260 BRITISH BIRDS. 



the laws of language. Look at the innumerable barbaric compound 

 names invented by ornithologists who were not classical scholars ; 

 consider such names as wumiziisume, mlokosiewiczi, caparoch, etc. 

 It is most deplorable that such names should be given, but when once 

 applied they should be accepted. 



As to popular narnes, it is true that Dr. Latham, Professor Skeat 

 and others have thrown much light on the origin and history of modern 

 English. But at present we have no Academy, as in France, to 

 regulate the spelling of our language, and no laws on the subject exist. 

 It is really decided simply and solely by general use. For the spelling 

 of the name of the Dunlin, Mr. Harting tells us that he has fixed on the 

 date 1530-4. But this date is a purely arbitrary one. It has not 

 been agreed upon by the representatives of English-spelling peoples. 

 Early modem English literature, it is true, may be said roughly to date 

 from about 1500, but even in 1375 Barbour wrote in the"Ynglis toung" 

 of "byrdis smale" such as the "nychtyngale" and "turturis." Does 

 Mr. Harting seriously suggest that the spelling of all English words 

 should be altered to that in vogue in 1530 ? Or are we to understand 

 that this date applies to the Dunlin alone, and that he will fix dates for 

 other species later on ? 



When we open one of Mr. Harting's books we find, in accordance 

 with common usage, the Wheatears and Titmice mentioned. Yet 

 the author is perfectly aware that the name Wheatear has nothing to 

 do with " wheat " or " ear " ; the " mouse " of Titmouse has nothing 

 to do with the rodent of that name. Perhaps we may be allowed to 

 suggest another change to Mr. Harting, if he proposes to continue his 

 work of reform. There is little doubt that our word Grouse was 

 originally introduced into our language from the old French word 

 " Griesche," as a collective or plural noun " Grice " It is thus 

 written by Cotgrave in his Dictionarie of the French and English Tongues " 

 (1611). By a faLse analogy the word Grouse (variously written Grows, 

 Grous, and Grouss) seems to have sprung up. Mr. Harting points out 

 that the most correct spelling is that which shows the derivation 

 most clearly, so that he should adopt Cotgrave's spelling in accordance 

 with the " rules " of Professor Skeat and other authorities on Philology. 

 Why has not our critic the courage of his convictions, and why does he 

 not spell these names in accordance with their etymology ? 



As to Professor Newton's adoption of the spelling " Dunling," we 

 think this was sufficiently answered in our last number, where we 

 pointed out that Professor Newton also adopted the spelling "Cuckow," 

 which had not found acceptance even by Mr. Harting. — Eds.] 



