1899] 201 



THE NAMES OF BIRDS. 



A Clossary of Popular, Local, and Old-fashioned Names of 

 British Birds, by Charges Louis Hett. Brigg: Jacksons. 

 London : Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. Price 6d. 



Mr. Hett has reprinted, with some additional matter, the glossary of 

 local bird-names which appeared as an appendix to his "Dictionary of 

 Bird-Notes." As it had little connection with the subject-matter of the 

 Dictionary, it was there rather thrown away, and to have it separate is a 

 distinct improvement. The additions now made are also very welcome. 

 Some two thousand local names were printed in the original glossary, 

 and about four hundred others are now added, giving as an average rather 

 more than six local English names to every British bird. The most re- 

 grettable feature about the book is that the old and new matter have not 

 been dove-tailed, but appear as two separate glossaries. It is of less con- 

 sequence that the B. O. U. list of 1S83, which the author uses, does not 

 contain all the birds now recognized as " British," for of course none of 

 the mere stragglers added of late years have any right to " local or 

 popular" names. Mr. Hett appears to have made out a very exhaustive 

 list, containing nearly five times as many names as appear in the similar 

 glossary appended to Gordon's " Our Country's Birds, and how to know 

 them" ; and we think he has succeeded in including most of those com- 

 monly used in Ireland. Among the omissions, however, are " Sally- 

 pecker" (the all-but-universal rustic appellation in this country for the 

 Willow-wren and Chiffchaff); "Ground Lark" (applied somewhat mis- 

 cellaneously, but chiefly to the Sky-lark); «■ Royal Gull" for Laras mar- 

 inns ; " Kite " for any Harrier, and " Cat-Owl " for Asio otus. Some of our 

 local names are but slight variations on others which appear in Mr. 

 Hett's book; e.g., with us the Mistle-thrush is "Jay," not "Jay-pie," and 

 the Hooded Crow "Scald Crow," not "Scale Crow"; while the Wren 

 (about Dublin) is not a " Scutty, ' but a " Scut." "Tweet," a local name 

 for the Meadow Pipit, might also have been given. It is in common use 

 in the Isle of Man, and probably elsewhere. Mr. Hett invites those of 

 his readers who can supply further additions to communicate with him. 

 and in doing so they will materially increase the value of what is already 



a very excellent little book. 



J C. B. M. 



