/ 



/ 

 Rennie's Montagu's Ornithological Dictionary, 425 



from sleeping infants, of which they are popularly accused ; inasmuch as 

 the structure of their organs would baffle any such attempt." * 



The pectinated Claiu of the Nightjar or Goatsucker. This subject lias 

 been discussed in our Vol. III. p. 30. 188. 296. 449., and Vol. IV. p. 275. j 

 and the views exhibited in these places are conspectively noticed by Mr. 

 Rennie in his Ornithological Dictionary, where he replies to Mr. Swainson's 

 criticism at p. 276. of our current volume, in the following words : — 

 " Though [Mr. Swainson] smiles at my * simplicity,' and alleges that I am 

 * sometimes very unfortunate ' in my ' speculations,' the simplicity must, in 

 the present case, rest with himself; for, if the pectinated claws are be- 

 stowed on the nightjar and the heron to secure their prey, he ought, by 

 his own argument, to be able to show that all birds which feed on similar 

 prey, such as the swifts, have pectinated claws." 



Besides these changes devised by Mr. Rennie, he adopts others from 

 recent authors, which we also, on future occasions, may use in our pages. 

 For information to our readers, and as proofs of Mr. Rennie's ardour for 

 accuracy, we quote further : — 



Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycivora garrula Temminck, J'mpelis garrulus 

 Linncsus). " This genus has been established by Temminck, who has very 

 judiciously removed it from the genus ^'mpelis (chatterer), where it was 

 left by Linnaeus and Latham ; but which possess distinct and peculiar cha- 

 racters, and belong to a different order." 



Guernsey Partridge (Perdix rufa). " Why this should be called Guern- 

 sey Partridge we cannot imagine, since we are credibly informed it is very 

 rare in that island. The common species breeds there, but is scarce ; whe- 

 ther this ever bred there is uncertain, though it is known to breed in the 

 Island of Jersey. It is also found in various parts of Asia and Africa, and 

 is called by the name of the Red-legged Partridge." 



The White-headed Eagle is frequently called the Bald Eagle, and excites 

 from Mr. Rennie this remark : — " The epithet bald applied to this species, 

 whose head is thickly covered with feathers, is equally improper and absurd 

 with the titles goatsucker, kingfisher, &c., bestowed on others; and seems 

 to have been occasioned by the white appearance of the head when con- 

 trasted with the dark colour of the rest of the plumage." 



Heron (^'rdea cinerea). " * Not to know a hawk from a heronshaw ' (the 

 former name for a heron) is an old adage, which arose when the diversion 

 of heron-hawking was in high fashion. This phrase has since been cor- 

 rupted into the absurd vulgar proverb, * Not to know a hawk from a 

 hand-saw.' " We quote this remark for the sake of observing that heron- 

 shaw is the prevailing name for the heron in the fens of Cambridgeshire, 

 where this bird is frequent, but that the name is there pronounced as if 

 spelled herringshaw. "Absurd" and "vulgar" as may be the proverb 

 alluded to, Shakspeare has stereotyped it ; and it, therefore, is not likely to 

 become soon obsolete. He makes Hamlet say — "I am but mad north- 

 north-west ; when the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a hand- 

 saw." f Mr. Hoy's clear description, at p. 342, 343. of our current volume, 

 of the mode of capturing the hawks for heron-hawking ; and J. C's account, 

 at p. 43 L, of a late practical instance, in Norfolk, of that diversion, explain, 

 or contribute to explain, the whole process of heron-hawking. 



* In Cambridgeshire and Suffolk there are those to be found who still 

 gravely assert, and pretend to have witnessed, that the hedgehog sucks the 

 teats of cows by night. 



-|- An identification of the particular objects in natural history to which 

 Shakspeare has made allusion, with the species of modern systematic 

 naturalists, would form a welcome addition to British literature. Smith, in 

 his English Floray has identified a few : see under Lonicera Periclj'menum, 

 vol. i. p. 326. ; and O'rchis mascula, vol. iv. p. 12., in that work. 



