THE FLICKER 11 



chuck, the original name for hog ; hence Hterally Woodhog, from 

 its habit of burrowing in the wood in comparison to the root- 

 ing of the hog in the earth ; or chuck, used in the sense " to 

 strike," would still be consistent ; and again, the latter word 

 with other meanings. ' ' To call as a hen to her chickens, to 

 jeer or laugh," would seem equally relevant and appropriate. 



Woodcock. New England; Pennsylvania; Iowa. A homo- 

 nymn rather than a misnomer. 



Wood-lark. Locality unknown. Misnomer. 



Woodpeck^ Woodpecker, Woodpicker. Illinois; North Car- 

 olina, Michigan. 



Woodpecker Lark. Georgia; South Carolina. " From the 

 black crescent of the breast." — Ernest Ingersoll. Owing to a 

 resemblance in upper plumage as well as the-at-times-similarity 

 of feeding habits and association while on the ground with the 

 Meadow-lark. 



Wood Pigeon. New England. Misnomer. 



Wood-quoi. Connecticut. A mongrel term, possibly from 

 Wood- pic, for which see French Woodpecker. 



Wood-wall. New England. Clearly an early importation 

 from England, originating from its nesting habits. Said to 

 have been the ancient name for the Green Woodpecker, and 

 occurring in the writings of the old English poets. Still in 

 use in some parts, particularly in the New Forest, Hampshire, 

 according to Cassell. 



Xebec. (Pronounced ze-bec). New Hampshire. This 

 is the name under which I received a set of Flicker's eggs 

 .some fifteen j^eairs ago. The collector knew the .species by no 

 other name. — F. H. Lattin. The original of the name is a 

 small sea-going vessel carrying much canvas ; hence the nick- 

 name was doubtless suggested b}^ the most conspicuous identity 

 mark of the kind at a distance — the white rump. 



Yacker, Yecker, Yucker. New York; Massachu.setts. 

 Doubtless of onomatopoetic origin. 



Yaffle. Connecticut. Another importation. " The people 

 of Surry and Sussex, England, call the Green Woodpecker 

 'yaffle' or 'yaffel,' from its repeated notes which are com- 

 pared to the sound of a laugh." — Ca.ssell. 



Yarup, Yar-rup, Yaw-op. Middle States. From its ordi- 

 narv call note. 



