222 DICTIONARY OF NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 
Spar-Hawk or Spur-Hawk: The SPARROW-HAWK. 
(Aberdeenshire.) 
SPARLIN-FOWL or SPARKLING-FOWL : The GOOSANDER (female). 
The first form occurs in Willughby and the second in 
Pennant, Montagu, etc. 
Sparrow: The HOUSE-SPARROW. From A.Sax. Spearwa, a 
sparrow. Occursin Turner, and is the general English name 
for the species, House-Sparrow being a book-name chiefly. 
SPARROW-HAWK |[No. 249]. Probably from A.Sax. Spearwa 
(Sparrow) and Hafoc (Hawk), Mid. Eng. Hauk. The 
name ‘“ Sparrow-Hawk ”’ occurs in Merrett’s Pinax (1667), 
where it is called Accipiter fringillarius et nisus, after Aldro- 
vandus (pp. 345-7). Turner’s “sparhauc”’ is the GOS- 
HAWK. In falconry the name Sparrow-Hawk was formerly 
used to denote the female, the male being termed ‘‘ Musket ” 
or Musquet Hawk (q.v.). 
Sparrow Own. A name for the LITTLE OWL. (Hett.) 
SparvE: The HEDGE-SPARROW. (West Cornwall.) From 
A.Sax. spearwa, a sparrow. 
SpeAR Sparrow. The female REED-BUNTING is so called 
in Hampshire. (Swainson.) 
Spear WicEon: The RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. (co. 
Kerry.) 
SPEASE or SPEETHE: The KNOT. (Holy Island.) Also applied 
there to the BAR-TAILED GODWIT. It originates from 
the bird’s wheezy note when on the ground. 
Specut or WopspPEcHT. Turner gives this as the English name 
of a Woodpecker, apparently the LESSER SPOTTED 
WOODPECKER. (See Speicht.) 
SPECKLED Dick: The GOLDFINCH. (Shropshire.) 
SpecKLED Diver or Loon: The RED-THROATED DIVER. 
Occurs in Pennant, Latham, etc. Given also as a pro- 
vincial name for the BLACK-THROATED DIVER by 
Montagu, who, however, misprints it ‘‘ Speckled Zoon.” 
SpEcTACLED GoosE: The GANNET. (Provincial.) From the 
bare circle of skin surrounding the eye. 
SPEEL-THE-TREE. A name for the TREECREEPER.  (Hett.) 
SpPEICHT or SPEIGHT (corrupted also to Spite as in Wood-Spite) : 
The GREEN WOODPECKER generally. From Ger. 
Specht. 
SPEIKINTARES : The COMMON TERN. (Ross-shire.) 
SpriR sHE’AG. A Gaelic name for the SPARROW-HAWK. 
The latter word is properly written seabhag (=a hawk). 
