448 



THE ZOOLOGIST. 



aigle. Gannet is akin to Gander, and likewise to the root of the 

 German gans, Latin anser, Greek %«v. Kestrel has been in- 

 geniously traced by Prof. Skeat,* he kindly informs me in a recent 

 letter, to the Latin for a Teal, querquedula ; this became in old 

 French quercelle, now cercelle or sarcelle ; its diminutive quercerelle 

 easily became contracted to kercrelle, and thence became kestrel ; 

 the French cresserelle is obviously corrupted from cerccrelle. 

 Merle, a Blackbird, is the French form of the Latin merula. 

 Partridge is from the Greek ttej 3«£, through the French perdrix ; 

 in middle English it was pertriche. Pigeon is the French pigeon, 

 from the Latin plpio, a young chirping bird of no particular 

 species. I have lately shown ('Zoologist,' 1882, p. 110) that 

 Wigeon is similarly formed from vipio, a name used by Pliny, so 

 that the spelling "widgeon" is clearly wrong. Thrush, and its 

 diminutive Throstle, are allied to the Latin turdus. 



The remaining English bird-names can most of them be 

 traced back to Celtic or Teutonic sources, but their meaning 

 is either unknown or uncertain, so that it is inexpedient to 

 endeavour to explain them now. On an occasion such as this 

 I would not willingly detract from the pleasure of anyone who 

 may come after me, by going outside what may reasonably be 

 regarded as ascertained etymological facts. I have only made 

 a collection of derivations, on which I hope to see a stately 

 structure rise that shall show to future ornithologists the depth 

 of the meaning of English bird-names. 



ON THE TREATMENT OF SNAKES IN CAPTIVITY. 

 By Arthur Stradling, C.M.Z.S. 



The study of reptiles " at home "—of their nature, habits, 

 peculiarities, mode of life, of eveiything, in fact, beyond their 

 mere anatomical characteristics — seems to have been deferred 

 until the entire animal creation, exclusive of the unpopular Class, 

 should have received the attention of practical naturalists. Pet 

 fish were recognised attractions in ornamental garden-ponds and 

 greenhouse-tanks a hundred years ago, and until a comparatively 

 recent date the word " aquarium " suggested the idea of crystal 



* Cf. ' The Academy,' Oct. 7, 1882, p. 262. 



