228 DICTIONARY OF NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 
or stick and is thus used (but rarely) to dencte a thrust ; 
but more generally it means the trunk or stump of a tree, 
which seems the correct meaning in this case. The deriva- 
tion of eekle is said to be uncertain. It occurs also as 
ecle and eagual, and is doubtless derived from the Teutonic 
hekelen, to hack or tear asunder. It is, in fact, synonymic 
with hackle and heckle, the latter word being more generally 
heard in elections now, but properly denoting the combing 
of flax. Stock-eekle therefore is literally stump-hacker. 
Hickwall, another name for the species, appears to be 
synonymic. 
Stock Hawk: The PEREGRINE FALCON. (Shetlands.) 
Srockre or StoaerE: The STOCK-DOVE. (Yorkshire.) 
Stock OwL: The EAGLE-OWL. (Orkneys.) Swainson says 
it is “from its habit of pressing against the stem (stock) of 
a tree with unruffled feathers, so as to assimilate itself to 
the stump, and elude notice.” 
Srock WuHavp or Stock WHAAP: The CURLEW. (Provincial.) 
Occurs in Montagu; Saxby gives the first form for the 
Shetlands. 
STONECHAT [No. 176, British Stonechat]. The bird occurs 
in Turner and Merrett as “Stone-chatter”? and in 
Willughby as ‘“‘Stone-smich or Stone-chatter,” the latter 
form existing as late as Pennant (1766). The species is 
rather inappropriately named, as it is found inhabiting 
furze-covered land and neglected meadows. The name is 
also applied, far more appropriately, to the WHEATEAR 
(Northumberland, Yorkshire and Cheshire). 
STONECHECK or STONE-CHECKER: The WHEATEAR. (Pro- 
vincial.) The name occurs as Stonecheck in Merrett (1667) 
and in Turner (1544) as “ Steinchek.” Dunn gives Stone- 
checker as a local name in Orkney and Shetland, and Bolam 
gives it as a Northumbrian name. Stone-check, Stone-chack 
and Stone-chatter are Yorkshire forms. 
STONE-cLINK: The STONECHAT. From its note resembling 
the striking together of two pebbles. 
STONE-CURLEW [No. 352]. The now accepted name of the 
species generally styled by eighteenth century writers 
““Thick-kneed Bustard.” Occurs in Merrett’s list as 
“Stone Curliew ” and in Willughby as ‘‘ Stone-Curlew ” ; 
the species being based on the @dicnemus of Belon. The 
name arises from its frequenting stony upland localities. 
Sronge Curtew: The BAR-TAILED GODWIT. (Cheshire.) 
Also applied to the WHIMBREL (Montagu). 
