'290 AMBIGUITIES. [CHAP. iv. 



tion, or of the date and condition of society in which 

 they were constructed. 



" Turner says that the Trynga is in German called 

 Ein Wasserhenn (that is a Water Hen); in English, 

 Mothen (perchance, says Ornithologus, from Morhen). 

 But the hird is all over of a russet brown, except that 

 part of the tail which covers the rump, for that is white, 

 and is then seen when the tail is erected. It has little 

 power in its wings, and therefore makes short flights. 

 In the stagnant waters which fence the houses of the 

 nobility, and in fish-ponds, it mostly dwells amongst 

 the English. If at any time it is exposed to danger, it 

 is wont to betake itself to the thicker reed-beds. So 

 far he. Ornithologus says that he had heard that 

 Snyt * (he probably means Snyp or Snipe) is, amongst 

 the English, the appellation of a bird with a long bill, 

 of the magnitude of a Magpie, which always busies 

 itself near the water, and keeps moving its tail. He 

 doubts whether this be the Water Ouzel or the Water 

 Hen. I, when it is compared to the Magpie in magni- 

 tude, rather refer it to the Water Hen. Other Ger- 

 mans describe this sort of bird for the Tringa. Tringse, 

 they say, are all black, cloven-footed, with white on the 

 top of the head reaching down to the bill ; their feet 

 are tall and black ; it (the confusion of the singular and 

 the plural number is in the original), continually moves 

 its tail, and inhabits watery places. Finally, Ornitho- 

 logus thinks that to the name Trynga pertains the bird 

 which, at some places, as at Clarona, is named Vvasser 

 Trostle, that is, Water Thrush." 



* " Snytes" were a dish at the " solempne coronacyon" dinner of 

 Henry VI. 



