GOLFAN—GRASS. 101 
GoRSE-BIRD, GORSE HATCHER, GORSE THATCHER. Provincial 
names for the LINNET; on account of its frequenting 
and nesting in the gorse. 
GORSECHAT, GORSE HATCH, or GORSE HOPPER: The WHINCHAT. 
From its partiality to gorse. 
GOSHAWK [No. 248]. Literally ‘‘ Goose-hawk,” from A.Sax. 
Gos—=goose and hafoc—hawk. The name Goshawk appears 
in Merrett (1667) andin Willughby. Merrett calls the bird 
Accipiter palumbarius after Aldrovandus (p. 342), who 
describes and figures this species under the latter name. 
Turner (1544) also alludes to Accipiter palumbarius, ex 
Pliny, but erroneously identifies it as the SPARROW- 
HAWK. Linnezus described the species under the names 
of Falco gentilis and F. palumbarius, and although the latter 
has been generally accepted, the name gentilis, as standing 
first, must replace it. In falconry the name Goshawk was 
applied to the female, the male being termed Tercel or 
Tiercel (q.v.). In Ireland the name is also applied to the 
BUZZARD and the PEREGRINE FALCON, and in the 
Shetlands to the latter species. 
Goss Liynet or Gorse Linnet. A Yorkshire bird-catcher’s 
name for a supposed variety of the LINNET, those bred 
in gorse being considered to sing better than those reared 
in hedges. 
GoupsPInK: The GOLDFINCH. (Scotland.) 
GourDER : The STORM-PETREL. (Smith’s “ Hist. of Kerry.’’) 
Swainson gives Gourder or Gourdal as a Kerry name. 
Gow (=Gull): The COMMON GULL. (Aberdeen). 
Gowpy Duck: The GOLDENEYE. (Orkney, Shetland, and 
East Lothian.) 
Go-West: The LONG-TAILED DUCK. (Redear, Yorkshire.) 
Gowk. An old name for the CUCKOO, still very generally 
used in Scotland and also North Ireland. It occurs in 
Turner (1544) as “gouke.” The derivation seems to be 
from A.Sax. geac. Newton, however, gives Norse gj«/)k, 
Swed. gék. According to Saxby the name Gowk is applied 
in the Shetlands to the COMMON SNIPE. 
Gowx’s Foot. A North Country name for the MEADOW- 
PIPIT, on account of the frequency with which it is vic- 
timised by the CUCKOO. 
GRAND DvuKE and Ducuzss. Macgillivray gives these as names 
for the male and female EAGLE-OWL. 
Grass-Coat: The WHINCHAT. (West Yorkshire.) 
