212 DICTIONARY OF NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 
SENTINEL SHRIKE. A name sometimes given to the GREAT 
GREY SHRIKE ; it exists also in its specific name excubitor 
(i.e. a sentinel) and in the names by which this Shrike 
is known in several countries on the Continent. It origin- 
ates from the bird’s habit of sitting sentinel-wise on an 
exposed perch, and from its marvellous powers of vision 
it was commonly made use of in the days of falconry as 
a sentinel to detect the approach of a wild hawk; it is 
in fact still so employed in Holland. 
SERIN [No. 28]. Sometimes called the Serin Finch. From 
Fr. serin, probably from Lat. siren, on account of its song. 
It occurs in Willughby as the ‘‘ Serinus of Gesner.” 
SeruLA. A provincial name for the RED-BREASTED MER- 
GANSER. (Montagu.) 
Ser-Hammer. A Teesmouth fowler’s name for the BAR- 
TAILED GODWIT. 
SEVEN-COLOURED LinnetT: The GOLDFINCH. (Shropshire.) 
Srven WuistLER: The WHIMBREL; from the clear whistling 
note, supposed to be repeated about seven times. 
SHAD-BIRD: The COMMON SANDPIPER. (Shrewsbury) ; 
because before the erection of weirs at Worcester the shad 
used to ascend the river about the middle of April, the 
time of the arrival of the Common. Sandpiper (Jackson, 
‘‘ Shropshire Word-Book,” p. 372). 
SHAG [No. 317]. Often called the Green Cormorant. The 
name “Shag” first appears in Merrett, who says 
Cormorants are so called in Cornwall. Willughby also 
terms it ‘‘the Shag, called in the North of England the 
Crane.” Pennant calls it ‘“‘Shag Cormorant.” From 
Icel. skegg=the beard, from skaga=to protect; so called 
on account of the recurved crest of feathers with which 
the head is adorned in spring-plumage. 
SHacca: The CORMORANT, also the SHAG. (Cornwall.) 
See SHAG. 
SHake: The REDSHANK. (Connemara.) From the constant 
nodding of its head while on the ground (Swainson). 
SHakinc PerrycHars. A name for the WOOD-WARBLER. 
(Hett.) 
SHarPreE: The BLACK-HEADED GULL. (Bridlington, 
Yorkshire.) 
SHarp-saw: The GREAT TITMOUSE. (Norfolk.) From its 
“ saw-sharpening ” notes. 
SHARP-TAILED Duck. Montagu gives this as a provincial 
name for the LONG-TAILED DUCK. 
