ANALYSIS OF NAMES. 69 



Hittock, or Hittuck Canada. 



Fiddler Cape Cod. 



Yaffle and Woodquoi Connecticut. 



Yellow Jay Wiscon^n. 



Piiite, or Pee-iit New England. 



Pique-bois Jaune Louisiana. 



Woodpecker-lark Georgia. 



Sapsucker, or Sucker Florida. 



Gel Specht; Specht Pennsylvania German. 



Examining this list one sees how several of the 

 names might arise. The expressions "golden-winged," 

 "yellow-shafted," the French "pique-bois jaune," and 

 the German name (pronounced gail speycht)^ re- 

 fer to the color of the wing-quills, of course, which 

 are very conspicuous. " Yellowhammer " (Indian, 

 " allabama ") was among the very first names given 

 by the colonists to this bird, and, like " yellow jay," 

 alludes to the color, utterly irrespective of likeness 

 of form to the namesake in each case. The word 

 "flicker," undoubtedly designates its well-known 

 wavering manner of flight, to which the alternate 

 appearance and disappearance of the yellow quills 

 give a twinkling, flickering look. "English wood- 

 pecker" perhaps belongs to the same category. 



As for "pigeon woodpecker," I think it arises from 

 the peculiar pigeon-like attitude of this species, 

 in perching across the branch, instead of lengthwise 



