ENGLISH NAMES OF AMERICAN BIRDS—TROTTER. 5138 
Kalm (Travels, Eng. Trans., II, 151) speaks of “ whip-poor-will” 
as the English name of Antrostomus vociferus. A confusion appears 
in Bartram (Travels, 292), who has it “night hawk or whip-poor- 
will.” Antrostomus carolinensis is called by Bartram (292) “the 
great bat, or chuck wills widow.” “ Night hawk” is given by Wilson, 
though this species (Chordeiles virginianus) appears to have been 
described by Catesby under the name of “the goatsucker of Caro- 
lina” (I, 8). 
Colinus virginianus has long proclaimed his proper title of “ bob 
white,” which has now become the accepted name of the species, 
superseding the older and less distinctive terms of “quail” and 
“ partridge.” 
IV. NAMES SUGGESTED BY SOME PECULIAR HABIT OR HABITAT. 
“Flycatcher” is a name of obvious application given to an Old 
World group of birds. From the peculiar habits of certain Ameri- 
can species the term “tyrant flycatchers” has become current. The 
“kingbird ” is first so called by Bartram. Catesby figures the species 
as “the tyrant,” whence the name of general application. Wilson 
speaks of its name in Maryland as the “field martin,” and “ bee 
martin ” is another name in certain localities. 
“Gnatcatcher ” is a name that first appears in-Audubon, from the 
Swainsonian genus Culicivora. The species (Polioptila cerulea) 
was originally “the little bluish gray wren” of Bartram (Travels, 
291), and later the “small blue gray flycatcher ” of Wilson (A. O., 
II, 164).” 
Several species of warblers early received names indicative of 
peculiar habits. The worm-eating warbler (Helmitheros vermi- 
vorus) of Wilson and later authors was originally “ the worm-eater ” 
(Edwards, Gleanings), from Bartram; also Latham and Pennant 
from the same source. The pine-creeping warbler (Dendroica 
wigorsi) of Wilson was the “pine creeper” of Catesby (I, 61). Ed- 
wards (Gleanings, 92), quoting a letter from Bartram, says of Setu- 
rus aurocapillus that it “builds its nest upon the ground, and always 
chooses the south side of a hill; that it makes a hole in the leaves, 
like a little oven, and lines it with dry grass,” etc. This is the first 
reference I have found of the familiar vernacular ‘“ ovenbird,” 
although Edwards calls the species “ golden-crowned thrush.” ‘ Wa- 
ter thrush” and “ wagtail” were names early given to the other 
species of the genus, and Pennant speaks of one as the “ New York 
warbler” (Arct. Zoél., II, 308), whence its old specific name of 
noveboracensis. The vernacular “myrtle bird ” first appears in Nut- 
tall, hence probably “myrtle warbler” of authors, though early 
accounts speak of the bird’s fondness for the berries of the wax 
myrtle (Myrica). Catesby calls it “the yellowrump” (I, 58) and 
