrovm (Provence) ; MoriUon (France generally).

Black poker (Norfolk).
Poker is a common name in East Anglia for many species of the duck tribe.

Black curre (Hants).
Gold-eye duck ("Wexford).
Crested diver (Ireland).
•Curre wigeon (Somerset).
Doucker — 4.6. Diver (Islay).

SCAUP {FuUgvIa marUa).

1. So named from its feeding among broken oyster and mussel
shells ; called in the north " scaup," whence also

Mussel duck (Norfolk).

2. From its colour.
a. The male is called

Green-headed diver (Belfast).
Black-headed diver.
From the black feathers, glossed with green, of the head.

Black duck (Somerset).
From the black head, neck, breast and winga. Cf. n4gri (Qard).

6. The female.

Bridle duck (Dublin).
"White-faced duck.
From the broad white band round the base of the bill.

Dun bird (Essex).
From the dusky brown of its head, neck, breast and rump.

3. Various names.

Spoonbill duck (East Lothian).
From its broad bill.

Norway duck (Belfast).
Norwegian teal (Banff).
Mule (Wexford).
Holland- duck (Forfar).

160 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

FOCHABD {PuUgiila/erina).

Also called

Poker (Lincolnshire; Hants).

1. From its colour this bird has the naines of
Dun bird (Essex ; Dumfries ; Ireland).
Dun curre ; Dun. air.

Blue poker.
Snuff-headed wigeon.
Red-headed, or Eed-eyed, poker.

Cf. Bouy testo rousso (Gard).

Red-headed cuixe, or Red-headed -wigeon.
Gold head (North of Ireland).

2. Also called

Wigeon diver (Cork Harbour).

Fresh-water wigeon (North of Ireland).

BuU-headed wigeon (Ditto).

Great-headed wigeon.

Vare-headed {i.e. weasel-headed) wigeon. See under Smew.
■ Whinyard (Wexford). See under Shoveller.

Diver or Doucker (Roxburgh).

Smee duck (Norfolk).
A name also given to the -wigeon.

Well plum.

Atteal, or Attile duck (Orkney Isles).
Perhaps from loel. HaMdr,

Oenus Clangula.
GOLDEN-EYE (Clangula glcmdon).

1. So called from the bright yellow irides ; whence

Golden -eyed garrot.

Gowdy duck (East Lothian ; Orkney Isles).

Lloyd says of it, " From the brilliancy of the eye there is a sa,ying in Sweden,
'Klart som ett knip-oga ' — i.e. bright as the eye of the golden-eyed garrot." Cf.
garrot (France).

2. The dark back and white under parts have caused it to be
named

Pied wigeon.

Whiteside (Westmoreland).
Grey-headed duck.
Only applied to the female bird.

PKOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISfi BIRDS. 161

3. The following names are derived f^om the whistling made
with the wings.

Eattlewings (Norfolk).
Whistler.

Cf. Schelle Ente (Germany) — i.e. Bell dvick.

From the sound produced by the flight resembliiig the tmklmg of aleigh
bells.

4. From its diving propensities it is called

Diving duck (Shetland Isles).
Diver or Doucker (Roxburgh).
Popping wigeon (Drogheda Bay).

As it pops down and up so suddenly.

5. Various names.

MorUlon.
From the black head, neck and back of the males, which are so called, and
described by some authors as a distinct species. In France, the name morillon
is given to the tufted duck {FuUgvla .cmtoto).

Eresh-water wigeon (Strangford Lough).
Brown-headed duck.

Curre.

f
From the bird's croaking cry.

Genus Habelsa.
lONG-TAHED DUCK {Harelda glacialis).

1, Also called

Sharp-tailed duck.
Swallow-tailed sheldrake.

'2. From its long plaintive cry it has received the names of

Caloo, or Calaw (Orkney, Shetland Isles).
DarcaU.

Coal and candle-light (Orkney Isles).
Col-candle-wick (Fife).
Ooldie (Forfar).
In the Hebrides it is called Jan-hliochail. Jan — bird ;
Ihoohail expressing its soft protracted note. (McGillivrayj^)

162 PKOVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIRDS.

3. Various names.

Mealy bird (Norfolk).
The young are so called.

Northern Hareld (Aberdeen).
Hareld — i.q. hdvelcQ the Icelandic name of the bird.

Genus Somateria.
EIDER DUCK {Somateria mollissima). '.

From loel. cedr, an eider duck.

1 . Also called

Great black-and-white duck.

Dusky duck.

Dunter, or Dunter goose (Shetland Isles).

"Perhaps from old Swedish dun=Aomn, and taer-a— to gnaw, whence onr
'tear,' because it plucks the down from its breast as often as it lays its eggs "
(Jamiesou).

St. Cuthbert's duck, or Cudberduce (Northumberland).

From these birds breeding on the Fam islands, on the coast of Northumber-
land, where they were the companions of the. saint's solitude.

2. The following information respecting the eider duck is given by Bishop
Pontoppidan, in his " Natural History of Norway. " — " If the first five eggs
are taken away the bird lays agaiii, but only three eggs, and in another nest :
and if these are stolen, she lays a single egg. The female sits on the eggs for
four weeks, and the male bird watches by her side. If any human being or
beast of prey approaches the nest, the male bird cries ' Hu, hu, hu,' and then
the female covers her eggs with moss and down, which she has ready for the
purpose, and joins her mate on the water. If she remains away too long,
the male bird drives her back with his wings, and if the eggs are spoilt,
he gives her a beating and deserts her."

Genus CEdemia.
COMMON SCOTER {^demia nigra).

1. From its colour this bird has received the names
Black duck (Essex ; Norfolk ; Ireland).

Cf. Cama/rd negre (Nice).

Black diver (Ireland, east coast).

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 163

2. Also called

Surf duck (Scotland).
From its habit of diving for ahell-fish among the breakers.

Sea duck (Norfolk).

Doucker (Lancashire ; Westmoreland).

. 3. The fleah of this bird is so rank and fishy, from its feeding on shell-fish,
that it is allowed to Roman Catholics on fast days and in Lent. This has
origiiiated a belief which prevails in Normandy that, like the bemicle, it is
produced from a bivalve, which is found adhering to the keela of ships. For
the same reason is the proverb applied to a man on whom no reliance can be
placed — " II resaemble k une macrguse (a scoter) ; il n'est ni ehair ni poiaaon."

VELVET SCOTER {(Edemia fusca).
Also called

Velvet duck.
Black diver.
Great black duck.
Double scoter.

Cf. Grande macreuse, Double macreuse (France).

Genus Mergus.
GOOSANDER {Mergus merganser).

1. From its saw-Uke bill this bird is called
SawbiU (Stirling).

Cf. £ea en scie (France)..

Sawneb (Aberdeen).
Jacksaw.

2. The male bird presents a beautiful appearance, from the
contrast of the rich buff orange colour of the breast Math the
black back : hence the names

Shell duck, (on the Shannon).
Pied wigeon (Salop).

The females and young males, on the contrary, are of a dull
greyish brown : hence they are called

Dun divers

164 PBOVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BHIDS,

3. Various names.

Land cormorant (Dublin).
Rantock (Orkney Isles).
Sparling fowl.
Generally applied to the female bird.

Spear wigeon (Kerry).

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER {Mergus serrator)-^.e. Diving

Goose.

1. From its long curved bill, furnished with a serrated or
saw-like edge, this bird has received the names of

Lesser-toothed diver.

Sawbill (Aberdeen ; Stirling ; Gal way).

Sawneb (Aberdeen).

Sawbill wigeon (Galway).

2. From the Icel. ha/oeld (see p. 162), are derived

Herald (Shetland Isles).

Herald duck (Forfar; Shetland Isles).

Harle (Orkney Isles).

Cf. HaHe (France) ; Erlou (Piedmont).

Harle duck (Orkney Isles).
Earl duck (East Lothian).
Land harlan (Wexford).

3. Various names.
Bardrake (Down).

From the brown and ash-coloured streak on the rump.

Scale duck (Strangford Lough).

Grey diver (Islay).
Applied to the female bird.

Popping wigeon (Drogheda Bay).
A name also applied to the Golden eye (Clangida glaucion).

SMEW {Mergus alhellw).

1. Also called

Smee, or Smee duck (Norfolk).

2. From its white crest and the band of black feathers on the

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIEDS. 165

back of the head, which give something of the appearance of a
hood, come the names

White nun (Ireland). ,

Of. Nonnette (Picardy).

White-headed goosander.

White merganser, or White wigeon (Devon).
From its black back and white under parts it is called

Magpie diver (Ireland ; Kent).
Cf. Piotte — H(ude piette (France).

The female is called Red-headed smew.

3. In North Devon, according to Montagu, the name of Vare
wigeon is given to the females and young males, from the
EBaemblance of their heads to that of a " vare," or weasel. So in
Norfolk they are called Weasel ducks, or Weasel coots.

Lough diver.
A name given to the immature males.
Easterling.

Order Colombo.

Family Oolumbid.«!.

Genus Columba.

RINGDOVE {Golumha palitmhus).

1. From its cooing note this bird has received the names

Too-zoo (Grloucestershire).
Cooscot (Craven; Teesdale).

Cushat (Berks ; Bucks ; Craven ; Westmoreland).
Cruchet (North).
Cushiedoo.
Cusha (Roxburgh).
From ^-S. Gusceote.
Dow or Doo (Norfolk).

2. As this note is one of melancholy, the bird is called
Queest, Quest, or Quist (West- and West Midland).
Quice, or Quease (Salop ; Gloucestershire).

Wood quest (Dorset ; Ireland).
From Lat. questus, a complaining.

166 PEOTINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

3. Various names. ;
Culver (Dorset).

Cf. A.-S. Culfre, — Couvre (Normandy).

Cowprise (North).
Woodpigeon.

4. The ringdove's note.

The cooing of the woodpigeon produces, it is said—

"Taketwo-o coo, Taffy!
Take two-o coo, Tafify !"

Alluding, says Mr. Chambers, to the story of a Welshman, who thus interpreted
the note, and acted upon the recommendation by stealing two of his neighbour's
cows. " In the North Riding of Yorkshire the common people believe that
at one period the cushat or ringdove laid its eggs upon the ground, and that
the peewit ^ contra made its nest on high. They further believe that an
amicable exchange took place between the two birds, and that at the present
day they respectively sing out their feelings upon the subject. A local rhyme
will have it that the peewit sings^

' Peewit, peewit,
I coup'd my nest and I've it.'

The cushat's note implies —

' Coo, coo, come now
Little lad with thy gad,
Come not now.' "
(Brockett, " Glossary of North-Country Words," ii. 71.)

Miss Busk, in her " Folk Lore of Rome," p. 20, gives a story of the wood-
pigeon and magpie from a Berkshire source, two other versions of which are
related by Mr. Halli well. MisS Busk's runs as follows : —

"The magpie was one day building her nest so neatly, and whispering to
heraelf after her wont as she laid each straw in its place, ' 'This upon that, this
upon that, when the woodpigeon came by. Now, the woodpigeon was young
and flighty, and had never learnt how to build a nest ; but when she saw how
beautifully neat that of the magpie looked, she thought she would like to
leam the art. The busy magpie willingly accepted the office of teaching her,
and began a new one on purpose. Long before she was half through, however,
the flighty, woodpigeon sang out, "That'll doo-oo." The magpie was offended
at tihe interruption, and flew away in dudgeon, and that's why the woodpigeon
always builds such ramshackle nests."

Mr. Halliwell, quoting am Isle of Wight legend, tells us that " soon after the
creation of the world, all the birds were assembled for the purpose of learning
to build their nests, and the magpie, being very sagacious and cunning, was '
chosen to teach them. Those birds that were most industrious, such las the
v?ren and the long-tailed capon or pie-finch, he instructed to make whole nests
in the shape of a cocoanut, with a small hole on one side. Others, not so
diligent, he taught to make half nests, shaped something like a teacup. Having
thus instructed a greaf variety of birds according to their capacity, it came to
the turn of the woodpigeon, who, being a careless and lazy bird, was very
indifferent about the matter, amd while the magpie was directing him how to
place the little twigs, etc., he kept eiclaimihg, ' Wlat, athurt and across I what
zoo I what zoo I athurt and across 1 wihat zoo 1 what zoo I' At length the
magpie was so irritated at his stupidity and indolence that he flew away, and
the woodpigeon, having had no more iaastruction, to this day buUds the worst

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS, 167

nest of any of the feathered tribe, consisting merely of layers of cross twigs.
Montagu," he continues, "gives a Suffolk version of the tale, which differs
considerably from the above. ' The magpie, it is said, once undertook to teach
the pigeon how to buUd a, more substantial and commodious dwelling ; but
, instead of being a docile pupU, the pigeon kept on her old cry of " Take two,
Tafiy ! take two !" The magpie insisted that this was a very unworkmanlike
manner of proceeding, one stick at a time being as much as could be managed
to advantage ; but the pigeon reiterated her " Take two, take two," till Mag
in a violent passion gave up the task, exclaiming, " I say that one at a time's
enough, and, if you think otherwise, you may set about the work yourself, for
I will have no more to do with it." Since that time the woodpigeon has built
her slight platform of sticks, which certainly suffers much in comparison with
the strong substantial structure of the magpie.' " (HaUiwell's " Popular
Ehymes," 260, 261.)
Another imitation of the woodpigeoh's note is the following :
" Curr dhoo ! curr dhoo !
Love me and I'll love you."
While the pigeon and the wren hold this dialogue :

"•The dove says, coo, coo, what shall I do ?
I can scarce maintain two."

(Alluding to the number of eggs always found in a ringdove's nest.)

" Pooh ! pooh 1" says the wren, " I have got' ten,
And keep them all like gentlemen."

" ' Who stole my grey pease ?" says the quease."

In Sweden it is said that a ringdove perched on the cross while the blessed
Saviour was hanging thereon and sat there, wailing forth its sorrowing note of
"Kyrie! Kyrie !" (Lord, Lord) to soothe His aggny. See under Lapwing, p. 185.

5. Proverbial sayings.

" Pigeons never do know woe
Till they do a benting go '."

Wjth reference to which Mr. Halliwell says that these birds are never short of
food, except when they are obliged to live on the seeds of the grass, which ripen
before the crops of grain. The seedstalk of grass is called the " bent," hence
the term "banting.'-'

" When the pigeons go a benting.
Then the farmers fie lamenting " (Norfolk).

" Thee bist a queer quist." (Wilts.)

The vulgar explanation of this phrase is, that a half-witted fellow got up a
tree to rob what he supposed was a wood-quist's nest, when he discovered it
was the nest of an owl, full of young ones, who, when the fellow attempted to
take one of them, manifested their indignation at the intrusion by hissing and
pecking, upon which he exclaimed, "Thee bist a queer quist 1" (Akerman's
" Wiltshire Glossary," 41, 42.)

STOCK DOVE (Columba cenas).

So called from its nesting in the stocks of trees.
Various names.

Cushat (Northants).

Wood dove (Scotland).

Bush dove.

168 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIEDS.

ROCK DOVE (Columha livia).

1. Also called Rocker or Rockier.

Blue dove (North Riding).

Sea pigeon. (Ireland).

Rock pigeon (Ireland ; Scotland).

Rock doo (Shetland Isles).

Sod (Forfar).

Doo (North Scotland).

Wild pigeon (Shetland Isles).

2. As there is no doubt that this species is the original of our
domestic pigeon, it will be well to take this opportunity of mention-
ing any folk lore connected with that bird.

, It ia essentially a bird of death. Thus, if =■ white pigeon settles on a
chimney, some one of the occupants of the house will pass away ere long , but
should the bird enter and perch on the table, it is considered a less portenboiis».}j
omen, and to signify sickness. This is a wide-spread belief through England, '
as Mr. Henderson, in his " Folk Lore of the Northern Counties," p. 49, mentions
two instances which have come under his own knowledge. " The recent death,"
he says, " of a clergyman of some eminence in the town of Hull was preceded
by the flight of a pure white pigeon aroimd the house, and its resting again
and again on tte window-sill." And the vicar of Fishlake, in the West Riding,
informs nie that one of his parishioners mentioned the same portent to him ;
telling him, as an illustration, of a Primitive Methodist preacher, a very worthy
man, who had fallen down dead in the pulpit soon after giving out his text.
" And not many hours before," she went on, " I had seen a white pigeon light
on a tree hard by, and I said to a neighbour I was sure summat were going to
happen." So,' too, all readers of "Westward Ho ! " will remember how a
white bird was the presage of death to Captain Oxenham.

It is also a common idea that no one can die (some say die happy) on
pigeons' feathers. As an illustration of this, a correspondent of Notes and
Queries, Ser. IV., viii. 470, informs us that when a pigeon pie was being made,
his housekeeper invariably burnt the feathers. On being asked the reason, she
replied that if a single feather were found in a bed or pfllow, nobody could die
upon it, but would "die hard "till it was removed. The feathers of game
birds are also considered in Gloucestershire to have the same property, as also
in Yorkshii-e, Cumberland, Derbyshire, Monm6uthshire, Glamorganshire, and
in Ireland. In a letter to the Athenceum, the explanation given is, that none of
these feathers are fit for use, being too hard apd sharp in the barrel.

Again, it ii believed in Northamptonshire that it is a sign of death should a
sick person desire to eat a pigeon, as he would want nothing else.

But on the other hand we hear from Gloucestershire that " the friends of a
man on his deathbed sent, some distance, to one of his children ; and, lest the
sick might die before his arrival, they put a live pigeon into the bedroom, and .
kept it there, with the idea that its presence would prolong his life till his son's
arrival."

For an elaborate dissertation on the dove as a funeral bird and messenger of
death, see Prof. Gubemafis' " Zoological Mythology," ii. 296 — 306.

In Russia, according to Mr. Ralston (" Folk Tales," p. 181), pigeons are con-
sidered sacred to the Third Person of the Trinity, instead of Perun (the old
thunder god) ; and so to this day they look upon the slaying of a pigeon aa a
great sin, one which will bring a murrain upon the herds of its perpetrator.
Pigeons are supposed to bring good lv\ck with them, and to insure the house

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIEDSj 169

they haimt against fire. If a building does catch fire, a white pigeon will ex-
tinguish the flames if it is thrown among them ; on the other hand, the flying
of a pigeon into the house through the window forebodes a conflagration.

It is believed in Venice that the pigeons which are fed daily iu the Piazza

' di San Marco are connected with the prosperity of the city ; that they fly

round it three times every day in honour of the Trinity ; and that the fact of

their building and roosting on St. Mark's is a sign that the town will not be

swallowed up by the sea. '

Tljere is an old saying " that he who is sprinkled with pigeon's blood will
never die a natural death " ; referring to whicb. Dr. Brewer says, " A sculptor,
carrying home a bust o£ Charles I., stopped to rest on the way ; at the moment,
a pigeon overhead was struck by a hawk, and the blood of the bird fell on the
neck of the bust. The sculptor thought it ominous, and after the king was
beheaded the saying became current."

Pigeons were applied by our ancestors "to draw the vapours from the head."
See Dr. Downe's " Devotions upon Emergent Occasions " (Works, vol. iii.,
p. 550, Lond. 1839) ; and Mr. Secretary Pepys informs us that Queen Catherine,
being dangerously ill, had pigeons put to her feet (Oct. 19th, 1663), as also had
Mr. Joyce (Jan. 21st, 1667-8). Bishop Jeremy Taylor (Heber's edition, xii.
290) recommends the same treatment : " We cut living (!) pigeons in halves and
apply them to the feet of men in fevers." This seems a homoeopathic remedy,
as the flesh of the bird was not accounted by the old mediciners good, when
taken internally, for " those that be choleric or inclined to any fevers ; but to
them which be phlegmatic and pure melancholy, they are very wholesome, and
be easily digested " (Swan's " Speculum Mundi," 1643, p. 402). A French
writer, quoted by M. EoUand (vi. 138), says " Un jeune pigeon plac^ sur la t6te
d'un mourant attire i lui et boit tout le mal, comme une victime expiatoire "
(Lucas de Montigny, " R&its varife," p. 51). See Bogaerts, " Histoire civile
et religieuse de la colombe " : Anvers, 1847.

From the time of the Fathers it was a common belief that pigeons had no
gall. " Which if man could frame himself to be, the serpent's vrisdome woUld
not hurt him, nor lean-faced envie sojourn with him." (Speculum Mundi, p. 401.)

3. Proverbial sayings.

a. " A pigeon's pair," or Scottiofe " A doo's cleckin " (i.e. brood) ; spoken of a
family of only two children, a boy and a girl, as the pigeon cinly lays two eggs.
Hence the Queen says of Hamlet that, after his fit, he will be

" as patient as the female dove
When that her golden couplets are disclosed " {i.e. hatched).

6. " Who would hold his house very clean.

Ought lodge no priest nor pigeon therein."

Oenus TuETUK.

TURTLEDOVE {Turtur comtmmis).

1. This bird receives its name from its moaning song, re-
sembling the words " turr-turr " ; to which Virgil refers iu the
line—

" Nee gemere aeria cessabit turtur ab ulmo."

It is also called in Shropshire, Wrekin dove.

170 PKOTINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

2. The dove as an emblem —
a.. Of devoted affection.

From the old but erroneous idea that doves paired for life and were models,
of conjugal fidelity, we find frequent mention made of 'it, as a symbol of the
above, in the poets. Hence, in Troihis and Cressida, Act iii., sc. 2, Troilus
sayp —

" As true as steel, as plantage to the moon,
As sun to-day, as turtle to her mate. "

And Sir Philip Sidney writes —

" Time doth work what no man knoweth,
Time doth us the subject prove ;
With time still affection groweth
To the faithful turtledove."

It was believed also that the widowed dove would never drink again from
any clear fount or spring, lest its own likeness, appearing on the surface of the
water, should awake recollections of the mate it had lost.

i. Of innocence and purity.

Adopted by our Lord in the text "Be ye wise as serpents and harmless as
doves." From this, as well as from the fact of the Holy Spirit appearing in
its form, it was considered the Scriptural sign of the Third Person of the
Blessed Trinity. On this account, also, saints were sometimes represented
vrith this bird whispering in their ear words of Divine wisdom. So, in a
painted window in the chapel of Lincoln College, Oxford, Elisha appears with
a double-headed dove on his shoulder, referring to his petition to Ehjah that a
" double portion of his spirit might rest upon him."

Mahomet, says Sir Walter Raleigh (" History of the World," Book I., part i.,
c. 6) "adopted this idea. He had a dove he used to feed with seed out of his
ear, which dove, when it was hungry, lighted on his shoulder and thrust its
bill in for its accustomed meal, communicating, as his followers believed, past,
present and coming events to the falfee prophet, and being the Holy Grhost
under that form."

In the " Legend of the Sanogr^al " we read that every Good Friday a dove
descended from Heaven, bearing an offering which it laid before the holy
vessel. , .

3. From its use as the symbol of the Holy Spirit, the dove is highly reverenced
in CathoHc countries. In Italy and Germany it is considered a sm to eat
the bird, as also is the case in Russia ; in Bohemia, no one kills it, as it is
the special favourite of God, and considered to be a sure preservative from
lightning. •

In Swabia doves are much kept, so Bechstein informs us, from a belief
that they are more predisposed than mankind to rheumatism, and that
when this complaint visits a house, it attacks the birds rather than their
owners.

In the Channel Islands the possession of pet doves is regarded to be, in the
case of an engaged person, a preventive to the course of true love .running
smooth.

A dove legend, Mr. Jones declares, is attached to Breedon church in Leicester-
shire, which stands alone on the top of a high hill, with the village at its foot.
They began building it within the village ; but the site was changed, because,
it was said, every night the stones laid during the day were carried up to the
hill-top by doves.

There is a tradition in Haute Bretagne that the turtledove built Noah's
ark. It is also believed to return to that province on Midsummer-day; and the

PEOVINOIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 171

country-people tell the following story about it and the cuckoo. They say
" that once upon a time, just at that season, the turtledove engaged the ouckoo
to get in his hay. Unfortunately, whilst passing through a gate the latter
stuck fast with his load, whereupon the dove began to abuse him, crying,
' Troue-troue-one ! ' The cuckoo, stuag by these upbraidings, made such
tremendous efforts that he broke his wing I Ever since this disaster he sings
with bis pinions outspread, while pther birds have them closed, and as soon as
he hears the turtledove, takes to flight as quickly as possible." (SebiUot, " Haute
Bretague," ii. 211.) . ••

Order Galling.

Family Phasianid.e.

Gmms Phasianus.

PHEASANT (Phasianus colcMcus).

1. The earliest mention of the occurrence of this bird in England, is, according
to Mr. Harting (" Ornithology of Shakespeare," p. 211), to be found in a tract
" De Inventione Sanctffi Crucis Nostras in Monte Acuto, et de ductione ejus-
dem apud Waltham," edited from MSS. in the British Museum, and published
in 1861. In one of these MSS., dated about 1177, the name of the pheasant
occurs in a biU of fare prescribed by Harold for the canons' households, in
1059 : — " Erant autem tales pitantise unicuique canonico ; a festo Sancti
Michaelis usque ad caput jejunii, aut xii. merulse, aut ii. agausese, aut ii^
perdices, OMt unus phasianus, reliquis temporibus aut aucse, aut gallinEe."
When the pheasant was first preserved in England we cannot ascertain, but
in the reign of Henry VIII. a proclamation was issued (1536) to "prevent the
slaughter of partridges, pheasants, and herons from the palace of Westminster
to St. Giles in the Fields, and from thence to Islington, Hampstead, Highgate
and Homsey Park " ; and the same monarch reared pheasants at his palace at
Eltham in large quantities, as appears from his " Privy Purse Expenses."

2. Oath on the pheasant.

This was of a similar character to the vows on the heron and swan (which
see), only attended with more pomp and ceremony. Thus, in 1453, we
find that Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, vowed, at a great feast at LUle,
that he would go to the deliverance of Constantinople, which had recently
fallen into the hands of the Tuiks. " In the midst of the banquet," says
Gibbon (" Decline and Fall, " ed. Smith, vol.' viii., p. 183), " a gigantic Saracen
entered the hall, leading a fictitious elephant with a castle on his back ; a
matron in a mourning robe, the symbol of Religion, was seen to issue from the
castle ; she deplored her oppression, and accused the slowness of her champions.
The principal herald of the Golden Fleece advanced, bearing on his fist a live
pheasant, whieh^ according to the rites of chivalry, he presented to the Duke.
At this extraordinary summons, PhUip, a wise and aged prince, engaged his
person and powers in the holy war against the Turks ; his example was imitated
by the barons and knights of the assembly : they swore to God, the Virgin,
the ladies, and the Pheasant ; and their particular vows were not , less extra-
vagant than the general sanction of tljeir oath. " However, in spite of these
tremendous engagements, none of them ever stirred towards the performance
of the vow !

As regards the origin of this oath on the pheasant (and peacock), M. La

172 PKOVINCIAl NAMES OF BEITISH BIRDS.

Curne de Sainte Palaye writes, in his " Memoires sur rancienne Che¥aleri,e,"
torn, i., Z" partie, pp. 184 et seqq. : — " Les nobles oiseaux (oar on les qualifioit
ainsi) rlpresentoient parfaitement, par I'^clat et la varidt^ de leurs couleurs,
la majesty des rois et les superbes habillements dont ces monarques dtoient
pards pour tenir ce que Ton nommoit Find, ou cour plenifere. La chair du
Paon ou du Faiean dtoit, si I'on oroit les vieux Eomanciera, la nourriture
partioulifere des preux et les amoureux. Leur plumage avoit 6t6 regard^ par
les Dames des circles de Provence comme le plus riche ornement dont elles
puisant d&orer les Troubadours ; elles en avoJRit tissu les Couronnes, qu 'elles
donnoient comme la recompense des talens poetiques consaorfe alors k cdl^brer
la valeur et la galanterie." (See also Marchangy, " La France au XIV*™^ Si^ole,"
torn, i., p. 11.)

Genus Perdix.

PARTRIDGE . {Perdix cinerea)
(French. Perdrix.)

1. The dialectical forms of this are

Patrick (West Riding ; Lancashire).
Pertrick (Aberdeen).
Pairtrick (East Lothian).
Paitrick (Ayrshire).

So Bums, in his lines on the death of Captain Henderson : —

" Mourn, ye wee sangaters of the wood !
Ye grouse that crop the heather bud !
Ye curlews calling through a clud !

Ye whisking plover I
And mourn, ye whirring paitrick brood !
' , He's gane for ever ! "

2. Partridges pair early in the year, hence the French proverb —

" Quand la Chandeleur (Feb. 2nd) est arrived,
La perdrix grise est marine."

And the Bohemians declare that " St. George (April 23rd) finds eggs in their
nests."

The young are able to fly about three weeks after being hatched, and soon
attain their full growth ; whence the saying : —

" A la Saint Rdme (Oct. Ist)
Les perdreaux sont perdrix."

3. The flesh of no game bird is so delicate ; only one point is
wanting : —

" If the partridge had the woodcock's thigh
It would be the best bird that ever did fly."

In some districts of France, it is said, the weight of the partridges found on
an estate is considered as a fair standard test of the productiveness of the soil
and of the state of agricultural skill.

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 173

4. Folk lore of tte partridge.

a. The Bohemians believe that the flight of a partridge over a house prog-
nosticates its destruction by fire.

b. Aldrovandus aaserts that tame partridges cry out loudly when poison is
being prepared in the house.

c. Thiers, in his work on " Superstitions," vol. i. , p. 274, declares that a
sick man cannot die easily on a bed stuffed with the wiug feathers of a
partridge. In' England, pigeon feathers are supposed to. have the same
property (see p. 168).

d. SS. Jerome and Augustine declare that Satan often assumes the form of
& partridge.

Genus Cotuenix.
QUAIL (Cotiirnix communis). Fr. Oaille.
. 1. Names derived from its call-note.

Weet my feet (East Lothian ; North of Ireland).
Wet ihy lip (West Norfolk).
Quick me dick (Oxfordshire).

Compare the French —

Paye tes dettes.

J'ai du bl6 ; j'ai pas de sac (Berry).

Tres pour un ; tres per uu (Provence).

And the Swiss
Ta-tatataye.

2. Folklore.

a. In Swabia the peasants infer the price of corn during the coming autumn
from the number of times the quail utters in the fields its cry, which they
saj is " Sechs Paar Week, sechs Paar Week ! " Ttus, if it cries three times,
corn will be three gulden a bushel. The same belief prevails in Tuscany, the
centre and west of France, and Switzerland.

In the Department lie et Vilaiae, there is a proverb —
" Plus la caille carcaille
Plus chfere est la semaUle."

While in Tyrol it is said that the number of years during which a youth will
remain unmarried corresponds with the number of cries that the quail utters
when first heard by him in the spring.

b. It was the quail who taught masons how to lay stones. A mason was about
to build a wall, and did not know how to make a stone stand properly, when
a quail behind him cried out, "Bout pour bout!" and so the mason knew
how to place his stones. (Haute Bretagne.)

c. " The quail is the earliest bird of spring, and thus of the early morning ;
hence Ortygia (Quail land), is mentioned in. some legends as the birthplace of
Phoebus and Artemis, the sun-god and his sister. So, too, in the Teutonic
myth of Iduna, Wuotan and all the Maie lamented her when she was stolen
away ; the trees shed frozen tears, and the sun withdrew his face, until Loki

174 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIRDS.

brought her back in the form of a quail." (Cox, "Mythology of the Aryan
Nations," vol. ii., p. 298.)

3. Migration of quails.

There ie an old legend, mentioned by Buffon, that the quails have a king to
conduct their migrations, and that they select the corncrake for that office ;
not choosing one of themselves, for the reason that, upon reaching their
destination, the first of the band usually falls a victim to some bird of prey
that is awaiting their arrival. ' Aristotle says they are led by an owl. (See
above, under ," Eagle Owl," and also under " Corncrake.")

4. Origin of quails.

"A quail is a bird known to all ; yet its nature is not easily known, for
there is one thing concerning this unknown. For, when there are great
storms upon the coasts of Libya Deserta the sea casts up great tunnies on
the shore, and these breed worms for fourteen days, and grow to be as big as
flies, then as locusts, which, being augmented in bigness, become birds called
quails." (From " The Magick of Kirani, King of Persia," 1685.)

5. Properties of the quail.

" Dissolve the eyes of a quaU, or a sea tench, with a little water in a glass
vessel, for seven days, then add a little oil ; put a little of this in the candle,
or only anoint a rag, and light among the company, and they will look on them-
selves like devils on fire, so that every one will run his way. — In the sardonyx
stone engrave a quail, and put under its feet a sea tench, and put a little of
the aforesaid confection under the stone in the hollow of the ring, and no man
shall see you if you do anything in the house ; no, not if you should take
anything away that ia in the house." (.Id.)

6. Flesh of the quail.

The flesh of the quail, though in high esteem in our own days, was supposed
by ancient authors to be very heating and unwholesome, from the bird's
fondness for poisonous plants. This was Pliny's opinion; and so Lucretius
■vh:ites ; —

" Praeterea nobis veratrum est acre venenum
At capreis adipes et cotumioibus auget."

(" De R^r. Nat.," vol. iv., p. 642.)

Family TeteaonidjE.
Gernis Lagopus.
PTARMIGAN [Lagopus mutus) — Grael. Tarmachan.

White game.
White grouse.
Grey ptarmigan.
Eock grouse.
White partridge.

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 175

RED GBOTJSE (^Lougopus saoticics).

1. Various names.

Red or brown ptarmigan.
Moor game, or Moor fowl.
Red game.
Poot wren.

2. a. The male bird is called
Gorcock, or Moorcock.

b. The female
Moorhen.

The Gaelic term for the male bird is Coileach-fraoch — i.e. heather cook ; and
for the f epaale Oearc fraoch — i.e. heather hen.

3. Cry of the grouse.

Sounds like the words ' Go, go, go, go back, go-o back ! ' But Mr. MoGillivray
("British Birds," i., p. 181), says "that the Celts, naturally imagining the
mogrcock to speak Gaelic, interpret it as signifying — 'Co, oo, co, Co, mo-
chlaidh, mo-cUaidh ! ' — ix. ' Who, who, who, who (goes there ?) my sword
my sword ! ' "

Mr. Campbell, in his "West Highland Tales," i., p. 277, explains it thus : —

This is what the hen says —

" Faic thus-a 'n la ud 's 'n la ud eile."
And the cock, with his deeper vpice, replies —

" Faic thus-a 'n cnoc ud 's 'u cnoo ud eHe."
(i.e. ' See thou younder day, and yon other day.
' See thou younder hiljj and yon other hill.')

4. " The female of the red grouse always had the reputation of keeping away
from the haunts of nlen : hence the rhyme,

' The muirhen has sworn by her tough skin
She sail never ea,t of the carle's win ' —

but now she makes light of the oath.'' (Chambers' " Popular' Rhymes,"
p 196.)

Genus Teteao.
BLACK GROUSE {Tetrao tetrix).

1. Also called

Black game.
Heath fowl.
Heath poult.

176 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

2. a. The male bird is called

Black cock.
. Heath cock.

h. The female
Grey hen.
Brown hen.
Heath hen.

3. By its crowing at dawn,'" says McGillivray, " the evil spirits of night are
put to flight or deprived of their power."

CAPERCAILZIE (Tetrao urogallm).

Also called

Cock of the wood.
Cock of the mountain.
Wood, or Great grouse.

Order ruLicARi^.

Family RALLiDiE.

Genus Eallus.

WATER-RAIL '{Ballus aquatims).

1. Called " rail " from its harsh cry (Old Dutch rallen, short
for ratelen, to rattle).*

2. From its quiet, stealthy habjt of running, it has the names

Velvet runner.

Brook runner.

Skitty (Somerset). From " skit," to slide.

Grey skit (Devon).

Skitty coot (Devon ; Cornwall).

Skitty cock (Do.)

3. Various names.

Bilcock (Nprth).

Brook' ouzel.

Gutter cock (Cornwall),

Darcock.

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 177

Genus Porzana.
SPOTTED CRAZE {PorzaTia maruetla).

Tor " crake " see under Com Crake.

Also called
Water crake.
Spotted rail.
Spotted water-hen.
Skitty, or Spotted skitty (Devon). See preceding, 2.

Genus Crex.
CORN CRAKE {Grex pratensis).

1. So called from its harsh cry ; whence, and from high grass
and corn being its favourite haunts, are derived

Creek, Cracker, or Craker (Korth ; Salop).

Bean crake, or Bean cracker (South Pembroke),

Com drake (North Biding).

Grass drake (West Riding).

Meadow drake (Notts).

Land drjtke (Salop).

Gorse duck.

GaUwell (1 Gallinule) drake.

Corn scrack (Aberdeen).

Daker (Surrey).

Daker hen (Westmoreland).

The latter appellation has been deriyed from the Norwegian Ager-hoene (i.e.
the cock of the field) ; Danish, Aker-rixe {i.e. King of the acre) ; but it seems
most probable that it has its origin from the bird's cry.

Landrail (General).
Cf. Bale de terre (France).

2. Superstitions connected with the corn crake.

In the north .of Scotland it is regarded as s " blessed bird," and ranks with
the lark and red grouse. It is also believed not to leave the country, but to
remain torpid during the winter. In Ireland the popular opinion is that it
becomes a water rail.

' Brehm, in " La Vie des Animaux," says that "country-people maintain that
this bird governs and acts as a leader to the quails ; and Greek hunters declare
positively that a com crake is at the head of each flock of quails." (See under
- Quail and Eagle Owl.) Hence the names JRoi des caUles (France) ; Be
di quaglie (Italy) ; Rei/ de las eodomices (Spain) ; WachtelMnig (Germany).

178 PEOVmClAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

Geniis Gallinula.
MOOB. HEIf {Gallinula cliloropus).

1. So called from the nature of its favourite haunts; whence
also

Water hen.
Water rail.

Moat hen, or Marsh hen.
Morant — 1 Moor-ent (galop).
Stank hen, or Stankie (East Lothian).
" Stank '' =a still pond or pool "Stagnum.

2. Its short bob-tail has given it the names of *

Cuddy.

Moor coot.

Kitty coot (Dorset). See under Coot.

3. Various names.
Nightbird (Sussex).

From its dark plumage.

Bilcock, or BUter (North country).
Skitty (Somerset).

These two names are also applied to tlie water rail.
Dabchick (Salop). S'ee under Little Grebe.

Genus Fulica.
COOT {Fuliaa atra).

; (From Welsh cwta = short. The Welsh name for the bird is
Cwta-iar — i.e. Bob-tailed hen.)

1 . From the white bare spot above the bird's bill it is called '

Bell kite — i.e. Bald coot (Scotland generally).
Bald duck, or Bald coot (Somerset).
Bel poot — 4.e. Bald-powt, or -fowl (East Lothian).
Smyth (Orkney Isles).

From Icel. Snaud-ur = bare ; Old German Snoed.

White-faced diver (Ireland).

'PKOVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIRDS. 179

2. Various names.
Black diver (Ireland).
Water crow (Dumfries).

From its black plumage. Cf. DiaMe de mar (Provence).

Whistling duck (B«nfrew).
Queet.

1 i.q. Coot. Cf . Queute (Seine Inferieure).

3. Coot custard fair.

At Horsey, in Norfolk, a fair used to be held every spring called Coot custard
fair, because all the sweets were made from eggs of the coot and black-headed
gull (Stevenson).

4. Proverbial sayings. "" ' '

■a. "As bald as a coot." (See above, 1.)
h. "As mad as a coot." (Cornwall.)

Order LiMicoLiE.

FalnUy (Edicnemid^

Cfenvs CEdicnemus.

STONE CURLEW {CEdicnemus scolopax).

So called from its frequenting stony localities and uttering a
cry resembling the sound of the word " curlni." - Cf. Courli
(Normandy), CourUs de terre (C6te d'Or).

1. The knees of this bird, when young, have a thick or swelled
Appearance ; hence its names

Thick knee. v

Thick- kneed bustard.

And the Latin title, (Edionemus.

2. Various names.

Norfolk plover.
Great plover.
Stone plover.
Bustard.

180 PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. ,

FamvUy CharadeiiDjE,

Genus Charadrius.

GOLDEN PLOVER {Charadrius pluviaUs).

The French term pluvier (whence our name, Plover), is
applied to these birds, according to Littr6, because they arrive in
flocks in the rainy season. Another authority considers that they
are so called " parce-qu'on les prend mieux en temps pluvieux
qu'en nulle autre saison," while the old BngUsh naturalist Charle-
ton says that the epithet pluviaUs is given " quia loca imbribus
madida et paludes frequentat " (" Onomast. Zoic," p. 109 : 1668).

1. From the colour of the plumage, which varies according to ,.
age and the season of the year, they are called

Grey plover (Ireland).
Yellow plover (East Lothian).
Black-breasted plover (Ireland).
From the colour of the breast in summer.

2. Various names.

Whistling plover (Norfolk ; Renfrew).

From its soft clear call. /

" And in the plover's shrilly strain,
The signal whiatle 's heard again," *,

(" Lady of the Lake," Cant. V., stanza xi.) , ^,

Burns also speaks of . '|

" The deep-toned plover gray, wild whistling on the hill." :,

Hill plover (Forfar).
Plover (Roxburgh).
The Gaelic name for the golden plover is feadagk.

3. Superstitions attached to the golden plover.

(o) In the Middle Ages it was believed that the plover lived on the wind.
(See Littr^, 8ub " Pluvier.")

(6) The Seven Whistlers. (See also under Redwing, Curlew, Wild Goose.)
'• One evening, a few years ago, when crofesing one of our Lancashire moors,
in company with an intelligent old man, we were suddenly startled byithe
whistling overhead of a covey of plovers. My companion remarked that,
when a boy, the old people considered such a circumstance a bad omen, ' as the
person who heard the wandering Jews,' as he called the plovers, 'was sure to
be overtaken with some ill-luck.' i On questioning my friend on the name
given to the birds, he said, ' There is a tradition -that they contain the souls of '
those Jews who assisted at the Crucifixion, and in consequence were doomed
to float in the air for ever ! ' When we arrived at the foot of the moor, a coacli,
by which I had hoped to complete my journey, had already left its station,
thereby causing me to finish the distance on foot. The old man reminded' me
of the omen." (Mr. Jas. Pearson, Notes and Queries, Ser. IV., vol. viii., p. 268.)

PRO VINCI A.L. NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 181

The Leicestershire colliers also believe that the cry of the Seven Whistlers
■warns them of some calamity, and, on hearing it, refuse to descend into the
■ pit till the next day. It is said that they were heard before the great Hartley
colliery explosion, and also that at Wigan.

In South Shropshire and Worcestershire the Seven Whistlers are considered
to be " seven birds, and the six fly about continually together looking for the
seventh, and wHenthey find him the world will come to an end " (" Shropshire
Folk Lore," p. 232).

The superstitions connected with the Seven Whistlers are interwoven with
the Gabriel Hounds and Odin's Spectre Hunt, for a full account and explara-
tion^ of which see Mr. Baring Gould's most interesting work, " Iceland, its
Scenes and Sagas," pp. 199, 203.

c. The Saviour and the golden plovers.

" Once on a Sabbath, Christ, in company with other Jewish children, amused
Himself in fashioning birds out of clay.

" After that the children had amused themselves awhile herewith, one of the
Sadduoees chanced to come up to them. He was very old and very zealous,
and he rebuked the children for spending their Sabbath in so profane an em -
ployment. And he let it not rest at chiding alone, but went to the clay birds
and broke them all, to the great grief oi the children.

•' Now, when Christ saw this. He waved His hands over all the birds He had.
fashioned, and they became forthwith alive, and soared up into the heavens.

" And these birds are the golden plovers, whose note ' deerriu ' sounds like
to the Iceland word ' dyrdhin. ' namely, ' glory ' : for these birds sing praise to
their Lord, for in that He mercifully saved them from the merciless band of
the Sadducee."

(Quoted by B. Harris Cooper, in his " Apocryphal Gospels," Introduc-
tion, p. xxxii.)

(d) In Scotland it is said that the Golden plover, in the spring time,
continually gives in its song this advice to the labourer, " Pleugh weel, shave
(i.e. sow) weel, harrow weel " (Aberdeen).

Genits Squataeola.
GREY PLOVER {Sqvatarola helvetica).

1. Called grey from its winter plumage, which is grey above
and white below, whence also

Grey sandpiper (obsolete).

2. Its habit of frequenting the sea-shore has obtained for it the
names

Sea plover.

Sea cock (Waterford).

Strand plover (Cork).

Mud plover.

'Stone plover (North and South Ireland).

Kock plover (Wexford).

3. Also called
Whistling plover.
EuU head.

From the round shape of the head.

182 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

Swiss sandpiper.
Cf. Pluvier, or Vanrheau iSuisse (France). So called because

M. de Reaumur first received specimens from Switzerland.

/ ■

4. Mufifett, ia his "Health's ImproTement, " quotes a proverb, "A grey-
plover cannot please him," as applied to a discontented person, which shows
that the bird was highly esteemed as food. (Phipson.)

Genus ^eiALiTis.
KIITGED PLOVER {^gialMs Maticula).

1. So called from its white collar ; whence also

Ring dotterel.

Ringlestone (Norfolk ; Sir Thos. Browne).

Cf. Blanc collet (Savoie).

2. From the localities in which, it is found this bird derives the
names

Sea or Sand lark (General).

Sjandy loo.

Sandy laverock (Orkney, Shetland Isles).

Sea dotterel (obsolete).

Stonehatch (Norfolk).

Stone runner (do.)

Stone plover (General).

Referring to its habit~of pecking and searching among the pebbles above high- .
water mark.

3. Various names.
Dul willy.

Bull's eye (Ireland).
From its large prominent black eye.
Knot (Belfast).
Grundling — i.e. Groundling (Lancashire). .

Genus Eudromias;

DOTTEREL' (ISudromias morineUus').

1 . The English and Latin names, dotterel and morineUus, are
both expressive of stupidity. The former is derived from " dote,"

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 183

IVench radoter, and is the same as dolt or dotard. The latter is
the Latin diminutive of juupos, a fool. The Highlanders call this
bird An tamadan mointich, which means "peat-bog fool."

2. Various names.

Stone runner (Korfolk).
Dot plover (do.)

Wind (South of England).

3. Weather prognostic.

" When dotterel do first appear,
It shows that frost is very near ;
But when that dotterel do go,
Then you may look for heavy snow." (Wiltshu-q.)

4. Superstitions regarding the dotterel.

"It is a silly bird," says Willoughby, "but as an article of food a great
delicacy. It is caught in the night by lamplight, iu accordance with the
movements of the fowler. For if he stretch out his arm the bird extends a
wing ; if he a leg, the bird does the same. In sjiort, whatever the fowler does
the dotterel does the same. And so intent is it on the movements of its
pursuer, that, it is unawares entangled in the net." Drayton refers to this in
the lines — ■

" The dotterel, vjhich we think a very dainty dish,
Whose taking makes such sport, as no man. more could wish :
For as you creep, or cower, or lie, or stoop, or go,
So marking you with care the apish bird dgth do ;
And acting everything, doth never mark the net,
Till he be in the snare which men for him have set."

(Song 26, p. 1164.)
. And Beaumont and Fletcher —

" See, they stretch out their legs like dotterels."

{Sea Voyage, Act iii.)
While Ben Jonson writes :

" Bid him put ofif his hopes of straw, and leave
To spread his nets in view thus. Though they take
Master Fitz-dottrel, I am no such foul,
Nor, fair one, tell Mm, wiU be had with stalking."

[The Devil is an Ass, Act ii., sc. 1.)

Genus Vanellus.
LAPWING (Vanelius vulgaris).

A. -6. hledp-udnce-Ut, one who turns about in running ; from
A.-S. Medp-cm, to run, and wince, one who turns. Other
forms of which are
Lipwingle (Beds).

184 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BKITISH BIRDS.

Lymptwigg (Exmoor).
Flopwing.

2. From its wailing cry this bird has received the following
names : —

Peewit (general).

Piewipe, Peweep (Norfolk).

Puit (Essex ; Suffolk ; Norfolk ; Sussex).

Peaseweep (Stirling ; Forfar).

Hence the children's rhyme — ,

" Pease weep, pease weep,
Harry my nest and gar me greet."

Weep or Wype.

Tewhit or Tee-wheep (Kirkcudbright ; Orkney Isles).

Teufit (Cleveland).

Teuchit (Forfar).

Tuet ("Westmoreland ; Lancashire ; West Riding).

Teeuck.

Tieves nicket, or Tieves geit (Shetland Isles).

Of. Dix-huit (France) ; Eiehitz, Kiwitt (Germany).

Phillipene (Ireland).

3. Also called

Hornpie (Norfolk ; East Suffolk).
Horneywink (Cornwall).
From the long crest, like a horn, projecting from the back of its head.

Cf. the Gaelic name Adharcan-luachrach {i.e. Httle horn of the
rushes).

Green plover (Ireland).
Cornwillen (Cornwall).
Old maid (Worcestershire).

This name appears to be connected with the Danish legend given by Mr.
Atkinson in Notes and Queriea, Ser. III., x. 49, who says, quoting Molbeoh's
" Danish Dialect Lexicon," that in one district of Denmark the pease-weeps are
held to be metamorphosed old maids, the extinct old bachelors being still
to be found in the form of green sandpipers. The former fly restlessly about
the bogs and moors, which are the common dwelling:j)laceB of themselves and
the sandpipers, pitifully and unceasingly exclaiming, " Hvi vi' do it ? hvi vi' do
it?" ('Oh I why wouldn't you?') Whereupon the sandpipers (to whom tie
plaintive question is addressed) in their turn, and on the wing too, reply " Fo
we turr it, fo we turr it" ('because we d^re not'), with the closing peal of
insulting laughter, " Haa ! ho 1 hoa I" which is constantly heard from the birds
in question.

4. Habits of the lapwing.

The young of the lapwing run "directly they are hatched ; hence the saying —
generally used to express great forwardness — that " the lapwing runs with the

PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 185

shell on his head." This is said by Horatio of Osric (see Hamlet, Act v., so. 2),
and Ben Jonson quotes it in his Staple of News, Act iii., so. 2 :

" Such as are bald and barren beyond hope
Are to be separated and set by
For ushers to old countesses ; and coachmen
To mount their boxes reverently, and drive
Like lapwings with a shell upon their heads
Thorow the streets."

On which Nares remarks that the bald head being uncovered would give them
that appearance. During the season of incubation, the cock bird tries to draw
pursuers from the- nest by wheeling round them, crying and screaming, to divert
their attention. ■ To this habit Shakespeare alludes in the Comedy of Errors,
Act iv., sc. 2.

" Far from her nest the lapwing screams away,"

while the female sits close on the nest till disturbed, when she runs off, feigning
lameness, or flaps about near the ground, as if she had a broken wing. !So in
Much Ado about Nothing, Act iii., sc. 1 .

" Look where Beatrice, like a lapwing, runs
Close by the ground to hear our conference."

5. The lapwing is almost universally held in bad esteem (except
for its fle.sh apd eggs), as is shown by the various titles and legends,
in which it plays a part. Mr. Atkinson, in Notes and Queries,
Ser. III., vol. X., p. 49, mentions the two following as being
current in Denmark.

" When our Lord was a wee bairn He took a walk out one day, ^nd came to
an old crone who was busy baking. She desired Him to go and split h>er a
little wood for the oven, and ehe would give Him a new cake for His trouble.
He did as He was bid, and the old woman went on wi*h her occupation,
sundering a very small portion of the dough for the promited recompense. But
when the batch was drawn this cake was equally large with the rest. So she
took a new morsel of the dough, still less than before, and made and baked
another cake, but with the like result. Hereupon she broke out with ' That's
a vast over-muokle cake for the likes o' you ; thee's get thy cake anither time.'
When our Lord saw her evil disposition His wrath was stirred, and He said to
the woman, ' I split your wood as you asked me, and you would not so much
as give me the little cake you promised me. Now you phall go and cleave
wood, and that, too, as long as the world endures !' With that He changed
her into a weep (n^pa). So the weep fares betwixt heaven and earth as long as
the world lasts ; and fare where she will, she says other words never, save ' Klyf
vtd ! klyf ved !' (cleave wood ! cleave wood !)"

" While as our Lord hung yet upon the cross, there came three birds flying
over. The first was the stork, who cried 'Stjrk ham ! styrkham 1' (strengthen
Him) ; and hence the bird's name and the blessings which go with her. The
second cried, ' Sval ham ! sval ham I' (cool or refresh Him) ; so she cane tj
be called the swallow, and is also a bird of blessing. But the last was the weep,
who shrieked 'Piin ham 1 piin ham I' (pine Him, make Him suffer), and
therefore she is accursed for ever down to the last day." (Thiele's " Danish
Traditions," ii. 304.)

With this may be compared the Russian legend given by Mr. Ralston (see
page 61), who also quotes the followine; from Tereschenko's "Buit Russkago
Naroda " (' Manners and Customs of the Russian People ' ), v. 47.

186 PliOVmCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

When Goi created the earth, and determined to supply it with seaa, lakes,
and rivers, He ordered the birds to convey the waters to their appointed places.
They all obeyed except this, bird, which refused to fulfil its duty, saying that
it had no need of seas, lakes or rivers, to slake its thirst. Then the Lord
waxed wroth, and forbade it and iU posterity ever to approach a sea or stream,
allowing it to quench its thirst with that water only which remains in hollows
and among stones after rain. From that time it 'has never ceased its wailing
cry of " Peet-peet " — i.e., ' drink, drink.' (See above, under Green "Woodpecker
aadKite.)

In Sweden it is believed that the lapwing was once a handmaiden of the
Virgin Mary, who stole the scissors of her mistress, and as a punishment' was
transformed into a bird bearing a tail forked like a pair of scissors, and in-
cessantly uttering the cry, "Tyvit, tyvit" — i.e. ('I stole them, I stole them.')
Mortanus tells us that in some parts of Germany this bird is called " the Virgin
Mary's dove."

In the south of Scotland the peasantry bear it a traditional antipathy, arising
from the raids upon the Covenanters by Claverhouse and Dalyell of Binns,
whose troopers were directed to their hiding-places by its cries of alarm. Hence
its name of "the ungrateful bird." Leyden alludes to this in the lines

" And though the pitying sun withdraws his light,
The lapwing's clamorous whoop attends their flight ;
Pursues their steps where'er the wanderers go,
Till the shrill scream betray them to the foe.
Poor bird I where'er the wandering swain intrudes,
On thy bleak heaths and desert solitudes,
He corses still thy scream and clamorous tongue,
And crushes with his foot thy moulting young."

A legend of a different character is given by Yarrell, vol. ii., p. 483, which tells
us how the founder of the ancient Lincolnshire family of the Tyrwhitts, having
fallen wounded in a morass during a skirmish, would have perished had not the
cries of the lapwings hovering over him attracted his followers to the spot. In
memory of this deliverance he assumed tljree peewits as his device.

In Eastern story the lapwing is mentioned as having the power of finding
water underground in the desert, to which Moore refers in the lines —

" Fresh as the fountain underground
When first 't is by the lapwing found." (" Lalla Rookh.")

WhUe another poet has ascribed to the bird a vinous taste : —

" The blackbird far its hues shall know,
As lapwing knows the vine."

A Kabbinical legend, given at length by Mr. Baring Gould (" Old Testament
Characters," vol. ii., p. 190), relates how this bird incurred the anger of Solomon
by her non-appearance at an assembly of every species of fowl which he had
convoked, and how she excused herself by relating her visit to the Queen of
Sheba, as messenger to whose court the King afterwards despatched her.
(See under Hoopoe, p. 107.)

Another Eastern tale respecting this bird is as follows : " The lapwing was
once a princess, who hearing of the return of a favourite brother long absent,
in her anxiety to meet him with some refreshment, snatched up a pot of hot
milk from the fire, and placing it on her head, hurried out in the direction in
which he was falsely said to be coming, heedless of the burn caused by the
heated vessel. Unavailing for yearfe she sought for this brother, calling out
' Brother, brother ! ' until Allah, moved by compassion, gave her wings, and
changed her into a lapwing, the better to accomplish her purpose ; hence the
bird is so often seen wheeling round in long flights, as if in quest-of some one.

PKOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIKDS. 187

uttering a melancholy cry resembling ' Brotter, brother ! ' The Moham-
medan women call the lapwing 'the sister of the brother,' and when they hear
its cry in the evening, run from their houses and throw water in the air; that
the bird may use it to assuage the pain of the burn on the top of the head,
BtiU marked by some black feathers."

(Jones, " Credibilities Past and Present," p. 382.)

The Tuchit's storm.

"Frequently," says McGillivray, "in the middle of March', storms come on
with snow and hail, and this so commonly happens in the eastern districts of
the middle division of Scotland (especially in Kincardine) that the people
always expect what they call the ' Tuchit's storm ' about the time of the
arrival of that bird."

Lapwings laying in an easterly position.

" I have heard it affirmed that lapwings doe lay their eggs on the east side
of a hill, and lett the sun hatch them : and that one has taken of the egges,
and layd them in an east window and they were hatched, sed quaere de hoc"
(Royal Soc. M.S. Aubrey's " Nat. Hist, of Wilts," folio 161 ; quoted in Britten's
edit, of his " GentUisme and Judaisme," p. 259).

The lapwing has always been highly prized as a delicacy for the table. Thus
the French have a proverb : —

" Qui n'a mang^ grive ni vanneau
N'a jamais mang^ bon morceau."

And in the neighbourhood of Nice they say —

" Se vuoE mangeb. de buoi mousseii
Mangea becassin, pluvife e vaneii."

Genus Sthepsilas.

TXTRN'STONE {Strepdlas interpres).

1. So called from the bird's habit of tumiag over small stones
with its bill to get at the marine insects, etc., underneath them.

Cf. Toume pierre (Fi'ance) ; Memdve piedras (Spain) ; VoUa
pietre (Italy) ; whence also

Stanepecker (Shetland Isles).
Tangle picker (Norfolk).
" Tangle is a kind of weed beset with small bladders." (Gumey).

. 2. Various names.

Sea dottrel (Norfolk).
Equivalent to the Welsh Huttdn-y-mor.

Sea lark (Ireland).
Stone raw (Armagh).

Skirl crake (East Lothian ; Shetland Isles).
Hence the Latin interpm, because it gives a warning cry to other birds
on the approach of daflger.

188 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

Genus H^matopus.
OYSTER CATCHER {Hcematopus ostrilegus).

1. So called from the bird's partiality to shell moUusca,
whence also

Oyster plover.
Cf. Huitrier (France).

Mussel pecker (Belfast ; Forfar).

2. Froin its deep blpck and pure white plumage, resembling
that of the magpie, are derived the names

Pienet.

Sea pie (Cornwall ; Norfolk ; Lancashire j East Lothian).
Of. Pie de mer (France).
Sea piet.
Sea pilot (corruption of preceding).

3. Various names.
Olive (Essex).

Tirma, Trillichan (Hebrides).
Chalder, Chaldrick (Orkney Isles). Obsolete.
Scolder (Orkney Isles).
From the loud shrill noise it makes when any one approaches its young.

Skeldrake or Skieldrake (Orkney Isles). See under

Sheldrake.
Krocket (Aberdeen).
Dickie bird (Norfolk).

4. The oyster catcher's cry.

"Bi Olic, Bi Glic (Bee Gleerhlc) — 'be wise '—eay the oyster catchers, when
a stranger comes near their haunts." (Campbell's " West Highland Tales,"
i. 27,5.)

Family Scolopacid^h.

Genus Recurvieostra.

AVOCET {EecuTvirostra avocetta).

1. From the peculiar shape of its long and pointed beak it has
received the names of

Cobbler's awl, or Cobbler's awl duck.

Crooked bill.

Picarii}i.

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 189

2. Also called

Butterflip.
Scooper. -

Because it seoopa up the mud to obtain food .

Yelper.
From its sharp shrill cry.

Clinker.

I Genus Scolopax.
"WOODCOCK {Scolopax rus^aula).

1. (a) The prefix is often omitted, and the bird called simply
" cock." So in German, Waldschnepfe, Sohnepfe.

(h) From the length of its bill it has the name of Longbill.

Of. Beoasse (France) ; Becoacoia (Italy).

2. Arrival of the woodcock.

The earliest come about the 20th of October ; hence the proverb —
" Cuckoo oats and woodcock hay ,—

Make a farmer run away "

{i.e., if the spring is so backward that the oats cannot be sown till the cuckoo is
heard, or the autumn so wet that the after crop of liay cannot be gathered in
till the woodcocks come over, the farmer is sure to come to great loss).
The French have the following sayings on the coming of this bird : —

(a) " A'la Saint Fran9ois (October 14th)

La b^casse est au bois."
(6) " Quand arrive la Saint Denis (October 9)
Les b^oaases sont au pays." (Poitou.)

" Ala foire Saint Pol (October 10th) b&aSse sur table.''

In P'russia the passage of the woodcock occurs in spring, and the third
Sunday in Lent is called Woodcock Sunday, hence the rhyme of the foresters —

" 0-kuli-da kommen sie ; '
Latare-ist das Wahre ;
Judika-auch nooh da ;
Palmarum-rarum. "

Oeali-ia the third Sunday in Lent, from the Introit, taken from Psalm xxv.
14 ;■ Liilwe (i.e. Lmtm-e) is the following Sunday, the Introit for which is
Isaiah Ixvi. 10. Jvdka is Passion Sunday, Introit Psalm sliii. 1 ; PaLmarum,
Palm Sunday.

190 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIRDS.

3. . Woodcock as prognosticating the weather.

- " Woodcocks," says Gilbert White, "have been observed to be remarkably
listless against snowy, foul weather." Their early arrival and continued abode,
according to Phillips, are signs of plenty :

" The woodcock's early visit, and abode •
For long continuance in our temperate clime.
Foretells a liberal harvest. "

4. Stupidity of the woodcock.

The woodcock was supposed to have no brains ; hence its name, says Hart'ng,
became a synonym for a fool. This is mentioned by WiUoughby in his " Orni-
thology " (iii. 1, § 1), who, however, gives no reason for the bird's ill repute.
Amoug Us in England, this bird is infamous for its simplicity or folly ; so that
a Woodcock is proverbially used for a simple, foolish person. It is to this that
Claudio alludes when he says,

" Shall I not find a woodcock too ? "

(Much Ado ahaiit Nothing, Act v., sc. 1).

In France " b^casse " has become synonymous with a noodle, and " bider la
bfeasse " is equivalent" to making a fool of any one. It has been suggested
that the bird acquired this character from the facility with which it was taken
in springes and nets. " Springes for Woodoookes " was part of the title of an
old book of epigrams, by H. Perrot ; and in Beaumont and Fletcher's Loyai
Subject, Act iv,, sc. 4, we find

" Go, like the wopdoock,
And thrust your head into the noose."

5. Time of feeding.

It is about twilight that the woodcock begins to stir and repairs to its feed-
ing ground, flying generally low, and making for the nearest open passage in
the wood. In these passages, which were caUed " cock-shoots," the fowlers
used to set nets suspended between two poles, against which the birds flew,
and were entrapped. Hence, " cockshut time," of which Shakespeare speaks,
Mchard III., Act v., sc. 3, iS the evening, when the woodcocks run or fly out
of the covers, and are caught in the nets.

6. In the time of the Elizabethaij dramatists, tobacco pipes were often
called "woodcock's heads, "from their Kkeuess to the bird's head and bill. So
Ben Jonson writes in JEverj/ Man out of his Humour, Act iii., sc. 3 : —

" Fastid. Will your ladyship take any ?

" Satiplina. peace, I pray thee ! I Ipve not the breath of a woodcock's
bead.

" Fastid. Meaning my head, lady ? (See above, 1.)

" Sa/iiolina. Not altogether so, sir ; but as it were fatal to their follies that
think to grace themselves with taking tobacco, when they want better enter-
tainment, you see your pipe bears the true form of a woodcock's head.

" Fastid. rare similitude ! "

7. In some parts of the West-country it is believed that in peculiarly
favourite spots a certain number of woodcocks is always found — that, in short,
whenever any of the birds are shot, the same number as before is made up
again. ,

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 191

8. Migration of woodcocks to the moon.

This was an old belief, cun-ent even in the last century. So Pope writes ; —

" Know God and nature only are the same,
In man the judgment shoots at higher game,
A bird of passage gone as soon as found,
Now in the moon perhaps, now underground."

And Gay, in the " Shepherd's Walk : "—

" He sung where woodcocks in the summer feed, '
And in what climates they renew their breed :
Some think to northern coasts their flight they tend.
Or to the moon in midnight hours ascend."

The reason for this extraordinary supposition is given in a tract contained in
the " Harleian Miscellany," ii. 583 : " An Inquiry into the Physical and Literal
Sense of that Scripture — ' Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed
times : and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their
coming ' (Jeremiah viii. 7)." The author thinks that if storks and other
inigrating birds winged their flight, at their periods of migration, in a horizon-
tal direction, they must have been observed by travellers ; therefore he qfgues
"that the stork, and the like may be said of other season-observing birds, till
some place more flt can be assigned to them, does go unto, and remain in some
one of the celestial bodies, and that must be the moon, which is most likely
because nearest, and bearing most relation to this our earth, as appears in the
Coperniean system : yet is the distance great enough to denominate the pas-
sage thither an itineration or journey." He further proceeds to state that the
birds occupied two months in their upward and the same in their downward
flight, while they remained three months in the lunar world.

The same writer remarks, with reference to woodcocks, that " in them it is
remarkable that upon a change of the wind to the east, about AUhallows tide,
they will seem to' have come all in a night ; for though the former day none are
to be found, yet the next morning they wiU be in every bush. I speak of the
West of England, where they are most plentifuj. "

(For " Woodcock pilot " see above, under Goldcrest, p. 25).

Genus (jtAllinago.

GREAT SNIPE {GalUnago major).

Snipe, from Icel. stiipa, akin to Dutcli snip, a snapper. Called
also double snipe, from its size.

Cf . Becasdne double (France) ; DohhdC hehann (Norway).

Solitary snipe.
, Little woodcock, Woodcock snipe (Ireland).

COMMON SNIPE {GalUnago ccelestis).
1. The peculiar drumming noise, caused by the rapid action of

192 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

the wings, when making a downward stoop, has obtained for
this bird the names

Heather bleater (Scotland ; Ireland).

feog bleater (Ireland).

Ern bleater.

Horse gowk, or gawk (Orkney and Shetland Isles).

Because the drumming is supposed to resemble the neighing of a horse.
Pontoppidap, speaking of this noise, says, " The horse-gjog is as big as a'magpie ;
it does not ory ' cuckoo ' like another cuckoo, but bleats like a goat, wherefore
it has been called by some persons jord-geed= capreoZMS,"

The Scotch, Irish, and Welsh names for it all signify " air goat."

Cf. GMvre volcmte, CMvre cSleste (France), Himmehiege
(Germany). '

With reference to the above names for this bird, Grimm (" Deutsche Mytho-
logie,"i. 184, Eng. transl.) -writes: — " Apparently some names of the snipe
have to do with this subject — i.e. , with the God Thunar or Donar, Donnerziege
(-goat), Donherstagspferd (' Thursday horse '), Himrndsziege {Oa^eUa coslesUs),
because he seems to bleat or whinny in the sky (?) But he is also the
Weather bird, Storm bitd, .Rain bird, and his flight betokens an approaching
thunderstorm. Dan. Myrehest, Swed. Horsgjoh, Icel. Hross-agamhr, horsegowk
or cuckoo, from his neighing. The first time he is heard in the year he
prognosticates to men their fate (Biorn, sub voc,) ; evidently superstitious
fancies cling to the bird. His Lettish name, pehrkonalcasa, pelvrkona ahm
. (thunder's she-goat and he-goat) agrees exactly with the German. In Lithu-
anian, too, Mieicke (i. 294, ii. 271) gives Perhuru) ozhys as Heaven's goat, for
which another name is tikimtU."

2. Various names. \
Snite.

Jill snipe (Ireland). See under Jack Snipe.
Whole snipe.

As distinguished from the smaller Jack snipe.

Mire snipe (Aberdeen).
Snippack (Shetland Isles).

3. Superstition concerning the snipe.

In some parts of France tTxe female snipe is believed to be the devil's wife.

4. Weather prognostic.

The drumming of the snipe in the air indicates dry weather and frost at
night to the shepherds of Garrow (Scotland).

5. Proverbial sayings.

There is winter enou'gh for the snipe and woodcock too.

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS, 193

The snipe is accounted very delicate eating, hence the old French quat-
rain : —

" Le bdcasseau est de fort bon manger,
Duquel la chair resueille I'appetet,
II est ojseau passager et petit,
Et par son goust fait des vins bien juger."

Qeniis Limnocbtptes.
JACK SNIPE {lAmmiooryftea gaMinula)^

In Ireland this species is commonly believed to be the male of
the common snipe ; hence the latter is called Jill snipe, as distin-
guished from the former. Of. Jaquet (Luxembourg).

Also called

Jedcock, Jid, or Juddock.
Half snipe (Norfolk).

From its small size, as contrasted with the whole, or common snipe. (See
under " 'Whimbrel," p. 199.)

Gaverhale (Devon).

Genua Tringa.
DTJNLIIT (Tringa alpina).

So called from its colour. Cf.' Brunette-Orizette (France).
Some derive the name from Grael. dun, a hill, and linne, a pool ;
because it frequents the dunes and pools by the seaside.

Various names.

Purre, or Churre (Norfolk).

Given to the dunlin when in winter plumage.

Ox bird, or Ox eye (Essex; Kent).

Stint (General).

Sea snipe (North of England ; East Lothian).

Sea lark (North Ireland ; East Lothian).

Summer snipe.

Jack snipe (Shetland Isles).

Plover's page (West 'Scotland).

Because so often seen in company with the golden plover.

Dorbie (Banff).

Pickerel (Scotland generally).

A name applied tu all small waders,

194 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

Sea peek (Forfar).

Sea mouse (Lancashire ; Dumfries).

Sand mouse (Westmoreland).

Bundle (Orkney Isles).

Ebb sleeper (Shetland Isles).

From these birds resting themselves in the shallows — ebhs ; or from their
posting themselves on the sand exposed by the ebbing tide.

CURLEW SANDFIFER {Tringa mha/rquata).
Pigmy curlew (Korfolk).

PURPLE SANDPIPER {Tringa striata).

So called from the prevailing bluish-grey colour of its plumage.

Various names.

Stanepecker (Shetland Isles).

Because its favourite haunts are rooks along the sea-shore, where it picks'
shell-fish from off the stones.

Blind Dorbie (North Shetland).
Bed legs (Caermarthen).

KStOT (Tringa Gonutus).

1. So called, according to Camden, in honour of King Canute,
" for out of Denmark they are thought to fly hither." Drayton
writes of it : —

" The knot, that caUedwas Cauutus' bird of old.
Of that great Kingof Danes, his name that still doth hold ;
His appetite to please, that far and near was sought,
For him, as some have said, from Dermiark hither brought." (Song xxv.)

Whence also

Gnat; Knat ; Knet (Norfolk ; Sir Thos. Browne).
Gnat snap.

" The little gnat -snap, worthy princes' boords " (Du Bartas, p. 45).

2. From the colour of its summer plumage it has received the
names

Red sandpiper (Ireland).
Black sandpiper.

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 195

But the sober tints of its feathers in winter have caused it to be
called

Dunne (Belfast Lough).
Ash-coloured sandpiper (Ireland).

Cf. Taurterelle de mer (Arcachon).

Grey plover (Scotland).
Silver plover (Do.). ■

3. Various names.
Sea snipe (Dublin).
Green -legged shank (Norfolk);.
Male (Essex).
Howster.

Genus Machetes.

RUrr {Machetes pugnax)..

Said to be so called from a frill of feathers the cock bird wears
round his neck during the spring, and early summer. The name
of reeve is given to the female.

At the end of the sixteenth' century we find these birds called " oxen and
kine." Vide Introduction to "Expenses of the Judges of Assize, going the
Western and Oxford circuits, between 1596 and 1601," reprinted in vol. xlv.
of "Camden Miscellany," 1857 ; alsoBiohardiCarew's " Survey of Cornwall,"
1602, p. 108. In Ficardy the male is called Pizon ; the female, Sotte,

Genus Calideis.

SANDERLING-: {Galidris arenaria). .

Also called
Sea lark (Ireland) j.
Sand lark.

Ox bird (Essex ; Kent)..
Stint.

These two latter names are given .to .the. Banderliiig in. common with the
dunlin {Tringa alpma).

Ruddy plover.
The adult male in .summer plumage.

Towwilly.

Curwillet (porn wall).
Names given to the sanderling from its cry. Cf. Guerlette {Seine Infirieure).

PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

Oenus Tringoides.
COMMON SANDPIPER {Tringoides hypoleucus)^

1. The piping note this bird utters when disturbed has given
rise to its names of

Heather peeper (Aberdeen).

Watery pleeps (Orkney Isles).

Killieleepsie (East Lothian).

Kittie needie (Kirkcudbright).

Willy wicket (North of England generally).

Dickie-di-dee (Lancashire).

Tatler.

Weet weet.

Called, for the same reason, Skillili, by the Lapps, who have
made, as Mr. Lloyd informs us,i the following couplet on it : —

" SkiUai ! Skaiili ! ! I carry, I carry, ,
An egg large as that of a Bipa,
So that my tail cocks in the air."

2. From its fondness for the sandy margin of lakes and rivers
it is called

Sandie laverock.

Sand lark (Ireland ; Scotland generally).

Sanny — i.e. Sandie (Aberdeen).

Sand snipe (West Riding).

Shore snipe (Perth).

Water junket.

Water laverock (Roxburgh).

3. Various names.

Summer snipe (England ; Scotland generally).
Because it appears in April, and leaves again in September.

Skittery deacon (Stirling).
From a habit of the bird when rising to fly, on being suddenly alarmed.

Fiddler (Hebrides).
From the manner in which it continually vibrates its body, as if on a pivot.

Shad bird (neighbourhood of Shrewsbury).

" Before the erection of weirs at Worcester and other places on the Severn,
shad used to ascend the river ; they came up about the middle of April, the
time of the arrival of the common sandpiper ; and it is probable that the Severn
fishermen, connecting the appearance of the bird with the advent of the shad-
fishing season, gave to it the local appellation of shad-bird " (Jackson's " Shrop-
shire Word-Book," p. 372).

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 197

Steenie pouter (Orkney Isles).

Bundle (Orkney Isles).

Land tripper (Kirkcudbright).

Genvs Helodromas.

GREEN SANDPIPER {Helodromas ochropus).

Also called

Summer snipe (Norfolk) : see under preceding.
Martin snipe (Do.)

" From the white base of its tail feathers forming such a contrast to its dark
body as to give it the appearance of a house martin" (Stevenson, "Birds of
Norfolk "). Of. Oul ■ hlamc (Prance) ; hence the country-people in Haute
Bretagne say, "When les cu hlancs fly low, it is a sign of wind."

Horse gowk (Shetland Isles) : see " Common Snipe," 1.
Icel. Hrossa-gaukr.

Genus ToTANUs.
REDSHANK {Tdtanus caUdris).

1. So called from the bright red colour of its feet and legs;
whence also

Red-leg (Norfolk).
Red-legged snipe.
Red-legged horiSeman.

Of. Chevalier d, pieds rouges (France).

2. From its loud and piercing alarm cry it has received the
names

Teuk (Essex).

Glee.

Pellile (Aberdeen).

Watery pleeps (Orkney Isles).

3. Also called
Pool snipe.

From its partiality to ooze and marsh.

Sandcock.

Shake (Connemara).
From the constant nodding of its head while on the ground.

198 PKOVmCIAl NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

GEEENSHANK {Totanus canescena).

Also called

Green-legged horseman.

From the colour and extreme length of its legs. Cf. Chevalier dpieds verts
(France). '

Greater plover.

Genus LiMOSA.
BAR-TAIIED GODWIT {Limosa lapponica).

1. From A.-S. god = good, and wihta = an animal; therefore
the meaning is, a bird good to taste and eat (see below, 6). For
the same reason it is called

Sea woodcock.
Godwin (Ireland).

2. From its sharp cry, uttered when taking wLag, ai'e derived
the names

Yarwhelp, or Yarwhip.

Yardkeep.

Shrieker.

Poor Willie (East Lothian).

Their whistle resembling the utterance of these words.

3. From its similarity to the curlew in flight and colour of
plumage, it is called

Half whaup (Forfar).
Half curlew (Norfolk).

Mr. Johns says that the Norfolk fishermen give it this name because it
possesses half the value of the curlew ? (But see " Whimbrel," 2.)

4. Various names.
Stone plover.
Pick (Norfolk).
Prine (Essex).

From its habit of probing the mud for food,

Scammel (Norfolk).

A name given to the female bird by the gunners of Blakeney. Fr. mm,
which means a limpet (Stevenson, ii. 260).

Perhaps referred to by Shakespeare (Jfeapes*, Act II., sc. 11.) ;—
" Sometimes I'll get thee
Young scammels from the rocks."

PKOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 199

This seems preferable to'the reading " sea mells " (i.e. sea mews), owing to the
godwit being a greater dainty than the gull. (See Aldis Wright's "Notes to
the Tempest," 1875, pp. 120-1 ; and, for another suggestion, Dyce's " Shake-
speare," i., p. 245.

5. The gunners on Breydon water are accustomed to call the
12th of May Godwit day, as then those birds begin to move
southward.

6. Godwits, as their name denotes, were much esteemed as an
article of food. Sir Thomas Browne calls them " the daintiest
dish in England," and Ben Jonson writes in The Devil is an Ass,
iii. 3—

" Your eating
Pheasant and godwit here in London, haunting
The globes and mermaids ; wedging in with lords
Still at the table," —

while Dr. Thomas Muffett writes ("Health's Improvement," p. 99),
" A fat godwit is so fine and light meat, that noblemen, yea, and
merchants, too, by your leave, stick not to buy them at four
nobles a dozen."

BLACK-TAILED GODWIT (Limosa cegocephala).

Also called

Red godwit (Ireland).

Small curlew,

Jadreka snipe.

Shrieker (Norfolk). See preceding, 2.

Germs Numenius.
WHIMBREL {Numenius phceopm).

1. A name given to this bird from its peculiar call; whence
also Titterel (Sussex).

2. From its resemblance to a diminutive curlew it is called
Curlew Jack.

Curlew knot (Spalding).

Stone curlew.

Young curlew (Somerset).

Half bird, or Half curlew (Norfolk).

Cf. GorUeu (Bessin).
Little whaup (East Lothian).
Tang whaup (Shetland Isles).

From their being found among the tang or seaweed, searching for crnstacea.
(For whaup, see under Curlew.)

200 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

3. Because they appear in the month of May in greater
numbers than at other times they have received the names of

May birds (Norfolk ; Hebrides ; Ireland).

May fowl (Ireland).

May curlew ; May whaap (Ireland).

4. Various names.
Brame (East Suffolk).
Spowe (Norfolk) : obsolete.

Spoi is the Icelandic name for thewhimbrel. (Southwell, note in Lubbock's
" Fauna of Norfolk," p. 100.)

CTJHLEW [Numienius arquata). .

1. This bird has two cries, viz. :

a. A whistle of two syllables, resembling the name Cur-lew ; .
so the French Courlis, or Gorlu ; Sardinian, Curridiu ; Maltese,
GurUn.
h. The other is harsher, and more guttural, hence the names
Whaup or Stock whaup ; see below, 3...
Awp.

Great whaup (Orkney).
Cawdy mawdy (North Country). .

2. Also called

Jack Curlew (Salop).

Curlew-help (Lancashire) : obsolete.

Whitterick (East Lothian).

"In Norfolk,'' says Stevenson, "the females are called 'great harvest
curlews,' from their size, and because the birds appear in the marshes about
harvest time."

The Danish name is regen-spaer, because it speirs or foretells wet weather by
its cry ; for the same reason it is called in Germany, • Wind- or Wettervogel.
The sstme beUef prevails in Derbyphire, according to Mr. RatcMfe (" Long
Ago," i. 304), who writes as follows : "I Was out listening to the sounds
of night birds, when a whistling (see below, 3) and a twittering overhead,
something like the twittering of swallows, drew my attention. I inquired of
a man who was passing the meaning of the (to me) unusual sound : ' Them's
curlews, ' he said ; ' some folks calls 'em ourlues ; they're a-hoverin' about, and
it falls to be that we'll hae some slushy weather when they hover soo low at
nights '."

The Egyptian Arabs give it the title of "Karrawan,'' and say that its cry
forms these words, addressing the Deity, "Lak, lak, lak, la shariah kalak, fi '1
mulk" — i.e., "^ to thee, to thee, to thee belongs the sovereignty of the world,
without partner or comparison.' (St. John's " Village Life in Egypt," i. 344.)

3. Folk lore of the curlew.

The sad wailing, cry of these birds, while on the wing, in the dark still
nights of winter, resembling the moans of wandering spirits, is believed in

PEOVINOIA.L NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 201

some parts of England to be a death warning, and called the cry of the Seven
Whistlers. "I never thinks any good of them," said old Smith; "there's
always an accident when they comes. They come over our heads all of a
sudden, singing ' ewe, ewe,' an,d the men in the boat wanted to go back. It
came on to rain and blow soon afterwards, and was an awful night, sir ; and
sure enough before morning, a boat was upset, and seven poor fellows drowned.
I know what makes the noise, sir ; it's them long-billed curlews, but I never
Ukes to hear them." (Buckland's " Curiosities of Natural History," series ii.,
286,287.)

Sometimes the cry is exactly like the yelping of a pack of hounds, and
hence has engendered the behef in a ghostly huntsman attended by his dogs,
who traverse the air during the night, bringing death .and ruin to those who
gee them, and to the house over which they halt. They are called in Devon-
shire " Wish," or " Wisht hounds " ; in the neighbourhood of Sheffield,
" Gabriel hounds." (See under Redwing, Wild Goose, Golden Plover.) Much
interesting matter respecting the " furious hosts " will be found in Grimm's
"Deutsche Mythologie," iii., 918-50, Eng.ed.

It is to this that Bishop Mant refers in the lines

" Shouting loud
To warn their comrades of the way.
Lest darlding from the line they, stray, ,
Wake the duU night with startling sounds ;
Well might you deem the deep-mouthed hounds
Raised in full cry the huntsman's peal.
Or clamoured for their morning meal."

The Scotch name whaup or whaap, mentioned above, has been bestowed in
Ayrshire on a goblin or evil spirit, who, according to Jamieson (mb " Quhaip ")
is supposed " to go about under the eaves of houses after the fall of . night,
having a long beak resembling a pair of tongs for the purpose of carrying off
evil-doers. This is referred to by Sir Walter Scott in the " Black Dwarf,"
chap, ii., where Hobbie Elliott says to Earnscliff, " What needs I care for the
Muoklestane Moor ony mair than ye do yoursel, Earnscliff ? To be sure they
say there's a sort of worricows and langnebbit things about the land, but what
need I care for them ? "

4. Proverbial sayings.

Curlews are extremely shy, and so easily alarmed that it is difficult to get
within shot. Hence the Scotch saying that "to kill seven: curlews, or whaups,
is enough for a lifetime."

The flesh of the curlew is considered to be excellent eating — " lautissima," as
Gesner says. Perhaps this epithet is rather too strong, but the bird always
brings the price put on it by the old sayings

"Be she white or be she. black.
The curlew has tenpence on her back '' (Lincolnshire).

Another version of iwhich is

" A curlew leam or a curlew fat
Carries twelvepence on her back."

202 PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

Order Gavi^.

family LariDjE.

■Suh-famhily Stbrnin^.

Genus Stekna.

AUCTIC TEKSi [Sterna macrura).

Danish Terne ; Swedish Tama.

Tarrock (Shetland Isles).
SparKng (Lancashire).

A name given also to the Little Tern (Sterna'minuta).

Jourongs (Gal way).

" Signifying a cross and peevish disposition. So named from their hahit of
picking and biting themselves when vfounded and thrown on the bottom of the
boat" (^Watters).

Skirr (Ireland).
From its ery.

Sea swslllow (Ireland).
A name also givenmore generally to the common tern (which see).

COMMON TERN [Sterna flvmatilis).

1. Akin to Danish Terne, Swedish Tarna, are the names
Darr (Norfolk).

Starn (Do.).

Tarnie.

Pictarnie, (East Lothian; Fife).

Tarret ; Tarrock; Taring (Shetland Isles).

Kccatarrie (Shetland Isles).

Speikintares (Ross-shire).

2. The cry of the bird resembles the sound of the word ",pirre,"
hence

Pirre, or Spurre (North of Ireland).

Skirr (Lambay Island).

Great purl (Norfolk).

Kirrmew.

Scraye.,

Of . -Pfowwg ; /"wwre (Picardy).
Sparling, or Spurling (Lancashire).
Dippiirl I (Norfolk).

PKOYINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIEDS. 203

3. From the taU being elongated and forked like that of the
swallow, and from its similar action on the wing, it has received
the names

Sea swallow (General).
Shear tail (Orkney Isles).

Cf . Hirondelle de mer (France) ; Golondrina de mar (Spain).

4. Also called

Gull teaser (South Devon).

Because it pursues the lesser gulls till they disgorge their prey, which it
seizes before reaching the water.

Picket-a (Orkney Isles).

Rixy (Ea^t Suffolk).

Miret (Cornwall).

Clett.

Kip.

Great tern.

Rittook, or Eippock (Orkney Isles).

From Icel. rit-ur.
Kingfisher (Lough Neagh).

From its darting flight.

Willie fisher (Forfar),
Pease crow.

" Called in Norway Mackerel tern, because it follows the shoals of mackerel
in pursuit of the small fishes and marine insects which make for the surface of
the water as the mackerel pass under them." (Bowden.)

5. In Ireland the bird's appearance is regarded as the harbinger of a good
fishing season.

EOSEATE TERN (Sterna dougatti).
Purre maw (Carrickfergus).
From their hoarae cry.

LITTLE TEBX {Sterna mvnuta).

1. From the bird's cry are derived the names
Skirr (Ireland).

Small purl (Norfolk).
Sparling (West Lancashire).

Where the eggs and young are called " sea mice."

2. Also called
Eichel bird.

Little darr (Norfolk).

204 PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

Shrimp catcher (Norfolk).
Fairy bird (Galway).

From its graceful movements.

Sea swallow (General).
Dip ears (Norfolk).
Little pickie (Forfar).
Hooded tern.

From the black crown, amd nape.

SANDWICH tern: (Sterna cantiaca)..

In the Farn Islands this species is called " the tern " par
excdhnce, all other kinds having the name " sea swallows." (Selby.)

Genus Hydrochblidon.
BLACK TERN {Hydrochelidon nigra).

Also called
Stern.
Scare crow.

From its colour.

Blue darr (Norfolk).

" A corruption," says Mr. Johns,- " of dorr-hawk, a name for the nightjar,
which it resembles in its mode of flight and also in its food, feeding on beetles
and other insects." (But see under Common Tern, 1.)

Car swallow (Cambridgeshire).

From its being found on marshes — "carrs."

Clover-footed gull.

Sub-family Larin^.
GULLS.

1. The name of gull appears to have been given to this family
of birds from their wailing cry. (Corn. Gullan , "Welsh, Owylan ;
Breton, G-welan ; Italian, Golano ; French, Goeland). Gull, as

PKOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 205

applied to a dupe or a fool, means properly an unfledged bird.
See " Halliwell's Dictionary," sub voc, who quotes Wilbraham to
the effect that all nestling birds in quite an unfledged state are
so called in Cheshire.

2. Weather prognostics from gulls.

In Scotland and Ukter there is a common rhyme —

" Sea gull, sea gull, sit on the sand,
It's never good weather while you're on the land " :

alluding to the fact that when gulls fly out early and far to seaward, or
remain on the shore, fair weather maybe expected; but, if they appear inland,
storms generally follow. Sir Walter Scott, in the following lines (" Lay of the
Last Minstrel," cant, vi.), refers to the approach of the storm being known to
these birds : —

" Moor, moor the barge, ye gallant crew !
And, gentle ladye, deign to stay !
Rest thee in Castle Ravensheuch,
Nor tempt the stormy frith to-day.

"The blackening wave is edged with white :

To inch and rock the sea mews fly ;

The fishers have heard the water-sprite

Whose screams forebode that wreck is'nigh."

3. Folk lore.

The following curious narration is taken from Plot's "Natural History of
Staffordshire," p. 231 (Oxford, 1686) : — " The strangest web-footed water fowle
that frequents this county is the Larus cinereus Omithologi, the Lwrui cinereus
tertius Mdrovandi, and the Cepphas of Gesner and Turner — in some counties
called the Black cap ; in others, the Sea or Mire crow ; here the Pewit, which,
being of the migratory kind, came annually to certain poolea in the estate of
the Right Worshipful Sir Charles Skrymsher, Knight, to build and breed, and
to no other estate in, or neer, the county^ but of this family to which they have
belonged vUra hominum memoriam, and never moved from it, though they have
changed their station often. They anciently came to the old pewit-poole above
mentioned, about half a mile south-west of Norbury Church, but it being their
strange quality (as the whole family will tell you, to whom I refer the reader
for the following relation) to be disturbed and remove upon the death of the
head of it, as they did within memory, upon the death of James Skrymsher,
Esq., to Offley Moss, near Wood's Eyes, which Moss, though containing two
gentlemen's lands, yet (which is very remarkable) the pewits did discern
betwixt the one and the other, and build only on the land of the next heir,
John Skrymsher, Esq., so wholly were they addicted to this family. At which
Moss they continued about three years, and then removed to the old pewit-poole,
again, where they continued to the death of the said John Skrymsher, Esq.,
which happening on the eve to our Lady Day, the very time when they are
laying their eggs, yet so concerned were they at this gentleman's death, that
notwithstanding this tie of the law of nature, which has ever been held to be
universal and perpetual, they left their nests and eggs ; and though they made
some attempts of laying again at Offley Moss, yet they were still so disturbed
that they bred not all that year. The next year after they went to Aqualat, to
another gentleman's estate of the same family, where (though tempted to stay
with all the care imaginable), yet continued there but two years, and then
returned again to another poole of the next heir of John Skrymsher, deceased,

206 PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

called Shebben-poole, in the parish of High Offley, where they continue to this
day, and seem to be the propriety, as I may say (though a wild fowls), of the
Eight Worshipful Sir Charles Skrymsher, Knight, their present lord and
master." ( Vid. aitp., sub Rook, pp. 87, 88.)

Genus RissA.
KITTIWAZE {Rissa tridaMyla)..

1. So called from its cry, three notes uttered in quick succession ;
whence also

Kittie (East coast; Banflf).

" Seeing some kitties flying about some swimming willocks " (see under
Guillemot), " one evening, I was assured that the willock, after diving and
coming up with a fish, presented it to the kitty, who flew down to receive it."
(" East Anglian," iii. 362.)

Sea kittie (Norfolk ; Suffolk).
Kishiefaik (Orkney Isles).
Killyweeack (Do.).
Keltie (Aberdeen).
Waeg (Shetland Isleg).

Diminutive of (Kitti)wake.

2. Various names.
Cackareen.

Petrel (Flamborough Head).
Craa maa (Shetland Isles).
Annet.
Tarrock.

A name applied to the young before their first moult.

Genus Larus.

GLAUCOUS GULL {Larus glaucus).

So called from the white-frosted appearance of its feathers. By
the Dutch sailors, so Scoresby tells us, the name of Burgomaster
is given to this bird, either from its grave and majestic appear-
ance, or because it is master of other sea fowl.

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 207

Also called

Golden maw (Stirling).
Iceland scorie (Shetland Isles).

A name only appKed to the young gulls while speckled; they lose the
Bpeokled appearance after the first year. In Shetland the name " acorie " or
" scaurie " is given to the young of any kind of gull.

HERRING GTTLL (Larus a/rgentatus).

Various names.

Silvery, i.e. Silvery-white, gull (Ireland).

Laughing gull (Belfast).

White maa (Shetland Isles).

Willie gow (East Lothian ; Aberdeen).

Cat gull (Kirkcudbright).

" These birds are detested by the keepers, and have probably earned their
name and character by their oat-like depredations amongst the newly-hatehed
young birds and eggs on the moors " (R. Service, in " Zoologist," 1878, p. 428).
Mr. Harvie Brown suggests that the name is given from their cat-like voice.

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL {La/rus fuscus).

Gray gull.

Said fool (Shetland Isles).

COMMON GULL {Larus camus).

1. Prom A.-S. Maew , akin to Dutch Meeuw; Icel. J/ifr (from
the cry of the bird) are derived

Mew, or Sea mew (Scotland).
Maa, or Mar (Kirkcudbright).
Sea maw, or Sea maU (Scotland).
Small maa (Shetland Isles).
Sea mell (obsolete).
See under Bar-tailed Godwit, p. 198.

Blue maa (Shetland Isles).
From the bluish-ash of upper parts.

Winter mew.

2. Various names.

Gow — i.q. Gull (Aberdeen).

Cobb or Sea cobb (Kent ; Essex; Suffolk; Norfolk).

208 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

Annet (Northumberland).

Winter bonnet.

Coddy moddy.

Barley bird (Soiitb Devon).

From the time of its appearance, at barley sowing.

Seed bird (Roxburgh ; Teviotdale).
From its habit of following the plough.

Green-billed gull.

GREATER BLACK-BACKED GULL {Larus marinus).

1. From its black back are derived the names

Black back.

Black-and-white gull.

Swart back (Orkney Isles).

Swarbie (Shetland Isles).

Saddleback (Norfolk ; Lancashire).

Greater saddleback (Ireland).

Parson gull, or mew (Sussex ; Galway).

From the contraat of the blank back with the snow white of the unde
plumage.

2. Also called

Cobb (Essex ; Kent ; North Devon ; Wales ; Galway),
With reference to its large size.

Baagie (Shetland Isles).

Goose gull (Ireland).

Gray gull (Do.).

GuU maw — i.e. mew (East Lothian).

Carrion gull (Ireland).

Being particularly addicted to flesh.

Wagell gull.

A name applied to the young birds.

BLACK-HEADED GULL {Larus rudibundus).

1. In summer, the head and upper part of the neck are a deep
dark brown, hence the names

Black-headed gull.
Black cap, or Black head.

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 209

Brown-headed gull.

Hooded crow, or Hooded mew (Orkney Isles ; East Lothian).

2. From the bright vermilion of its feet and legs it is called

Eed-shank gull (Ireland).
Eed-legged gull (Do.).
Red-legged pigeon mew (Norfolk).

Cf. Pijoun de' mar (South of France).

3. Its habit of going inland, and frequenting fields to feed on
worms and larvae in the newly-turned-up furrows, has caused the
titles to be given to it of

Puit, or Peewit gull (Norfolk ; Staffordshire).
Sea crow.
Mire crow.

4. Locacl names.

Scoulton pie^ or Scoulton peewit (Norfolk).
Scoulton Mere, in Norfolk, is a faTourite breeding-place of these birds.

Potterton hen (Aberdeen).
From a loch of that name, now dried up. (J. Harvie Brown.)

Collochan gull, (Kirkcudbright).
From a loch, so called. (R. Service, in " Zoologist,',' 1878, p. 428.)

5. Various names.

Crocker.

Bakie (Shetland Isles).

Pine, or Pine maw (Antrim)j

Maddriok gull (Cornwall).

Sea maw, or Maw (Scotland).

Pick sea ; Pictarn ; Pickmire (Roxburgh).

Pickie bumet (Roxburgh).

A name for the young gulls, whose head is- light brown, while the upper
plumage is a darker shade of the same colour. Burnet =Fr. Brunette.

6. The fishermen about Finisterre say that if you hear the gulls
cry " Car6 — car6 — care," it is time to wind up {ca/retter) the lines, for
you will have no sport.

210 PKOVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIKDS.

Suh-family STERGOEARiiNiB.

Qenus Stercoeabius.

COMMON SKUA {Stercor(wius catarrhactea).

The skuas are so called from their sharp, shrill ciy, which
resembles the word skua or skui.

Various names.
Bonxie (Shetland Isles).
Herdsman (Orkney Isles).
Because it is believed to protect the young lambs from the attacks of the eagle.

Scull.

Bla,ck gull (Tralee Bay).
Black-toed gull.
Port Egmont hen.

A name given to this bird by sailors, from its being found in large flocks iu
ithe Falkland Isles.

Tom Hurry (Cornwall).

Tuliac.

Sea crow.

Brown gull.

JBadock.

RICHARDSOU'S SKUA {Steraorarim crepidatus).

1. Grulls, both large and sinall, when engaged in fishing, are
■pursued and harassed by these birds till they disgorge their prey.
The skuas then catch what is dropped before it reaches the water.
Hence the name

Teaser.

2. The following names are derived from the vulgar opinion that
the gulls are muting, when, in reality, they are only disgorging
;fish newly caught.

Dirt bird (Dundrum Bay).

Skait bird (Old Scotch, from Skit-a-cacare).

S — e scouter, i.e. skeiter.

Scouty allan, or Scouty aulin (Orkney Isles).

Weese allan (Do.).
" Weese," from A.-S. was=moisture.

Dirty allan, or aulin (East Scotland).

Dung bird, or Dung hunter.
Cf . Chasse merde (France) ; Struntjager (Germany).

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 211

3. Various names.

Arctic gull.

Man-of-war bird.

Black- toed gull (Moray).

Boatswain (North Scotland ; Shetland Isles).

Shooi— i.y. Skua; from the bird's ciy (Shetland Isles).

Trumpie (Orkney Isles).

Order Tubinaees.

Family Pbocbllariid^.

Genus Procellaria.

STORM-PETaEL {Procellao'ia pdagica).

The Petrel is so named from the French pitrel, a diminutive of Pitre. i.i.
Peter ; and the allusion is to the Apostle walking on the Sea of Galilee. Whilst
skimming along the waves its legs hang down, and the feet seem tO' touch the
water, presenting the appearance of walking.

1. From the belief that its appearance prognosticates stormy
weather, it is held in abhorrence by sailors ; hence the names

Stormy petrel.
Storm finch (Orkney Isles).
Witch, or Waterwitch.
Assilag (Hebrides).
Prom Gaelic eiasch<d-=& storm. Cf. Oisecuu du didble, Oiseau
des tempetes (Picardy) ; Satanite, Satanique (Normandy).

2. Also called

Mitty.

Spency (Shetland Isles).

AJamonti (Orkney Isles).
" The name seems of Italian extract — ^from ida, a wing, and monte.: the bird
that still moimts or keeps on its wing, agreeing to a well known attribute of
this animal." (Jamieson.)

Swallow (Shetland Isles).

Grourder, or Gourdal (Kerry),

Martin-oil (Glalway).

Hornfinch.

Mother Carey's chiciken.

I cannot discover a satisfactory reason for this name being given to the
petrel. Two have been proposed -one in Notes and Queries, and the other in
Mr. Yarrell's " British Birds," but neither seems probable. The latter sayS that

212 PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

it waa bestowed by Captain Carteret's sailors, from soine unknown hag of that
name. This appears rather far-fetched. The former suggests that Mother
Carey = Mater ca/ra, a name of the Blessed Virgin ; the idea being that these
birds, giving friendly warning of storms at sea, may well be connected in the
minds of sailors with her whom they invoke as their patroness. But, on the
other hand, in no litany of the Virgin is the word cara applied to her : and
the French Catholic sailors have very different names for the petrel — e.g.,
Oiseau du diable, Satanite, Satanique. (See above, 1.) The Breton fisher-
men declare that petrels embody the souls of wicked captains who have ill-
treated their crews and, as a punishment, are condemned to fly for ever over
the deep. Others say that they are the souls of drowned sailors, imploring the
prayers of the living ; or are sent from heU, and appear as " devil birds " (see
above), gliding and hovering over the corpses of the. lost. They were be-
lieved, in old days, to hatch their eggs under their wings, and bring their
young ones with them. (See under Great Northern Diver, 3.) \In East
Anglui they are called Tom tailors l^y the Lowestoft and Yarmouth fishermen.

Genus PuFFiNus.
MANX SHEARWATEE (Puffinus cmghrum).

So called from its flight, shearing or skimming the waves ; while the epithet
Manx is applied because at one time it was found in great numbers on the
coast of the Isle of Man ; whence Manx petrel or puflln.

1. From its hoarse guttural cry it has the names

Crew ( ScUly Isles);
Coctathrodon (Do.).

2. Also called

Mackerel cock (Lambay Island).
Because it precedes the appearance of that fish on the east coast of Ireland.

Night bird (Skellig Islands).
Because it is only seen at night about the rock.

Lyre (Shetland and Orkney Isles).
Scraber (Hebrides).

Norwegian shrabe, or the scraper ; so called because it is said " to scrape a
hole in the sand by the side of a large stone, where it makes its nest, but does
not incubate after the fashion of other birds, for it sometimes lies with its
belly on the eggs, at other times on its back ! " (Bowden's " Naturalist in
Norway," p. 190).

GREATER SHEARWATER, (Pi#wm« ™a/or).

Hackbolt (Scilly Islands).

Hagdown (Dungarvan ; Isle of Man).

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 213

Genus FuLMAEUS.
FULIHAS. (Fvhnarus glaciaMs).

Fulmar, akin to Fowmwrt = a polecat, and meaning a foul
marten : from the peculiar and disagreeable odour of the bird,
owing to the oil which it emits on being seized, and the ranknesa
of its food. (Another derivation is from Icel. Fole ma/r, equivalent
to the Danish name Hav hest (i.e. sea-horse), " because it is
supposed, when breathing, to imitate the snorting of a horse,
while the way in which it walks the water is considered to
resemble a horse's gallop." — Bowden, p. 189.)

CaUed in the Shetland Isles, Malmock, Malduck, or Mallemock
(i.e. Foolish fly), from its heedless habits.

In Newfoundland it has the name John Down.

Order Ptgopodes.

Family Colymbid^.

Qenus Colymbus.

GEEAT BTOETHERN DIVER {Golymhm glacialis).

1. From Icel. JJmvr, Swedish, Danish Lorn, a loon, lubber,
alluding to the awkward motion of diving birds on land, come
the names

Loon, or Loom ("general).

Ring-necked loon (East Lothian ; Cork Harbour).

2. Also called

Great doucker, i.e. diver.
Cf. Gromd phngewr (France).

Immer or Ember (Orkney Isles).

Imber diver (Ireland).

Ammer, or Emmer goose (Aberdeen ; East Lothian).

Gunner.

Naak (Scotland).

Cobble.

Holland hawk (Ballantrae, Scotland).
The Gaelic name for the bird is Mur hhuachwiU, or sea herdsman.
Called in Norway Sislom, or Ice loon, because it does not migrate, but re-
mains on the water till the ice forms.

3. Folk lore.

"The peasants in Finmark," says Bowden (p. 174), "beUeve that this bird
was first made without legs, but that nature, becoming sensible of her mistate,
got into a pet, and flung a pair of legs after it."

214 PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

The Norwegians declare that they know when stormy weather is approach-
ing, by the peculiar cry which the Immer then utters.

Bishop Pontoppidan gays of it, " Its wings are so short, it can hardly raise
itself with them ; and its legs are so far back that they are not so much used
to walk with, as to paddle along the water ; on which account the Immer is
never seen to come ashore, excepting in the week before Christmas, wherefore
the fourth Sunday in Adrent is called by the people Immer, or as the people
express it, Ommer Sunday.

Pennant, in his " British Zoology, " tells us that the Immer is thought to
hatch its young in a hole formed by nature under the wing for that purpose ;
a belief prevalent in the Faroe Isles, according to the Rev. Lucas J. Debes, who
says (" Description of Foeroe, Englished by John Storpen, 1674 ") that " the
bird has two holes, one under each of its wings, capable to hold an egg, wherein
they (the natives), suppose it hatcheth its eggs, till the young ones come out,
neither is it ever seen with more or less than two young ones, which conceit
seems not unreasonable."

BLACK-THROATED DIVER {Colymhus arcticus).
Also called

Northern doucker.

Lumme (See under " Great Northern diver," 1).

Speckled loon.

Lesser imber.

This bird makes a great noise against rain, hence the Norwegians think it
impious to destroy it.

RED-THROATED DIVER {Colymbus septentrionalis).

1. The back and upper parts of this bird are of a dusky mouse
colour, marked with small white spots; hence the names

Speckled diver : First speckled, and Second speckled diver.

Speckled loon.

Mag {i.e. Magpie) loon (Norfolk).

2. From its fondness for sprats it is called
Sprat borer, or loon (Essex).
Spratoon (Norfolk ; East Lothian).

3. Various names —

Loon, or Lune (Devon; Cork; Wexford).
Loom (Shetland Isles). See under Great Northern Diver.
Ram goose (Caithness ; Shetland Isles).
So called because its cry is considered to prognosticate rain.
Cobble.

SUver grebe (Kent). See under Great Crested Grebe.
Arran ake— i.e. auk (a name given to this bird about Luss in

Dumbarton).
Burrian (BaUantrae).
Galrush (Dublin Bay).

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 215

4. When this bird is seen busied about the broken water along
the coasts of Norfolk and Suffolk, the fishermen say it indicates
where those engaged in long shore fishing had best try their luck :
so the proverb runs : —

A loon in a wash

Is as good as a shilling in a poor man's purse.

Fa/mily PodicipiBjE.

Genits PoDicEPS.

GREAT CRESTED GREBE {Podicepa cnstatus).

(Ft. Grebe: named from its crest, from Breton krib, a comb.
Cf. gebron (Grisons)

1. So called from the dusky crest, standing up on each side of
the head ; whence also

Crested doucker (East Lothian).
Horned doueker.

2. Various names.

Greater loon, or Loon (Norfolk ; West of Ireland).
Grey, or ash-coloured loon.
Tippet, or satin grebe.

From the glossy, silky white skin of the breast being used by furriers for cipe
trimmings and tippets.

Ash-coloured swan.

Molrooken (Lough Neagh).

Arse foot (obsolete).
i.q. Dutch arsvoote ; from the backward position of the legs.

, Car goose.
From the bird's haunts, '• carrs."

Graunt (Lincolnshire).
A.-S. Gemot, a sea fowl.

SCLAVONIAN GREBE {Podiceps aurilus).

Also called

Homed grebe.
Dusky grebe.
A name given to it when in winter plumage.

216 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

Genus Tachybaptes.
LITTLE GREBE {Tachyha^tes fluviatilis).

1. From its diving propensities this bird is called

Diver (Renfrew).

Diedapper (Dorset ; Hants ; Norfolk).

Divedapper, or Divedop (Lincolnshire).

Divy duck (Norfolk).

Dive an' dop (Do.).

Doucker (Perthshire; Salop).

Jack doucker (Salop).

Small or Little doucker (Bast Lothian).

Dabchick, or Dobchick (general).

Dabber (Berks; Bucks).

2. Various names.

Black chin, or Black-chinned grebe (Berks).
So called when in summer plumage.

Spider diver.

Bonnetie (Forfar).

Penny bird (Lough Mome ; Carrickfergus).

Drink a penny (Lough Strangford).

Willie Hawkie (Olough, Antrim).

Tom puddin' (Salop ; Toome, Antrim).

Loon.

Arsefoot (see under Great Crested Grebe).

Mither o' the mawkins (Stirling).

I.e. Mother o' the hares = a witch, or uncanny person. " Applied, in one
village, to the dabchick, from its diving capabilities and the way in which it
suddenly disappears when pursued." (J. A. Harvie Brown.)

3. Shakespeare alludes to the bird in " Venus and Adonis '' : —

" Like a dive dapper peering through a wave.
Who, being look'd on, ducks as quickly in."

And Drayton, " Polyolbion," st. 25 :—

" The diving dobchick here among the rest you see,
Now up, now down again, that hard it is to prove
Whether under water most it liveth, or above."

PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 217

FamiMy ALCiDiE.

Genus Alca.

RAZOR BILL {Alca torda).

1. From the Icel. dJka, are derived the names
Auk, Alk, or Oke.

Talk, or Faik (Hebrides).
Bawkie (Orkney Isles).

2. Also called

Murre (Cornwall).
Marrott (East Lothian; Aberdeen).
Icel. mdr : from the cry of the bird.

Scout (Scotland ; Farn Islands). See under Guillemot.
Sea crow (Orkney Isles).
From its black head and back.

Gurfel.

Puffin (Antrim).

Hellejay— ? i.q. Hrogga (Shetland Isles).
Willock, or Willcock (Do.).

A name ako applied to the Guillemot, which see.

3. Prom birds of the auk genus making their way on land with difficulty, a
man whose gait is wavering and unsteady, is said, according to a northern
proverb, to be " as drunk as an auk."

Genus Lomvia.
COMMOlf GUILLEMOT {Lomvia troile).

1. Derived from the French guillemot (in Picardy, Guillame) ;
whence

GuiUem (Wales).

Willock (Norfolk ; Orkney Isles, etc.). See under Kittiwake.

WUIy (Norfolk).

Foolish guillemot.

From the indifference it shows, in the breeding season, to the approach of
man. Cf. the French proverb " BSte comme un guilleiLOt," and the Sufiolk
saying " Mad (i.e. siUy) as a willock."

2. Various names.

Spratter (Hants).
From its fondness for small fry.
Eligny (South Pembroke).

218 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

Quet (Aberdeen).
Auk (Orkney Islands).
Scout (Yorkshire ; Forfar ; Orkney Isles).
Skuttock, or Skiddaw (East Lothian).
Kiddaw (Cornwall).
The three last derived from shite, to mute. '

Maggie (Forfar).
From the black aud white plumage, resembling that Of a magpie.

Tarrock

Lungie, or Longie (Shetland Isles).

Muir-eun : pronounced Murr-yan (Horn Head, Donegal).

Murre, or Murse (Cornwall ; Devon ; Cork Harbour).

Marrot, or Morrot (Firth of Forth).

Icel. mdr ; from the bird's cry..

Tinkershire, or Tinkershue.
Prom its black head and back.

Iiavy, or Lamy (Hebrides).

Sea hen (Northumberland ; Durham ; East Lothian).
The Gaelic name is Eun a chruiian {i.e. the squatting or crouching bird).

Strany.

Genus Uria.

LACK GUILLEMOT {UriaGryUe).

1 . From the great attachment shown to each other by the male
and female, thus resembling the dove, this bird has received the
names

Greenland dove (Orkney Isles).

Sea turtle, or Greenland turtle.

Sea pigeon (Lame Bay and Lambay Island ; Ireland).

Sea dovie (Forfar).

Diving pigeon (Farn Isles).

Rock dove (Ireland).

Doveky.

2. Also called

Puffixet (Farn Islands).
Parrot (Roundstone, Co. Galway).
Scraber (East Lothian ; Hebrides).
See under Manx shearwater, 2.

PEOVINCIAL NAMES OF BEITISH BIRDS, 210

Tystie (Orkney and Shetland Islands).
Cf. Korw. teiste.

Spotted guillemot.

From its spotted winter plumage.

The Welsh call it Cos gam longwr (i.e. the sailors' hatred), from, a notion that
its appearance forebodes a storm.

Genus Mergulus.

LITTLE AUK {Mergulus alle). Icel. dlka..

Also called

Eotchie or Eotch.
Eatch (Shetland Isles);

In Greenland it has the name of Ice bird, being considered the harbinger of
ice ; in. Norway, that of Alke-leonge, or Auk king.

Genus Fratercula.
PirFFIN {Fratercula a/retiaa).

1. So called either from its puffed out appearance, or from its
swelling beak ; which latter has given it the names of

Sea parrot (Norfolk).

Cf. Perroquet de mer (France)..

Bottlenose.

Coulterneb (Farn Islands).

Bill (Galway).

Guldenhead.

2'. Familiar names.

Tommy.

Tom noddy, or Tommie norie (Farn Islands ; Scotland).

"Norw. noere signifies pueWus, homuncio (G. Andr., pp. 186, 189), the boy,
or manikin. Hence perhaps the reason of his being otherwise called by the
diminutive of a man's name." (Jamieson.)

"There is an old Scotch saying : —

' Tammie Norie o' the Bass

Ganna kiss a bonny lass,' —

said jocularly when a yoving man refuses to salute a rustic coquette. "The

puflBn, which bmlds in great numbers on the Bass rock, is a very shy bird, with

a long deep bill, giving him an air of stupidity ; and from these two things to-

220 PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS.

gether the saying probably^has arisen. It is also customary to call a stupid-
looking man a Tammie Norie." (Chambers' " Popular Bhymes," p. 190).

3. Called from its favourite haunts, it has the names of

' Bass cock (Scotland).
AUsa cock, or parrot (Scotland ; Antrim).

4. Various names.

Pipe, or Pope (Cornwall).
Scout (Farn Isles).
Willock (Kent;.
See under Common Guillemot.

Bouger or Bulker (Hebrides).
Mullet (Scarborough).
Helegug (Wales).
Marrot.

For the last two see under RazorbiD, 2.
Cockandy (Fife).

Coliaheen, i.e. old woman ; from its old-fashioned appearance
(Galway).

5. Nashe, in his " Lenten StuiFe," speaks of " the Pufiin that is
halfe fish, halfe flesh (a John indifferent, and an Ambodexter be-
twixt either)."

INDEX OF LATIN NAMES.

F^GB

PAGB

Accentor modulsms -

Coocothraustes vulgaris

Accipiter nisus

- 136

Columba livia -

- 168

Acredula rosea

- 31

— oenas -

167

Acrocephalus phragmitis

— palumbus

- 165

— strepenis -

Colymbus arcticus -

- 214

^gialitis hiaticula -

182

— glacialis -

- 213

Alauda arborea

— septentrionaUs -

- 214

— arrensis

Corvus corax -

- 88

Alca torda

- 217

— comix -

Alcedo ispida - . -

- 104

— corone -

Ampelis garrulua

— fnigilegus -

- 86

Anas boricas

156

— monedula

- 81

Anser albifrona

148

CotUe riparia

- 56

■^ oinereus

147

Coturnix communis -

17?

— segetum

148

Crex pratensis

- 177

Anthus obsouruB

Cuculus canoruB

- 109

— pratensis

- 45

CygnuB musicus

- 152

— trivialis

- 46

— olor

- 150

Aquila chiyssetus

- 133

CypseluB apus -

- 95

Ardea cinerea -

- 144

Asio braohyotus

129

Dafila acuta -

155

— otus-

128

Daulias lusoinia

Astur palumbariuB -

- 136

DendrocopuB major -

— minor -

Bemicla brenta

— leucopsis
Botaurus Btellaris -
Bubo ignavus
Buteo vulgaris -

149

- 149

- 146
130

- 133

. Emberiza cirlus

— citrinella -

— miliaria -

— achoeniolus
Erithaous rubecula

- 71

- 69
69
71
13

Eudromias morinellus

- 182

Calidris arenaria

- 195

Caprimulgua europseus

Falco aesalon

- 139

Carduelis elegans

- 68

— peregrinus

- 138

Certhia familiaris

— subbuteo

- 139

Charadrius pluvialiB-

- 180

Frateroula arotioa - " -

- 219

Chaulelasmus atreperus -

157

Fringjlla ccelebs

Caielidon urbica

- 66

— montifriDgiUa

Chrysomitris spinus

- 59

Fulica atra

- 178

Cinclus aquaticus -

- 30

Fuligula cristata

- 158

Circus seruginosus

— oyaneus-
Clangula glaucion -

131

- 132

- 160

— ■ ferina-
— marila
Fulmarus glacialia -

- 160
159

- 213

222

INDEX OF LATIN NAMES.

Qallinago coelestis -

— major
Gallinula chloropus -
Garrulus glandarius
Gecinus viridis

Hsematopua ostralegus
HaliiBtus albicilla
Harelda glacialis
Helodromas oohropus
Hirundo nistica
Hydroohelidon nigra.

Jynx torquilla -

Lagopus mutus
— scoticus
Lanius collurio

— exoubitor
Larus argentatus

— canus

— fuseus

— glaucus -

— mariuus

— ridibuudus -
Ligurinus ohloria
Limnooryptes gallinula
Limosa Eegocephala -

— lapponica
Linota cannabina

— flavirostris

— rufescens
Locustella naevia
Lomvia troile -
Loxia ourvirostra

Machetes pugnax
Mareca penelope
Mergulus alle -
Mergus albellus

— merganser -

— serrator
Milvus iotinua -
Motacilla lugubris -

— melanope -

— Eaii
Muscicapa atricapilla

— griaola -

Numenius arquata ■
— phoeopus

TASB

191

178

188
136
161
197
49
204

103

174

175

207

206

208

193

199

198

217

195

154

219

164

163

164

137

200
199

(Edemia fusca -

— nigra -
(Edicnemus scolopax

Pandion haliaetus
Panurus biarmicus ■
Parua britannious

— coeruleus

— major

— palustria
Passer domeatipua -
Perdix oinerea -
Pernis apivoms
Phalacrooorax carbo

— graculus

Phasianua coIcHcus -
Phylloaoopus rufus -

— sibilatrix

— trochilua
Pica rustica
Plectrophanea nivalis
Podieeps auritus

— cristatus
Porzana maruetta -
Pratiucola rubetra -

— rubicola -
Prooellaria pelagica -
Puffinua anglorum -

, — major
Pyrrhocorax graculus
Pyrrbula europsea -

Querquedula cireia

— crecca -

Rallua aquaticus
Reourvirostra avooetta
Regiilus oristatua
Rissa tridactyla
Rutioilla phoeniourua

Saxioola oenanthe
Scolopax rusticola -
Sitta cseaia
Somateria moUiasima
Spatula clypeata
Squatarola- helvetica
Stercorarius catarrhaotea

— crepidatus
Sterna cantiaca

— dougalli

— fluviatilis

— macrura

— miuuta -

PAOR

163
162
179

141

172

138

142

143

171

215

177

211

212

157
158

176
188

25
206

189
34
162
158
181
210
210
204
203
202
202
203

INDEX OF LATIN NAMES.

22a

Strepsilas interpres
Strix flamiuea -
Stumus vulgaris
Sula bassana -
Sylvia atrio^^piIla

— cinerea -

— hortensia
Syrnium aluco

Tachybaptes fluviatilis
Tadoma cornuta
Tetrao tetrix -
— UTOgallus
Tinnunculus alaudarius
TotanuB calidris

— canescens -
Tringa alpina -

FAGB

PAGE

187

Tringa oanutua

- 194

125

— striata -

- 194

— subarquata

- 194

144

Tringoides hypoleucus

- 196

Troglodytes parvulus

- 35

Turdus iliacuB -

— merula

129

— musious

— pilaris -

— torquatus -

216

1 — visoivorus -

153

Turtur communis -

- 169

175

176
140

Upupa epops -

- 106

197

Uria grylie

- 21s

198

193

Yanellus vulgaris

. 183

INDEX OF COMMON AND PEOVINCIAL

NAMES

FAQE

PASI

Aberdevine

Bardrake

- 153, 164

Ailsa Cock

- 220

Bargander

153

— Parrot

- 220

Bargooae -

- 149

Alamonti

211

Barley bird

18, 103, 208

Alk

217

— seed-bird

Allan or Aulin

210

— snake-bird

- 103

AUeoampagne -

Barnacle Goose

- 149

Alp

Barn Owl

125

Ammer, Yellow

, Barred Woodpecker -

- 98

— Goose -

213

Bar-tailed Godwit

- 198

Amsel

Bass cock

220

Annet . . . -

206, 208

— goose, or Basser

144

Apple-bird

Baukie -

217

Apple-finch, or sheely

62,63

Bay Duck

- 153

Arctic Bird, or Gull

211

Beam bird

— Tern

- 202

Bean Crake

- 177

Arranake

214

— Goose

- 148

Areefoot -

215, 216

Bearded Tit ■

- 30

Ash-eoloured Loon -

215

Bearded Pinnook

- 30

— Sandpiper -

- 195

Beardie -

— Swan -

- 215

Bee bird -

23, 27, 34, 49

Aasilag

211

Beech Finch -

- 63

Atteal, or Attile Duck

- 160

— Owl

- 129

Auk - 217,218,219

Bell Kite

- 178

Avocet

188

Bellringer -

- 32

Awl-bird -

100

Berrybreaker -

- 60

Awp

- 200

Bessie Blakeling

— Brautail

— Ducker

- 30

Babbling Warbler

Big Felt -

Badock -

210

— Mavis

Baigie or Baagie

208

— Ox eye

- 32

Bag

Biloock -

- 176, 178

Bakie

- 209

Bill

219

Bald Buzzard -

132, 141

Baiy

— Coot

178

— biter

- 34

— Duck

178 '

— blackcap

— Goose

148

— hooter

- 129

— Kite

133, 178

— white-throat

— -pate

- 154

— wix -

126

— -poot

178

Bilt, or Bilter -

- 178

Bank-bottle

Bitter bank, or Bitterie

— -jug

— bum

146

Bank- Martin, or Swallow

Bittern -

146

INDEX OF COMMON AND PBOTINOIAL NAMES.

225

PASB

rLQH

Bittour -

- 146

Blue cap -

Black and white Woodpecker - 98

— Darr

204

— and white Gull

- 208

— diokie

— -atop, or Blacky top

- 12

— Dove

168

— back

- 208

— felt-

— bird

6,8

- gled

- 132

— bonnet -

- 71

— Hawk -

132, 136,

138, 139

— -breasted plover

- 180

— -headed Wagtail

— -cap- 24, 32, 33, 67, 72, 208

— Isaac

— -capped Lolly -

— Jannie

— -chinned Grebe

- 216

1 — Jay

— coaly hood

33, 72

— Kite

- 132

— cock

- 176

— Maw

207

— curre

159, 162

— Merlin -

136

— diver

162

163, 179

— Oxeye -

— Duck -

159, 162

— Poker -

160

— Eagle

133

— sleeves

132

— Game

- 175

— Sparrow

— Goose -

- 149

— Spick -

- 33

— Grouse -

- 175

— taU-

— Guillemot

- 218

— Tit, or Tom

29,33

- Gull -

210

— -winged Shoveler

158

— -headed Bob -

— Yaup

— — Bunting

Boatswain

- 211

— — diver

- 159

Bob Robin

— — Gull

- 208

. Bobby Wren -

^ — Hayjack

- 24

Bog-bluiter, Bog-bumper,

— — I'eggy

Bog drum

146, 192

— — Tit -

- 32

Bog Gled

- 131

— Martin -

- 96

— jumper

- 146

— -nebbed Crow

- 82

Bohemian Chatterer

- 48

— -nob, or neb

- 83

Boldie -

- 63

— Ouzel

Bonnetie

- 216

— Oxeye -

— Poker -

- 33

Bonxie -

- 210

- 159

Bottle bump -

146

— Sandpiper

— smith

- 194
70

— nose

— Tit, or Tom

■ 219
31,32

— Starling -

- 73

Bouger -

- 220

— Swift -

- 96

Brake hopper -

— -tailed Qodwit

199

Bramble Finch

- 64

— Tern

- 204

Brambling

64, 72

— -throated Diver

- 214

Brame -

- 200

- 83
57

— -toedGuE

210, 211

Bran

— Wigeon

— Wren

155, 159

Brancher

- 29

Brant, or Brent, Goose

- 149

Blacky -

— top • -
Slakeling
Blethering Tam
Blind dorbie

6
- 12

BrantaU -
Bread-and- Cheese

12
70

- 70

- 23

- 194

Briar Bunting -
Bridle Duck
Brisk Finch -

- 169

- 63
63

15,8
142
176
176

— dnnnock

- 29

Briskie -

Blood Hawk

- 140

Broad bill

— Linnet -
Bloodolf -

- 64

- 67

Bronzie
Brook Ouzel

Blue-backed Falcon -

- 138

— runner - ■

■

13,2

Me-back, or Blue bird

Brown Gled

226

INDEX OF COMMON AND PROVINCIAL NAMES.

Pi.£l-E

FAO^

Brown Gull

- 210

Buzzard, Common -

- 133

— Hawk -

131

— -hawk

- 133

— -headed Duck

161

— Honey

- 138

— -headed Gull -

- 209

— Moor

131

— hen

176

— Hoolet -

129

— KV»

132

Caokareen

- 206

— Linneo -

Caddaw. Cadder, Coddy

— Owl - -

129

Calaw, Callow, Caloo

161

— Ptarmigan

- 176

Can-bottle

- 32

— Swallow

Capercailzie

■ 176

— Woodpecker -

Caper lintie

- 23

— Yogle -

129

Capped Buzzard

138

Buoharet -

Car, earner, Carener Crow

- 82

Buck Finch

- 63

Cargoose -

• 215

Bud-bird, or -picker

- 67

Carrion Crow

82,86

— finch

— Gull -

- 208

Bulker -

220

Car Swallow

204

Bullfinch, or Bully

Cat Gull

- 207

— -head

181

Catogle

- 130

— -headed Wigeon

160

Caw daw

- 81

— o' the bog

- 146

Cawdy mawdy - - 81

86, 200

— spink

' Chack

■ — thrush

Chaffey

Bull's Eye

- 182

Chaffinoh-

Bum-barrel, or -towel

- 32

Chait . - . .

- 49

Bumble, or Bumpy coss

- 146

Cb alder, Chaldrick -

- 188

Bundle -

194, 197

Chancider

28, 49

Bunting, Black-headed

Channel Goose

144

— Briar -

Charbob -

- 63

— Cirl

Charlie miftie -

- 23

— Common -

Chat - _ .

9,28

— Com-

'- 69

Chatterer, Bohemian

— -crow

Chatter pie

— Hornbill

Chauk, Chauk daw -

- 74

— -lark -

Check bird

— Mountain

■ 72

Cheeper . . . -

- 45

— Reed-

31,71

Cheeser- -

- 70

— Ring -

Chepster - . . .

- 73

— Snow

Chercook

— Tawny

Cherry finch -

- 60

— -thrush

Cherry-snipe, Cherry-chopper,

— Yellow

Cherry-sucker

Burgomaster

206

Cherubim

- 126

Burrian -

214

Chevy lin - - -

- 66

Burrow Duck -

154

Chickell

.- 9

Bush chat

- 11

Chickstone

— Dove

- 167

Chiff-chaff

. 25

— Lark

Chimney Swallow -

- 49

— oven

- 32

Chink chafley -

- 62

— Sparrow -

Chink chink

62,72

Bustard, Thick-kneed

179

Chip chop

■ 25

Butcher bird -

247

Chippet Linnet

- 66

— Lesser

Choice and cheep

. 25

Buttal, or Butterbump -

146

Chock, or Chuck

Butterflip

- 189

Chough ....

74,81

INDEX OF COMMON AND PROVINCIAL NAMES.

227

Church Owl
Churr Owl
Churr

— muffit
Cirl Bunting

- 125

- 97
23, 193

- 23

- 71

Clack Goose, Clalk or Clakes 149

Clatter Goose - - 149

Clee .... 197

Clett 203

Cliffdaw .... 74

— hawk - . . - 139
CUnker ... .189
Clocharet - - 9
Clodhopper - - - 10
Cloven-footed Gull - , .204
Coal and candle-light . 161

— Goose - - - 142

— hoodie - . - 24, 33
Coaly hood 33, 67, 72
Cob - ■ - ■ 161
Cobb, or Sea cobb 207, 208
Cobble . 213, 214
Cobbler's awl - 188
Coble - 60
Cobweb ... 48
Cock .... 189

— of the Mountain 176
Cockandy - - 220
Cookathrodon - 212
Cock-felt . - 5

— -o'-the-Nprth 64

— -winder - - 154
Coddymoddy- - - - 208
Col candle-wick . 161
Coldfinoh ... 49, 70
Coldie - - - . 161
Cole, or Coal Goose - - 143

— tit, or Cole mouse - - 33
CoHn Blackhead - 72
CoUiaheen - - - 220
Collochan Gull - - - 209
Coney chuck ... 10
Cooper .... 10
Cooscot - - - 165
Coot - . . - 178
Copper finch ... - 63
Corbie - - 82, 86, 88

— crow - 82, 88

Cormorant - - - -142

— Green, or Shag 143

Com bird ... 69

— bunting - 69

— crake, Com cracker, or

Com drake - - - 177

— Goose I • - .148
Comey Keevor \ ' ' ^

PAQE

Cornish Crow, or

Daw

- 74

Cornish Jack

- 74

— pheasant

- 76

Comscraok

- 177

Cornwall Kae

- 74

Cornwillen

- 184

Corpse bird

130

Coulterneb

219

Cow-bird

- 45

— -boy -

Coween elders

- 142

Cow-klit -

Cowprise -

166

Craa

Cra-maa -

- 206

Cracker

155, 177

Crackil

Graff

Crag ousel

Craigie heron

- 145

Crake -• -

83, 177

Crake, Spotted

177

Crakle -

Cran, or Crane Swallow

. 96

Crane

143,145

Crank-bird

■ 99

Craw

82, 86

Creek

- 177

Creeper, Creep tree, or Tree-

creeper

Creepie -

, 29

Cres-hawk

140

Crested Cormorant -

- 143

— Divpr, or

Doucker

159

— Grebe -

215

Crew

212

Cricket bird .

— Teal -

- 158

Crocker -

149, 209

Crooked bill -

- 188

Cross biU

- 67

Crotch taU

- 137

Croupy craw -

Crow, Carrion -

— Hooded,

Eoyaton,

Danish

- 85

Cruchet -

165

Cuckoo -

. 109

Cuckoo's fool

. 103

— footman

103

— leader

•

103

— marrow

- 103

— mate, or maid -

47, 103

— messenger -

106

— Sandie

— Titline

- 43

228 INDEX OF COMMON AST) PROVINCIAL NAMES.

nan

PASS

Cuckoo's whit -

104

Diving Pigeon -

- 218

Cudberduce -

- 162

Dob, Dobber and Dobchick

83, 216

Cuddy - - -29,57,178 |

Doney

- 29

Culver - - -

- 166

Doo or Dow -

165, 168

Curlew - . - -

179, 200

Dorbie -

- 193

— help -

- 200

Dor-hawk

- 97

— Jack, or Knot

. 199

Dot plover

182

■ — Pigmy -

194

Dotterel -

- 182

— Sandpiper -

. 194

, — Ringed

. 182

— Stone -

- 179

Double Scoter -

- 163

— Young

199

— Snipe -

- 191

Cuxre

- 161

Doucker - 159, 160,

161

163, 216

Currewigeon -

. 159

Doup

- 83

Curwillet

- 195

Dove

169

Cusha, Cushat, or Cushiedoo 165, 167

— Greenland

.. 218

Cut, or Gutbill

- 100

— Ring

. 165

Cutty wren

— Rook

- 168

— Sea-

. 218

Dabber . . - -

- 216

— Stock

- 167

Dabchick

178, 216

— Turtle

- 169

Daffinoh - . - -

- 63

Dove hawk

- 132

Daker hen

177

Boveky -

- 218

Danish Crow -

Draw bird, or Draw water

Darcall

161

Drink-a-penny

- 216

Darcock - - - -

176

Duck, Black -

159, 162

Darr

. 202

— Burrow -

154

— Blue -

- 204

— Earl, or Harle

164

Daw

74,81

— Eider

162

De'il, De'il, tak' you

- 70

— Gowdy

- 160

Devil ....

- 95

— Grey

156, 157

Deviling .

44,95

— Grey-headed -

. 160

Devil's bird

44,95

— Hawk .

- 131

— screecher

- 96

— Herald -

144, 164

— shrieker

- 96

— Holland

- 159

Dick, Dunnock

- 29

— Long-tailed

161

Dickie bird

- 188

— Magpie -

214

Dickie di dee -

. 196

— . Maiden -

- 158

Didapper, or Divedapper -

216

— Moss

156

Dinniek .

- 104

— Muir

156

Dippearl, or Dipears

202, 204

— Mussel -

- 159

Dipper ....

- 104

— PintaU -

- 155

Dirsh ....

— St. Cuthbert's

. 162

Dirt bird

100, 210

— St. George's -

- 164

Dirty Allan, or Aulin

210

— Scaup -

- 159

Dishliek ...

. 44

— Shell -

153, 163

Dishwasher

- 44

— Spoonbill

158, 169

Ditchblackie -

— Velvet

163

Dive and dop

- 216

— White-faced -

. 159

Diver

160, 161

— White-sided

- 159

— Black -

163

— Wild

. 156

— Black-throated

- 214

Duoker ■

216

— . Great Northern

- 213

Duck hawk

139

— Bed-throated -

- 214

DulwUly -

. 182

— Riug-ueoked -

213

Dunbird, Dunker, or Dunair 159, 160

— Speckled

■ 214

Dun Crow

. 85

Diving duck, or Divy duck

161, 216

Dun diver

- 163

INDEX OF COMMON AND PROVINCIAL NAMES.

229

PAOB

PiOS

Dung bird, or hunter

- 210

Field Sparrow -

- 28

Dunlin . . - -

- 193

— Titling -

- 45

Dunne -

- 195

Fiery Branteil -

- 12

Dunnook

- 29

— Linnet -

- 64

Dunpickle

131

Pire crest

- 25

Dunter Goose -

162

— flirt -

Dusky Duck -

162

— tail - - -

- 13

— Grebe -

- 215

Fishing Eagle, or Hawk

141

Duaky Lark

- 46

Flapper -

- 166

Dykehopper -

- 10

Flax

- 23

Dykesmowler -

Fleiugall -

140

Flesh Crow -

Eagle, Golden -

133

Flitterchack

— Ring-tailed

133

Flopwing

- 184

— fisher -

141

Flusher -

- 48

— Owl -

130

Fly catcher, Pied -

- 49

Eaqual, Ecall or Eccle

— Spotted

- 48

Earl Duck

164

Foolish Guillemot -

- 217

Earth Titling

- 45

Foolscoat

- 57

Easen sparrow

Fork-tailed Kite

- 137

Easing, or Eaves swallow -

- 56

Prank - . . -

- 145

Easterling

155, 165

French Galley bird -

- 99

Ebb

- 69

— Linnet

- 66

Ebb sleeper -

- 194

— Magpie

32,47

Eider Duck -

162

— Pie -

- 98

EUgny
Elk

217

— Yellowammer

- 71

- 152

Freshwater Wigeon -

160, 161

Ember, or Emmer Goose -

213

Puffit . . - -

- 31

Emmet hunter

- 103

Fulfer

;^rne

Em bluiter

- 136

Fulmar

- 213

192

Furze Chat

Ess cock -

- 30

— Chirper -

12, 64

Eve churr

- 96

— (Jhuck -

11,64

— Hacker -

11, 12

Faakiu hawk

- 139

— Linnet -

- 65

Faik

217

Fairy bird
'Falk.-orFalc -

204

Gabbleratchet -

- 217

Gadwall -

- 157

- 75

- 217

- 100

- 177

- 214

- 139

- 144

Falcon, gentle -
— Peregrine

139
138

Gae - - -
Gairfowl, or Gurfel -

FaUer ... -

- 132

GaUey bird

Fallow Chat, Finch -

- 9,10

GallweU

— Lunch, or Smitch-

Galrush

Panny EedtaU

Game Hawk -

Feather bed - - -

- 26

Gan, or GanHet

— bird -

. 23

Garden Ouzel -

— poke ■

26,32

_ Warbler -

- 157
. 160

- 215

- 193

- 109

. 82

. 101

193

FeKaw, Felfer, Felfit, Felt,
tiflier, Feltyfare, Fildifire

Fel-

2,5

Garganey

Garrot, Golden-eyed

Fen Goose
— Thrush

- 147
2

Gaiint - - - -
Gaverhale

Fem Owl

97, 129

Gawky -

Ferny Hoolet

- 129

Gaw Thrush -

Fiddler
Fieldfare

- 196
5

Ger Crow
Gertrude's bird

Field Lark

46, 92

Gidd, or Sid

230

INDEX OF COMMON AND PROVINCIAL NAMES.

126, 129

- 70

- 206
137
136
194

97
194

133,

159

Gillhowter
Gladdy

Glaucous Gull -
Gleed, Gled, or Glade
Gleg Hawk
Gnat ...
— Hawk ...

Gnat snap ....
Goat Owl, Goat sucker, and

Goat chaffer
Godwit, or Godwin .

— Bar-tailed .

— Black-tailed

— Red .
Goldoreat ....
Golden Eagle .

— -eyed Duck -

— — Garrot

— .crested Wren

— cutty -

— head

— maw

— Plover -

— Wren
Goldfinch
Goldhead
Goldie, or Gooldie
Gold spink
Gool french
Goosander
Goose, Bean ...

— Bernicle

— Brent . . .

— Channel

— Dunter -

— Ember, Emmer, or Gun-

ner

— Gull -

— Grey-lag, Fen, Stubble, or

Wild-

— Laughing,

fronted
— ; Solan, or Solent
Gorcock -
Gor Crow
Gorse bird

— -chat, or -hatch

— duck

— hatcher, or thatcher

— hopper

— Linnet -
Gormaw -
Goshawk -
Goud spink
Gouldring, or Yoldring
Gourder .... 2II

97
198
198
199
199

133

160

- 25

25
154
207

■ 180
25, 26
58,69

• 160
58, 70
58,69

• 58
163
148
149

■ 149

■ 144
162

■ 213

208

or White.

147

148

144

175

177

- 65

- 142
133, 136, 139

- 58

PAOB

Gow ... -

- 207

Gowdy Duck -

- 160

Gowk -

- 109

Grass chat

— drake

- 177

Grasshopper Lark .

28,46

— Warbler

. 28

GrassmumruflSn

Great black-backed Gull

- 208

— — Duck .

163

— black and white Duck

- 162

— crested Grebe

215

— Diver, or Doucker .

213

— grey Gull

- 208

— — Shrike

— Grouse -

176

— ■ harvest Curlew

200

— -headed Poker or Wigeon 160

— Imber, or Northern

Diver . - 213

— Peggy - - 23

— Plover - - 179

— Purl - - - 202

— Snipe - - - 191

— Tern ... 203

— Tit, or Titmouse - 32

— Whaup . - - 200
Greater Loon - - . 215

— Pettychaps - - , - 24

— Plover - - 198

— Eedpole . . - 64
Grebe, Great-crested, or Tippet 215

— Little - - - 216

— Sclavoniaa - - . 215

— Silver - - 214
Green-bUled Gull - - 208

— Bird .... 59

— Cormorant

— Finch, Grosbeak, or Lin.

net ... 59

— .headed Diver - . 159

— -legged Horseman 198

— — Shank - 195

— Olf - . 59

— Peek .... 99

— Plover . - . 184

— Sandpiper - - . 197

— Shank . ... - 198

— Woodpecker - - 99

— Wren - - - . 27

Greeney 59

Greenland Dove . 218

— Turtle - - - 218

Grey - . . . 64

— -backed Crow - - - 85

— bird - - . .3,64

INDEX OF COMMON AND PROVINCIAL NAMES.

231

Grey Buzzard -

— Crow

— Diver

— Duck

— Goose

— GuU

— -headed Duck -

— Hen

— Kate

— Lag Goose

— Linnet

— Loon

— Owl

— -pate '

— Plover

— Ptarmigan

— Shrike

— Skit

— Starling -

— Thrush -

— Yogle - -
Grosheak
Ground Isaac

— oven

— wren -
Groundling
Grouse, Black -

— Eed

— Wood -
Guillem
Guillemot, Black

TABE

- 132

- 85

- 164
156, 157

- 147
- 207, 208

160

- 176

■ 147

64, 66

215

- 129

- 57
180, 181, 195

174

176

- 73

- 129

60
26
26
26

- 182

- 175

- 176
217
218

Common, or Foolish 217

Guldenhead - 219

Guler - - - 69

Gull, Arctic - - 211

— Black - - 210

— Black-headed - - 208

— Black-toed - 210, 211

— Brown - - - 210

— Brown-headed- - 209

— Burgomaster 206

— Carrion - - 208

— Cat- . - 207

— Cloven-footed - 204

— Common, or Winter 207
. — Glaucous 206

— Grey - - 207

— Great Black-backed - - 208

— Great Grey - - 208

— Green-biUed - - - 208

— Goose - - 208

— Herring - ■ - - 207

— Kittiwake - 206

— Laughing - - - 207

— Lesser Black-backed - 207

— mew - - - - 208

PA.GE

Gull, Peewit, or Puit

- 209

— Red-legged

209

— Silvery

- 207

— Wagel .

208

— teaser, or tormentor -

203

Gunner -

213

Gurfel -

217

Gutter cook

176

Gutter teetan -

Gyp, or Gyp starling

Hackbolt, Hagdown

- 212

Hagister -

Half bird

- 199

— curlew

198, 199

— duck

154

— snipe

193

— whaup

198

Handsaw

- 145

Harelda -

162

Harlan -

155

Harle, or Harle duck

164

Harley -

Harpy, white-headed

- 132

Harrier Hen -

132

— Marsh -

131

— Ring-tailed -

132

Harry Dutchman

Hat fuU o' feathers -

Hawfinch, Haw Grosbeak

Hawk, Gos

- 136

— Sparrow

136

— -kestrel

- 140

— -owl

129

— -swallow

- 96

Hay bird

24, 26, 27

— chat

- 24

— jack

23,24

— sucker

- 23

— tit - -

23,28

Hazeck -

- 23

Heath cock

29, 176

— hen

176

— fowl, or -poult

175

— throstle

Heather bluiter

192

— lintie, or Linnet -

45, 65, 66

— peeper

- 196

Heco

Heckimel, Hackeymal, Hack-

mall, Hagmall, Hickmal

33,34

Hedge accentor

— chanter

— chat

— chicken

— ]"S

232

INDEX OF COMMON AND PROVINCIAL NAMES.

PAOE

PAGB

Hedge mike

Homfinch

- 211

— sparrow

Hornie, or Homie Oolet -

128

— spick -

Homiwinks

184

— spurgie -

Hornpie

- 184

— warbler-

Horra

- 149

Hague -

144

Horse finch

- 63

Hegrilskip-

144

— gowk

192, 197

Helejug

■

-X

220

— lark

- 69

Hellejay -

217

— masher -

Hen crow

— smatch

9,11

— harrier, Hen

harrow,

— thrush -

Hen driver -

132

Hover Hawk -

140

Hempie -

Howlet

123

Herald, Herald duck

144

164

Howster-

195

Herdsman

■

210

Huckmuck

Hermit Crow

Hufil

. 100

Hern, Hernshaw,

Heronshaw,

HuUet, or Hulote -

- 126

Ham, Hamsey, Harnser, Hem

Hunting Hawk

139

sew, or Heronsew

144.

Herou

144

Iceland Scorie . - -

- 207

Herring Gant -

144

Icwell, or Ickle

— GuU

207

Imber, or Immer

- 213

— Spink -

Irish' Nightingale

- 28

Hew hole

100

Isaac - - . -

Hiokwall

Isle of Wight Parson

143

High-hoo, or -hoe

100

Ivy Owl

- 129

Hillan piet

Hill bird -

Jack

— ohack

— baker

— Untie

— bird

— plover

180

— Curlew

- 200

— sparrow -

— daw

Hissing Owl -

125

— doucker

216

Hoarse, or Horse Gowk

192

— hern

- 144

Hobby -

139

140

— ickle

Hobby Owl

126

— in a bottle i-

— bird -

103

— nicker

- 57

Hoddy

— saw

23, 163

Hoddy craw -

— Snipe

193

Holland Duck -

159

— straw

— Hawk

213

Jacob

Holm Cock, Holm Screech, and

Jadreka Snipe -

199

Holm Thrush

Jar Owl . - . .

- 97

138

Jar peg -

100

Hood awl

100

Jay, Jay-pie, or -piet

-2,75

Hooded Crow -

,209

Jay bird - -

— Mew -

209

Jay teal

158

— Tem -

204

Jenny crow

- 144

Hoodie -

— crudle

Hoolet -

123

126

, 129

— cut throat -

- 23

Hoop

— hem

145

Hoopoe -

106

— howlet 123,

126, 129

Hoot Owl

129

— jay

Hornbill Bunting

— lang legs

145

Horned Doucker, or Grebe

215

— laug neck

- 145

— Owl -

128

— red-tail -

- 12

INDEX OF COMMON AND PEOVINCIAL NAMES.

233

Jenny tit

— wren, or Jenny
Jercock

Jid, or Judcook
Jill snipe
Jobbin -
Jobbler
Joe ben
Jourougs

Kae

Kae wattie

Katabella

Kate

Katie brantail -

Katogle

Keelie

Keltie -

Kentish crow

Kestril

Ket crow

Kiddaw

KiUieleepsie

Killieweeack

Killigrew

King Harry

— Blackcap

— Bedcap -
Kingfisher
Kinglet
Kip

Kirk tullock
Kirmew, or Kirmow
Kishiefaik
Kite

— Common or Fork
Kittiwake GuU
Kitty

— coot

— needie
Knot, Knat, or Knet
Krocket

Ladybird

Lady with the twelve flounces -

Lag

Lamy, or Lavy

Land cormorant

— daw

— drake

— harlan

— rail

— tripper -
Lapwing -
Lark Bunting -

— Sky

— Wood -

PiOE

34, 35 1

193

192

•-

35
10

32,33 1

202

75, 81 1

132

60, 64 1

130

■

140

206

■

140

82
218

196

206

30,

104

203

■

25
203

158

202

206

132,

133

140

tailed

137

206

206
178

196

182

194

188

155

ounc

es -

147
218

164

■

177
164

177

197

183

PAGE

Laughing bird - - 100

— Goose - - 148

Lavrock, Learock, or Lerruck 92

Least WlHow Wren - - 25

Leg bird - . 28

Lemon bird - - - 65

Lenuert - - - 65

Lesser Black-backed Gull , - 207

— Butcher bird - - 31

— Imber, or Immer - 214

— Pettychaps - ' 26
■ — Eedpole - - 65

— Spotted Woodpecker 98

— Toothed diver 164
Lioh fowl 98
Ling bird - - 45
Links Goose • 154
Linnet, Brown, Common, Fiery

or Red - - - 64

Linnet Goldfinch - 57

— Green - 58
Linnetflnch - 65
Lintywhite, Linty 27, 65, 66
Lintwhite - - 65, 92
Lipwingle - ' - 183
Little-bread-and-no-cheese - 70

— Darr - - - - 203

— Doucker - - - 216

— Etenbird - 103

— Feltyfare - 5

— Grebe - - 216

— Pickie 204

— Whaup - - 199

— Woodcock - • 191

— Woodpie
Loering -
Long bill

— -eared, or -homed Owl

— legs, Jemmy

— -necked hern -

— -tailed Capon, MagjMufflin,

Pie, or Pod -

— -tailed Duck, Haveld, or

Hareld

— -tailed tit

— tongue
Longie, or Lungie
Longie crane -
Loon, or Loom

— Ring- necked

— Speckled
Lough Diver
Lum, or Lungy
Lumme
Lymptwigg
Lyre

142
189
128
145
145

161
31

- 103

- 218

- 145
213, 216

213
214
165
214
214
184
212

234

INDEX OF COMMON AND PEOVINCIAL NAMES.

PAGB

PASB

Maa ....

207

Miller ....

132

MaaUn ....

136

140

Mire crow

209

Mackerel bird -

103

— duck

— cook -

212

— snipe ...

192

Maddrick Gull -

209

Miret . . . -

203

Madge, or Madge howlet -

126

Missel pr Mistletoe Thrush

Maggie -

218

Mither o' the Mawkins

216

Magloon ....

214

Mitty -

211

Magpie, Maggie, Madge, or Mag 75, 76 |

Mizzly Dick

Magpie diver ■

214

Moat hen

178

Maiden duck -

158

Mochrum elders

142

Male

195

Mock Nightingale .

Mallard

156

MoU hern ...

144

Mallemoke, Malleduck, or

Mal-

— washdish ,

marsh -

213

Molrooken

215

Man-of-war bird

211

Monk

Manx Petrel, or Puffin -

212

Moon, Moonie or Muin

Marble Thrusli

Monthly bird -

Margaret

Moor Blackbird or Ouzel -

Marigold finch

— Buzzard -

131

Market jew crow

74,86 1

— cock

175

Marrot - - 217, 218

,220

— coot

178

Marah Goose

147

— fowl

175

— Harrier, or Hawk -

131

— game

175

— Hen -

178

— hawk

131

— Tit

— hen - - ' -

175

178

Martin Snipe -

197

— tit or titling .

12, 45

Martin, Bank or Sand

Morant -

178

— Common, House

Morillon -

161

Window -

Morrot

218

— Swallow

Moss cheeper

— oil - . -

211

— duck

156

Martlet, or Martinet

— owl -

129

Mattages

Mother Carey's chicken -

211

Mavis, or Mavish

Moth Hawk -

Mawp

Mountain Blackbird

May bird or -fowl -

200

— Bunting

— curlew

200

— Cock,

176

— whaup

200

— CoUey -

Maze finch

— FincK

Meadow crake, or drake -

177

— Ouzel

— Pipit, Titlark, or Titling

— Thrush -

Mealy bird or -duck

162

Mouse Hawk or Owl

129

— mouth

Mud Plover

181

Megg-cut- throat

Mufae Wren

Meggie

Muffit

Merganser, Red-breasted -

164

Muggie - . -

Merle

Muir Duck

156

Merlin -

139

Muirean -

218

Mew or Mow -

207

Mule

159

— -Pigeon, Red-legged-

209

Mullet

220

Michaelmaa Blackbird

— Hawk .

141

Midden crow

Mumruffin

Miggie

Murdering Bird, or Pie

Miller's thumb or MUli-

Murr or Murre

217

,218

thrumb

25, 26, 32

Musket

137

INDEX OF COMMON AST) PROVINCIAL NAMES.

235

PAGE

PASB

Mussel duck -

- 159

Oven's nest

- 32

— pecker -

- 188

Owl, Barn

- 125

Muzzle Thrush

— Churn

- 97

Mwbpe -

- 66

— Eagle

— Hawk

- 130
129

Naak .

213

— Ivy

129

Nannie wagtail

43,44

— Long-eared or -horned

128

Nan pie -

- 76

— Screech -

125

Nettle bird

— Tawny

- 129

— creeper -

23,24

— White

125

— monger -

23,24

— Woodcock

129

Nick a pecker, or Nickle -

- 100

— Yellow

- 125

Night bird

- 27,

178, 212

Ox bird -

193, 195

- — ■ churr

- 96

— eye -

- 32, 34, 193

— crow or -hawk ,

97, 130

Oxen and Kine

195

— singer or Warbler

- 28

Oyster catcher

- 188

— Swallow

— plover -

- 188

Nightingale

- la

Nightjar -

Badge, Padge Owl -

- 126

Nile bird

103

Paitrick, Pairtrick, Patrick

Nimble tailor -

Pertriok

- 172

Nine killer

- 47

Pandle Whew

- 154

Ninut

- 76

Parrot, Sea

218. 219

Nope

Parson Mew -

- 208

Norfolk Plover

179

Partridge

172

Norman Thrush

Pea bird -

103

North cock

— finch

- 62

Northern diver

214

Pease Crow

- 203

— doucker

- 214

— weep, Peweep -

59, 184

— Hareld

- 162

Peep

- 45

Norway Barnacle

- 149

Peewit

- 184

— Crow

85,86

— Gull

- 209

— Duck -

- 159

Peggy

23, 24, 25, 27

Norwegian Teal

159

— chaw

- 23

Nun

- 34

— cut throat

- 23

Nutcracker

— dishwasher

- 44

Nuthatch

- 34

Pen

- 151

Nutjobber

Penny bird

- 216

Nuttopper

Pellile
Peregrine Falcon

197
138

Oat-fowl -

- 72

Petrel

- 206

— seed bird

— Stormy

211

Oke

- 217

Petty chaps. Greater

- 24

Old maid

- 184

— Lesser

- 25

Olf -

- 66

Pheasant

31, 171

OUve

- 188

— Sea -

155

OlleringOwl -

129

Philip

29,60

Oolerd or Owlerd

- 126

Phillipene

- 184

Osprey -

- 141

Pianet

75-

Our Lady's hen

35,92

Pioarini

188

Ousel

Picoatarrie

- 202

— cock

Pick

198

Ouzel, Ring -

Pick a tree

100

— Water

■ 30

— cheese

- 34

Oven Bird

26,32

Pickerel -

- 193

— Tit

- 26

Pioket-a -

- 203

236

INDEX OF COMMON AND PROVINCIAL NAMES.

PAQE

FAG3

Piokie bumet

- 209

Post bird

Pickmire

- 209

Potterton hen -

- 209

Pioktamie or Picket

202, 209

Povey

126

Piotarn

209

Praheen cark

- 86

Pioksea -

209

Pretty, pretty creature

- 70

Pie finch

Prine - - . .

- 198

— Mag

Prinpriddle

32, 33, 34

— Nanny

Proud tailor

- 58

- Sea -

188"

Ptarmigan

174

— finch

- 72

Puck or Puckeridge -

- 97

Pied Fly-catcher

Pudding poke -

- 32

— Wagtail

- 43

Puffin -

217, 219

— Wigeon - 158,

160, 163

Puffinet

- 218

Pienet

75, 188

Puit

184, 209

Piet, Water

Pump borer

- 99

Piewipe -

184

Purl, Great

- 202

Pigeon, Rock

168

— Little

203

— Wood -

- 166

Purple Sajidpiper

- 194

— felt

Purre

193, 202

— hawk -

136

— maw

'203

— mow, Red-legged -

209

Puttock - - - 132

, 133, 137

Pigmy Curlew

- 194

Pinchem -

Quail

173

Pine or Pine Maw

209

QuaketaU

- 43

Pink, Pinkety, Pinktwink

Queest, Quest or Quist -

- 165

Pinnock

Queet

- 179

Pintail duck -

155

Quet

218

Pipe

220

Quice or Quease

- 165

Pipit or Pipit lark

Quick me dick

- 173

— Meadow -

Quinok -

- 149

— Rock, or Shore

■ 46

Quia ....

- 189

— Tree

Pirenet -

154

Rafter bird

- 48

Pit Martin

Ragamuffin

Plover, Dotterel or Ringed

RaU, Land

177

— Golden, WhistUng

or 182

— Water

- 176

Yellow, -

180

Rain bird -

- 100

— Great, Norfolk, or Stone 179

— fowl - - - -

- 100

— Green, or Lapwing

- 183

— pie ...

- 100

— Grey

180, 181

— goose

213, 214

— Hill -

- 180

Ralph

— Ringed

182

Rantock

164

Plover's Page

193

Ratch

- 219

Plum-bird, or -budder

Rat goose

- 149

Pochard

- 160

Rattle-wings -

161

Poke-bag, or -pudding

Raven

- 88

Poker -

- 160

Razor bill

- 217

— Waah-dish

- 44

— grinder -

- 97

Pool snipe

- 197

Red-backed Shrike -

Poor Willie

198

Redbreast or Robin

- 13

— Wren

175

Red-breasted Merganser -

164

Pop

- ■ 5

— — linnet -

- 64

Pope - - - 47, 66, 220

— cap -

- 57

Popinjay

- 100

Reddock -

- 13

Popping wigeon

161, 164

Red-eyed poker

160

Port Egmont hen

210

Red-game or -Grouse

175

IN'DEX OF COMMON AND PEOVINCIAL NAMES.

237

PAGE

Red Gddwit -

199

Robin Ruck -

- 13

— Hawk

- 140

Rock Blackbird

— -headed linnet

- 65

— Dove or Doo

168, 218

— — finch -

- 65

Rocker or Rockier

- 168

— — Pochard

160

Rock Grouse

174

' — — Smew or Curre

165

— Hawk

- 139

— — Wigeon

160

— Lark or Pipit

- 46

— hoop

— Lintie

46,66

Red-legged Crow

— Ouzel

— — Gull

209

— Pigeon -

- 168

— — Horseman

- 197

— Plover

181

— — Pigeon Mew

- 209

— Starling

— — Snipe

- 197

Rockie - - -

- 66

— legs -

194, 197

Rodge -

- 157

— linnet

64,65

Road or Rood Goose

149

— Owl

- 129

Rook . - - -

Redpole

- 64

Roseate Tern

203

Red Ptarmigan

175

Rose Linnet

64,65

— Sandpiper

- 194

Rotch

- 219

— shank

6, 197

Eott Goose

- 149

— . — GuU -

209

Rothermuck or Routherock

- 149

Redstart -

- 12

Round berry bird -

Red tail

Rowdow -

- 60

— -throated Diver-

214

Royston Crow or Royston Dick 85

— Thrush ■

Ruddock

- 13

Redwing or Redwing mavis

Ruddy Plover -

195

Reed bird

- 27

Ruff

195

— Bunting

— Pheasant -

Saddleback

208

— Sparrow -

— Greater -

- 208

— Warbler or Wren

- 27

Said fool -

- 207

Reefouge

- 29

Saint Cuthbert's Duck

162

Reeve

- 195

— George's Duck

- 154

Richardson's Skua -

- 211

Saker

139

Richel-bird -

203

Sally

- 35

Rind tabberer -

— picker

25, 26, 28

Ring-bird

- 71

Sand baokie

- 57

— Blackbird

— cock

197

— Bunting . - -

- 71

Sanderling

- 195

— Dove

165

Sand Lark 182

, 195, 196

— fowl

— Martin

Ringed Dotterel or Plover

182

— Mouse

194

Ringlestone - - -

- 182

Sandpiper

- 196

Ring-necked Diver or Loon

213

— Ash-coloured -

- 195

— Ouzel

— Black, Purple

Ringtail -
— -tailed Eagle -

132
133

Rock -
Sandsnipe

194
196

— Thrush -

Sand Swallow -

- 56

Rippook -
Bising Lark -
River pie
Bixy
Roarer

- 203

Sandwich Tern

204

Sand Wigeon -

- 157

- 30

Sandy -

- 196

203

— Laverock

182, 196

- 125

— Loo

- 182

Roberd - - - -

Satin Grebe -

- 215

Robin _ - - -

■ 13

Sawbill

163, 164

— Redbreast

13,35

— Wigeon

164

238

INDEX OF COMMON AND PROVINCIAL NAMES.

Pi.GB

PAGB

Sawneb -

163. 164

Sea Snipe ...

19?

,195

Saw sharpener

- - ' 33

— Swallow - 202

,203

, 204

— whetter -

- 33

— Titling

Scald crow

- 86

— Turtle dove

218

Scale-drake or -duck

153, 164

— Woodcock -

198

Scammel

198

SeaguU Hawk - - -

132

Soar Crow

204

Sedge bird

Scarf or Soart -

142

— Wren -

Scaup duck

159

— Marine

Scisaor grinder

- 97.

Seed bird

208

Sclavonian Grebe

21^

— Lady

Scobby

Segge

Scolder -

188

Seveu-coloured linnet

Scooper -

189

Shad bird

196

Soorie or Scaurie

- 207

Shag

143

Scotch nightingale

Shake -

197

Scoter, Common

- 162

Sharp saw

— Velvet or Black

163

— -tailed duck

161

Scoulton pie -

209

Sheartail -

203

Scout

217

218, 220

Shearwater, Greater

212

Scouty Allan or AuUn

210

— Manx -

212

Scrabe

- 212

Sheelfa or ShilEa

Scraber

212, 218

Sheely -

Scraye

■

- 202

Sheeprack

Screamer, Soreecher

- 95

Sheldapple

Screech -

Sheldrake

163

158

— -bird, or -thrush

Sheldfowl

153

— hawk -

- 97

Shellduck

153

163

— Martin -

- 95

Shepster, or Shepstarling -

— Owl -

123

125, 129

Sheriffs man -

Scremerston crow

- 86

Shooi

211

Scribbling lark

■

- 70

Shore bird

Scull

■

- 210

— Pipit -

Scuttock or Skiddaw

- 218

— Snipe

196

Scutty -

- 35

— Teetan

Sea Cock-

- 181

Short-eared or -horned Owl

129

— Crow- - 74,

142,

209

210, 217

Short-heeled Field lark

— Dotterel

182, 187

— lark

— Dovie

- 218

Shovel-bill -

158

— Duck-

- 163

Shoveler, Shovelard

158

— Eagle

■

- 136

Shred cock

— IJawk

- 141

Shrieker -

198

199

— Hen -

- 218

Shriek owl

— Kittle

- 206

Shrike, Great Grey -

— Lark - - 46,

182,

187,

193, 195

— Eed-backed

— Lintie' ' -

■ 46

Shrimp catcher

204

— Mall, Mew or Mow

207, 209

Shrite -

— Mice -

■

203

Shuffle wing -

— Mouse

- 194

Silver Grebe

214

— Parrot

- 219

— Owl -

125

— Peek -

■

- 194

— Plover -

195

— Pheasant

■

- 155

Silvery Gull

207

— Piet or Pie

- 188

Siskin

— Pigeon

168, 218

Sit ye dovra -

— Pilot -

■

188

Skait bird

210

— Plover

- 181

Skart -

143

INDEX OF COMMON AND PEOVINCIAL NAMES.

239

Skeel duck

— goose ...
Skeer devil

Skel drake or Skiel drake
Skiddy cock, Skiddy or Skit
Skirloock
Skirlcrake
Skirr
Skite

Skitter broljtie
Skittery deacon
Skitty - 176, :

— spotted -
Skitty -coot, or -cock
Skrite
Skua, Common

— Eichardson's -
Sky lark or Sky laverock -
Slab

Sly Goose
Small Curlew ■

— Blue hawk

— Doucker

— Maw

— Purl

— Straw
Smee duck 154, '.
Smeu, Smooth, Smieuth
Smew
Smyth -
Snabby
Snake bird
Snapper ■
Snipe, Common or Whole

— Great or Double -

— Jack or Half -

— Solitary

— Summer 193,

— Woodcock
Snipe-hawk
Snippaok

Snite . . - .
Snorter . - - -
Snow bird

— Bunting -

— fowl

— Flake or Fleck
Snuff-headed Wigeon
Sod ....
Solan Goose -
Solitary Snipe -

— Thrush
Song Thrush - . -
Spadger . - -
Sparlin fowl -
Sparling, or Spurling

PACtB

PAGE

- 153

Sparrow -

60, 69

- 153

— Hedge

- 28

- 95

— House

153; 188

— Reed -

- 71

176

Sparve -

- 29

Spar or Spur Hawk -

- 136

187

Sparrow Hawk

- 136, 140

202, 203

— spear .

- 72

Spear Wigeon -

164

- 69

Speckled Dick -

- 57

- 196

— Diver

- 214

177, 178

— Loon

214

- 177

Spectacled Goose

- 144

- 176

Speikintares

202

Spency -

211

210

Spider-diver -

- 216

211

Spink -

- 62

- 92

Spinner -

- 97

- 103

Spoonbill, Spoonbeak

- 158, 159

- 154

Spotted Crake -

- - 17/

199

— Guillemot -

219

139

— Rail .

- - 177

- 216

— Skitty -

- 177

- 207

— Water Hen -

- 177

- 203

Spowe

- 200

- 24

Sprat borer, Spratoon

- 214

160, 164

Spratter .

- 217

- 27

Sprat Loon

- 214

- 164

Sprig, Sprug, Spug

- 60

178

Spring Wagtail

- 45

Sprite ...

103

Spurdie

- 100

Spurre

- 202

- 191

Spyng -

191

Squawking Thrush -

193

Squealer -

- 191

Stag

- 35

196, 197

Standgale, Stannel,

Stanchel,

191

Stand Hawk or Stannel Hawk 140

131

Stane chacker -

9,11

- 192

— chapper -

- 12

- 192

— pecker -

- 187, 194

Stankhen, Stankie

178

-6,72

Starling, Stare-

- 73

Starenil, StaynU

- 73

- 72

Starn

- 202

- 72

Steenie pouter

- 196

160

Steinkle

168

Stem

- 204

144

Stint

193. 195

- 191

Stock Annet

-'154

■ 73

— duck

- 154, 156

— dove

- - 167

- 60

— eikle

- 99

- 164

— hawk

■ 139

202, 203

— owl

- 130

240

INDEX OF COMMON AND PROVINCIAL NAMES.

PAGE

Stock whaup - - - - 200
Stone-chat, -chaoker or -clink 9,11,34

— clocharet - 11

— curlew - - 199

— falcon - - - 139

— gall ... 140

— hatch - - 182

— hawk - - - 139

— plover 179, 181, 182, 198

— raw - - - 187

— ■ runner -

182, 183

— smlch

- 12

— thrush -

Storm-bird

— -cock

2, 6, 100

Storm-petrel or -finch

211

Strand Tlover -

181

Straney -

218

Strawsmall

Strawsmeer

23, 24, 26

Stubble gooBe -

147

Summer bird

103

— duck -

158

— Snipe

193

, 196, 197

— Teal -

158

— Wagtail -

■

Surf duck or Surf scoter - - 163

Swallow - -49, 56, 211

— Sea - - 203

— -tailed Sheldrake 161
Swan, TVhooper, Wild or AVhist-

ling - ■ 150

Swan, Mute - - 150

Swarbie - - - 208

Swart back - - - - 208
Sweet WUliam or Sweet BUly 27, 57

Swift 95

Swine-pipe - - 5

Swing-devil ... 95

Swiss Sandpiper ... 182

Sycook - - - 2

Tael duck
Tanmiie -

— herl "

— norie ■
Tang Sparrow •

— Whaup ■
Tangle picker -

158
219
145
219
46
199
187

Tapper, Tapperer or Tabberer - 99

Tarrock, Taring 202

Tamie - - - - 202

Tarrock - - 202, 206, 218

Tatler - - - - 196

Tawny - - - - 67

— Bunting - - 72

Tawny Owl, or Tawny Hooting

Owl - - - 129

Teal .... 158

— Cricket or Summer - 158

Teaser . - - 210

Teetan ... 45, 46
Teeuck or Tietick - 45, 46, 184
Teewit - ... 184

Tercel ... - 139

— gentle - - 139
Tern, Arctic - 202

— Black - 204

— Common - 202

— Great - - 203

— Lesser or Little - 203

— Eoseate ... 203
Tern, Sandwich - 204
Teuchit - - 184
Teufit - - 184
Teuk - - - 197
Thack or Thatch Sparrow - 60
Thiok-bOl - 67

knee - 179

Thirstle or Thirstle cook - - 3

Thistle cock - 69

— finch - - . . 57
Thrice cook - - - 2
Throstle or Throstle cock - 2, 3
Thrusfield - - 3
Thrush, Holm or Missel 1

— Ring . 8

— Solitary . 73

— Song - - 3
Thrusher ... 3
Thrustle - - 3 ■
Thumb-bird - 25
Thummie - - 26
Tick . - - . 11
Tidife - - 34
Tidley ... - 35

— Goldfinch . 25
Tiercel .... 139
Tieves geit, or Tieves nicket - 184
Tinkershere or Tinker's hue - 218
Tinnock - - 34
Tintie - - - - 35
Tippet Grebe . - , 215
Tirma - . . - 188
Tit or Titmouse, Bearded 30

— — Blue - - 33

— — Cole 33

— — Great - 32

— — Long- tailed . 31

— — Marsh - 33
Titlark or Titling - . 46,46
Titlene ' - - - - 89

INDEX OF COMMON AND PROVINCIAL NAMES. 241

Titmal ....

Titt^el -

Titty todger -

Toad Bnatcher - ■ .

Tom Harry

— noup or nope -

— pudding - . .

— Thumb -

Tomtit - - 33, 34,

Tongue bird -

Tony hoop or Tonnihood -

Too zoo - - . -

Tope ....

Tor Ouzel . . . .

Tortoise-shell Goose - - .

Tot o'er seas

Towilly - - - .

Tree (>eeper, Climber or Clipper

Tree Goose - . . .

— Pipit or Lark - . .

— Speeler - -
Trillaohan - - -

Trumpie

Tuchit or Tuet

Tufted Duck

— Skart -

Tuliao - ...

Turkey bird ....

Turnstone

Tiui;le dove ...

— Greenland

— Sea ...
Twite -

— finch or -lark - - .
Tyatie -

- 33
199

- 72

■ 210
33, 34

■ 216
26

35,57

103

166

148

195

149

188

211

184

158

143

210

104

187

169

218

TJthage -
Uthiok or Utick

- 219

11
11

Van- winged Hawk - - 139

Vanner Hawk ... 140

Tare, or Vare headed Wigeon 160, 165
Velverd - - 5

Velvet Duck or Scoter - 163

— Runner- . 176

206
208
43
44
43
46
44
44
44
48

Wagell Gull

Wagtail, Grey or Grey-headed

— Pied

— Spring or Summer

— White

— Winter

— Tellow

WaU bird or Wall plat -

Warbler, Garden

— Grasshopper

— Reed -

- 24

- 28

- 27

- 28

- 27

- 149

- 47
44

- 30

- 30
!0, 177
!0, 179

- 141
■ 178

196

196
30
30

176

27,71

211

— WiUow

— Wood
Ware Goose

Wariangle - - .
Waahdish and Washerwoman
Water Blackbird

— Colly -

— Crake -

— Crow

— Eagle .

— Hen .

— Junket -

— Laverock

— Ouzel or Piet

— Peggie -

— Rail -

— Sparrow

— Thrush -

— Wagtail

— Witch -
Waterie, Wattie, or Wattle wag

tail - . 43,46

Waterie Pleeps - 196, 197

WaxVping ... 43

Wease-aUan or -alley - 210

Weasel coot or duck 166

Weep - - . 184

Weet bird . . 103

— my feet . - - 173

— weet - . 196
Wekeen - - 45
Well plum . - . 160
Welsh ambassador - - 109
Wet bird . - - 63
Wet my lip - - 173
Whaup ..... 200
Whautie - - 23
Wheatear - - - - 9
Wheatsel bird - - - 63
Wheel bird or Wheeler - 96
Wheety why, Wheety Whey-
beard, or Whey beard - - 23

W hewer or Whew duck - 154, 165
Whim - - - 154

Whimbrel - - 199

Whinchat ... n

Whinchacker, Whincheck, or

Whinolocharet - - 11

Whin grey • - - 65

— Linnet - - 11, 65

— Sparrow - 28
Whinyard 158, 160

242

INDEX OF COMMON AND PROVINCrAL NAMES,

PAOI

PAGE

Whip

Wigeon, Red-headed

- 160

Whishie

— Vare

- 165

Whistler - - 9,

154

161

Wild Duck

156

Whistling Duck

179

, — Goose

147, 148

— Plover

180

181

— Pigeon

168

— Swan

152

— Swan

152

— Thrush

Willook or Willy

217, 220

White ahoon Gled -

132

— Sparrow

- 26

— ass

— Warbler

- 26

— Baker

Willy fisher

26, 203

— Cap

13,22

— gow

- 207

— -faced Diver -

178

^- hawky

216

— — Duck -

■

159

— muftie

— — ■ Barnacle

149

— WagtaQ -

— — Goose -

148

— wicket

196

— Finch -

Wind -

- 183

White-fronted Goose

148

Windbibber, Windcuffer, Wind-

— Game

174

fanner, Windhover, Wiad-

— Grouse

174

sucker -

- 140

— Hawk -

132

Windle, Windthrush, Winuard 5

— -headed Goosander

165

Window Martin

- 56

— — Harpy

132

— Swallow

- 56

— Hoolet

125

Windle Straw or Winnel -

- 23

— Kite

132

Winter bonnet

208

— Lark

— Duck -

- 155

— Lintie

— Gull or Mew

207

— Maw

207

— Wagtaa

- 44

— Merganser

165

Witch >-
Witchuok

211

— Nun

165

- 57

— Owl

125

Wittol -

— Partridge

174

WitwaU

100

— rump

Woodchuck

100

— side

160

Woodcock

- 189

— -sided Duck

169

— Owl

- 129

— — Diver -

159

— Snipe

191

— taU -

■ 9

— Sea -

- 198

— -tailed Eagle -

136

Woodoracker

- 35

— throat -

22,24

Wood Dove -

167

— WagtaU-

— Grouse -

- 176

— waU -

— hack

100

— Wigeon -

165

Woodlark

— wing -

Woodknacker - - -

- 99

— wisky John

Wood oven

- 26

— Wren -

Wood Owl

129

Whitile - - . .

Woodpecker

- 67

Whitterick

200

— Barred -

-• 98

Whitty beard -

— Brown -

- 57

WhitwaU

100

— Great spotted or pied 98

Whole Snipe -

192

— Green

- 99

Whooper Swan

152

— Lesser spotted

' 98

Wierangel

Woodpie -

98,99

Wigeon - . . .

152

Wood Pigeon

- 166

— Black -

155

,159

— Quest

- 165

— diver

160

— spaok, Woodspite, Wood-

— Freshwater -

160

sucker, Woodwall,

— Pied -

158

Woodtapper 98, 99, 100

INDEX OF COMMON AND PKOVINCIAl NAMES.

243

Wood Thruah -

— Titmouse

— Warbler

- 27

Woofell

Woolert

126

Wranny or Wrannock

Wren

- 35

— Golden-crested ■

- 25

— Reed

— Willow

- 26

— Wood

- 27

Writhe neck

- 103

Writing Lark, or WritingMaster 70

Wryneck

- 103

Wype - - -

- 184

Yaffle, Yaffil, Yaffler, Yappingale 100

TAOB

Yardkeep or Yarwhip 198

Yarwhelp . - 198

Yaup ... 34

Yeldrin and Yeldrock 69

Yellow Ammer - - 69

— Bunting - . 69

— Molly - 44

— Owl - . 125

— PloTer. - . - 180

— Poll . . - 44, 154

— Wagtail or Waggie . 44

— Wren ... 26, 27

— Yeldock, Yoit, Yoldrin,

Yowley - . 69

Yelper . . . 189

Young curlew - - 199

Yuokel or Yockel ... 99

Finis.

Printed by Hazell, Wataon, & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury.

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Full text of "The folk lore and provincial names of British birds"

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