ENGLISH-GAELIC 

 NAMES OF BIRDS 



This part being so voluminous and almost inexhaustible^ even 

 as regards Celtic lore, etc., necessitates the shortest and most 

 concise reference, consonant with clearness. 



In reference to " other names," I have to refer the curious in 

 such matters to, inter alia, the Folk-lore and Provincial Names of 

 British Birds, by the Rev. Charles Swainson, 1886, where the 

 subject — so far at least as English names are concerned — is treated 

 most exhaustively. 



As regards Scottish names in that work, very few variants 

 are to be found apart from those 1 had procured before ; and as 

 regards Celtic names, almost none. 



It will of course be concluded that it is with the two latter 

 this work is chiefly concerned, especially Celtic, though some 

 English dialectic terms are given throughout. 



From the Celtic Historian or Tradition-monger we have the 

 sapng that at one time — if not now — "Bha Gaidhlig aig na 

 h-eoin uair 's thuigeadh iad gloir nan dan." The birds had 

 Gaelic at one time, and understood the glory of song ; while Burns 

 says in his " August " song : — 



*' The partridge loves the fruitful fells. 



The plover loves the mountains ; 

 The woodcock haunts the lonely dells, 



The soaring hern the fountains ; 

 Through lofty groves the cushat roves, 



The path of man to shun it ; 

 The hazel bush o'erhangs the thrush, 



The spreading thorn the linnet. " 



Which proves how closely Burns had studied nature. 

 To turn further south, Churchill says : — 



*' Among the Romans, not a bird 

 Without a prophecy was heard ; 

 Fortunes of empires often hung 

 On the magician magpie's tongue. ' 



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