282 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
Liebault, from which it is translated, the corresponding word is 
“ningon.” In Cotgrave’s ‘ Dictionary’ we find “ Pinson, a Spink, 
Chaffinch, or Sheldpate ;” and in More’s ‘ Suffolk Words,’ “Spink, 
the Chaffinch.” R. Nicolls, in a poem called ‘The Cuckowe’ 
(1607), has— 
“The speckled Spinck that lives by gummie sappe.” * 
The common name for the Chaffinch in Middlesex and Hert- 
fordshire is “ Pink” or “ Spink.” 
Hovusr Sparrow, Passer domesticus.—What should we Lon- 
doners do without our Sparrow? His cheerful voice and familiar 
presence enliven our hours, and although a fearless bird, yet he 
is ‘‘ wide awake,” and will not allow too near an approach. He is 
indeed a London bird. Go to what part of London you will, 
you will find ‘Philip Sparrow,” equally familiar with rich and 
poor, building his nest and rearing his progeny in the very depths 
of the purlieus of St. Giles’s as well as in the Corinthian columns 
of the aristocratic houses of Belgrave Square, while Sparrow 
fights are as frequent amongst the dense rows of the squalid 
houses as in the more fashionable precincts. He has ever been a 
favourite, particularly with our older poets. Skelton wrote an 
“Elegy on the Death of a Pet Sparrow” :— 
“To wepe with me, loke that ye come, 
All manner of byrdes, in your kynde, 
Se none be left behynde. 
To mornyng loke that ye fall 
With dolorous songs funeralle ; 
Some to synge and some to say, 
Some to wepe, and some to pray, 
Every byrde in his laye ; 
The Goldfynche, the Wagtayle, 
The janglynge Jay to rayle, 
The fleckyd Pye to chatter 
Of this dolorous matter, 
And Robyn Redbrest, 
He shall be preest 
The requiem mass to synge, 
Softly warbelynge. 
ak + * % *% 
The Hobby and the Muskette 
The sensers and the cross shall get ; 
* See Dyce’s notes to Skelton’s Poems. 
