TERN — TIERCEL. 237 



Throstle : The SONG-THRUSH (chiefly in English literature 

 and poetry). Still, however, used pro\'incially (Lancashire, 

 Staffordshire, and other northei'n counties, also Ireland). 

 Thrustle is a Shropshire form. From A.Sax. throsle, appa- 

 rently a diminutive of A.Sax. thrysce, a thrush. Shake- 

 speare has " The throstle with his note so true." It occurs 

 in Merrett and in Willughbv, while Turner (1544) has 

 " Throssel," and Skelton spells it Threstill. Pennant (1766) 

 gives Throstle as the name for the species. 

 Throstle Cock : The MISTLE-THRUSH. (Roxburgh.) 

 Thrusfield : The SONG-THRUSH. (Shropshire.) 

 Thrush. Properly the SONG-THRUSH, although Turner 

 (1544) gives " Thrushe " as the particular name of the 

 MISTLE-THRUSH. From A.Sax. thrysce, a thrush. Some 

 authorities refer to Greek arpixav^to t^ntter ; Lat. strix 

 =a screeching or tA\ittering owl is from the same root. The 

 literal significance Mould therefore be a singing or 

 twittering bird. 

 Thrushel or Thrustle: The SONG-THRUSH. (Shrop- 



sliire.) A corruption of Throstle. 

 Thrusher : The SONG-THRUSH (Sussex, Berks., Bucks.), er 

 being a Saxon terminal. 



Thrush-like Warbler: The GREAT REED-WARBLER. 



(Yarrell.) 



THRUSH-NIGHTINGALE [No. 181]. This Scandinavian and 

 east European species has been recently added to the 

 British List. 



Thumb-bird: The GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN. (Hamp- 

 shire.). From its size, being about that of a thumb. Thum- 

 mie is also a name for the CHIFFCHAFF. 



TiDEE or TiDiFE. Old English names for a TITMOUSE 

 (see Tydif). 



TiDLEY Goldfinch : The GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN is so 

 called in Devonshire. (Montagu.) 



TiDLEY or TiDDY Wren : The WREN. (Essex.) 



Tiercel, Tercel, or Tassal : The male GOSHAWK, and also 

 the male PEREGRINE FALCON. Mr. Harting says the 

 term is derived from the male being supposed to be about 

 a third smaller than the female ; some authorities state, 

 however, that of the thi'ee j'oung birds usually found in the 

 nest two are females and the third a male, hence the 

 term tercel. The correct term for the male Peregrine 

 is Tiercel-gentle, in the same wav as the female is called 



