BARLEY—BAR-TAILED. 13 
BARN-OWL [No. 227, White-breasted Barn-Owl; No. 228, 
Dark-breasted Barn-Owl]. This species has been separated 
into the two forms noted, the White-breasted being the 
resident species and the Dark-breasted a casual migrant. 
The name Barn-Owl arises from its predilection for barns 
and other old buildings: it occurs first in Willughby. It is 
the White Owl of Pennant and other authors, and the 
“Yellow Owl,’ “Church Owl,” ete., of yet others. 
Yarrell (Ist ed.) calls it the ““ White or Barn Owl,” and 
the latter name has generally been adopted by later writers. 
“White Owl” is derived from the white hue of the under- 
parts: “ Yellow Owl” from the tawny yellow upper-parts : 
“Church Owl” from its partiality for churches. This and 
other species of owls were formerly very generally regarded 
as birds of ill-omen. Chaucer, referring obviously to this 
species, says :— 
The owle al nyght aboute the balkes wonde, 
That prophete ys of woo and of myschaunce. 
An ancient belief that this bird shrieking at a birth portended 
ill-luck to the infant is alluded to in Shakespeare (Henry VI, 
pt. m1, act v, sc. 6). 
The Owl shrieked at thy birth, an evil sign. 
BarRN Swattow. A common provincial name for the 
SWALLOW, so called from its nesting on the rafters, etc., 
of barns and other out-buildings. 
BARRED WARBLER [No. 143]. So called from its grey-and- 
white barred plumage. 
BarrReD Wittow WarRBLER: The YELLOW-BROWED 
WARBLER. 
BaRRED WoopPECcKER: The LESSER SPOTTED WOOD- 
PECKER. (Bewick.) So called from the black and 
white of its wings and upper-parts presenting a barred 
appearance. 
Barret Tit: The LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE. (Provincial.) 
Barrow’s Goldeneye. An American species of which one example 
is erroneously thought to have occurred in Suffolk. 
BAR-TAILED GODWIT [No. 402]. The name is found in 
Fleming (1828) and arises from the dusky bars on the white 
upper tail-coverts. It occurs in Turner (1544) as “‘ Godwitt 
or Fedoa,” and in Willughby as ‘“ Godwit, Yarwhelp, or 
Yarwip.” Pennant calls it Godwit and Montagu the Com- 
mon Godwit. Godwit is from A.-Sax. god-wihta (lit. good- 
eating). 
