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Tue Stupy oF Birp LIFE. 153 
latter before he finds that the former is the bird as to which he 
has been misled. 
And so with the Common Linnet, the male of which in some 
localities is termed a Red Linnet, while in others the term Red 
Linnet is applied to the Goldfinch. 
Again, in many parts if you ask about the Flycatcher you 
will be told it is common enough. If you ask to be shown one 
you will have pointed out to you a few specimens, including a 
Willow Wren, a Whitethroat, anything that looks like a bird 
catching flies, and, perhaps, a genuine Flycatcher, though the 
latter will not be at all. distinguishable from any of the others 
by your informant. 
The Little Cole Tit with its black crown is often called a 
Blackcap, and this leads to much trouble by confusion with the 
Blackcap Warbler, the male of which has also a black crown. 
Asking for the latter and omitting the word warbler you will be 
told there are lots of them about. This would be enough as a 
rule to save you further trouble; the very fact that there were 
lots of them showing you they were not the birds you wanted. 
Confusing the Marsh Tit with the Cole Tit is not likely to 
happen often, because as the one has a black head and the 
other almost a black head, the two birds are to most people one 
and the same bird, and no arguments will convince them other- 
wise unless you have a specimen of each in your hand to shew 
them. 
Again, the Black-headed Bunting is a rare bird, but the so- 
called Black-headed Bunting, which is properly the Reed 
Bunting, is fairly common. The confusion is due to the black 
head, but in this case the confusion is not quite so bad, as both 
belong to the same sub-family. 
To confuse the Cormorant with the Shag is natural enough, 
and to settle the matter, as regards inland waters at any rate, it 
needs only care in remembering that the Shag rarely frequents 
them, and so what is named to you as a Shag away from the sea 
is almost certainly a Cormorant. 
But these few examples must suffice. 
As to actual local names the number is so very great. that 
there is no space here to allude to them even briefly. I may, 
perhaps, be allowed to give a few instances in a single sentence. 
In certain districts in England, on enquiry as-to the birds, a 
