PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH ANIMALS. 287 
complex, with several cavities; the intestines, as in all herbivorous 
animals, are of great length, being about seven times as long as 
the body. . 
The respiratory organs are no less remarkable. The nostrils are 
circular openings with valves, which are closed when the creature 
is below the surface of the water. The lungs are of unusual size 
and great Jength, enabling the animal, after once taking in air at 
the surface, to remain submerged for a considerable time before 
rising again. 
The living specimen now in the Westminster Aquarium is fed 
upon lettuce and water-cress, and is kept in a large tank of water, 
the temperature of which is maintained at 70°, to suit its supposed 
requirements, and approximate the surrounding conditions, as 
nearly as may be, to what is found to exist in a state of nature. 
——=$ 
PROVINCIAL NAMES OF BRITISH ANIMALS. 
Norfolk.—In consequence of an intimation, in a recent number 
of ‘The Zoologist,’ that local lists of the names of mammals and 
birds would be acceptable, I have noted the following names now 
or formerly in use in the county of Norfolk :— 
Mammatia. Spotted Flycatcher. Bee-bird; Beam- 
Stoat. Lobster. bird ; Wall-bird. 
Weasel. Mouse-hunter. 
The two last names are evidently 
derived from the usual situation 
of the nest. The first term may 
Common Shrew. Ranny. 
Badger. Badget ; Brock. 
These names for the badger are 
given by Forby, but are now ob- 
solete, the animal being almost 
extinct in Norfolk. 
Birps. 
Short-eared Owl. Woodcock Oul. 
I have also heard this name applied 
to the Long-eared Owl. 
Barn Owl. Madge;  Jill-hooter 
(Forby).* 
An Owl.} Billy-wix (Forby). 
| iene ct lel alate Meal 
* See also Hunt 
be merely a corruption of the 
second. 
Missel Thrush. Fulfer. 
Apparently a corruption of Field- 
fare. 
Song Thrush. Mavish. 
Evidently a corruption of the old 
English name “Mavis.” The 
cotemporary term of ‘“ Merle” 
for the Blackbird seems to have 
become quite obsolete. 
Fieldfare. Storm-bird. 
i 
’s ‘ British Birds.’ 
+ Probably the Barn Owl. 
