Correspondence.



251



should not strive to maintain the names of our favourite birds intact : especially

as some of these offensive abbreviations have originated amongst men who have

not exactly received a University education, to put it mildly !


In advertisements of birds too, one often reads names which have plainly

been invented by dealers, simply because they are ignorant of the original ones ;

are we to adopt them because amongst a certain class they may become


I ‘ popular ? ’ ’


It is bad enough to hear people ask one if one has seen the “ Panto,”

meaning Pantomine, etc., etc. One feels inclined to say ‘‘I haven’t been to

the Zoo lately, I suppose a Panto is some new animal there.”


And, also, if birds are to have their names clipped, why not people ?

Montgomery might as well become “ Gomery ” ; and no doubt one will soon

hear of 11 The Bis ” instead of the Ibis, the “ Raffe ” in lieu of the Giraffe, etc.

Once begin, there is no reason and no rule for stopping.


Two ladies were asked the other day whether they thought the gales were

decreasing in England—it was a test question—and they answered, [it was

towards the end of March] 11 Surely there have been an unusual number this

year.” ‘‘ But,” was the answer, “ they have not yet arrived.” Their response

was a stare of astonishment, and when it was explained that “Gales ” signified


II Nightingales ”—Tableau !


Shall we talk of ‘ ‘ Bulls ’ ’ for Bullfinches ; ‘ ‘ Chaffs ’ ’ for Chaffinches,

etc., etc. ? Why not? Such abbreviations as are apparently in vogue amongst

bird-catchers and the like, are not merely incorrect; they are worse; they are

‘‘common.” H.D.A.



NOTES FROM GIBRALTAR.


Miss CICELY DORRIEN-SmiTH, writing in May from Gibraltar, says :—

“ There are lots of birds here and they are so nice and tame, as they are pro¬

tected, and sing all day. There are plenty of Blue Thrushes. When I was

sketching on the Mediterranean side of the Rock, there was one about thirty

yards from me, sitting on a stone and singing away for all he was worth, for a

long time. I also saw two on an old wall, both singing hard, with their body

feathers all puffed out. Another day, I saw a dozen, or more.


There are two Peregrine’s nests on the Rock, one on the east, the other on

the west side.


I also saw two Ospreys one day, and a Black Chat. They say there are a

good many of the latter about.


I went over to the Spanish mainland one afternoon, and there the Night¬

ingales were singing everywhere, and I also saw a beautiful male Golden Oriole,

as well as Kites, Eagles, and Vultures.”



