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Revieiv.



for the comparatively short-winged Kestrels, who were as active as

cats, the liveliest of the lively, and ever on the look-out for mischief :

but the Hobby, a fine powerful female in perfect feather, found no

scope for her long wings in a ten-foot-high aviary. Such birds do

not naturally hop and walk about ; they are creatures of the air,

and need an abundance of space. Certainly this is easier talked of

than put into practice—but why put the saddle on the wrong horse !

My London Hobby seemed to be so dis-spirited by her (to her)

cramped surroundings that, at feeding time, I often had to shut her

up by herself, for other birds, notably the Kestrels, would swoop and

snatch away the food, even out of her very beak.


In October, 1898, a really nice pair of Hobbies was exhibited

at a Crystal Palace Bird Show. Even to this day I remember the

force I had to put upon myself to keep my £4 in my pocket and

leave the hawks behind, even although, by that time, I had ceased

to keep birds of prey, either diurnal or nocturnal—so tenacious are

the bands of old associations.



REVIEW.


A DICTIONARY OF ENGLISH AND FOLK NAMES

OF BRITISH BIRDS. *


An interesting work, which, including variations of spelling,

contains nearly 5000 names.


English 5ooZc-names are gathered from past authors giving

the history and first usage of the accepted names of species, and also

the provincial, local, and dialect names in use now or formerly in the

British Isles. The accepted English names are printed in capitals,

whilst the names of introduced or doubtful species are in italics.


We find the Siskin is called Aberdevine, etc. The Bullfinch,

“ Hoop ” (it is known under that name in Cornwall).


Avocet is derived from Avocetta, probably meaning a graceful

little bird, etc., etc.



* A Dictionary of English and Folk Names of British Birds with their

History, meaning and first usage ; and the Folk-lore, Weather-lore, Legends, etc.

relating to the more familiar species, by H. KlRKE SWANN.


[W t ITHERBY & CO., 326, High Holborn, London, W.C., 1913].



