Sy Ase iat ig IE A DM the 8s ae Bw 
308 
BIRD-NAMES IN USE AT WEST AYTON, YORKSHIRE. 
Rev. W. C. vied 
My attention was first drawn’ to the bird-names in use at this 
village by hearing a boy call a Chaffinch a ‘Weetie.’ Soon after 
I heard some one express a desire to cage a nest.of ‘ Redcaps.’ 
It was not until a Redcap was pointed out to me on a whin-bush | 
that I discovered that Redcaps are Goldfinches. The nomencla- 
ture of the Tits and Wrens was a puzzling problem. I eventually 
made out that the Common Wren is called a ‘Tomtit,’ a Blue Tit is 
a ‘Billy-biter,’ and a Great Tit is a ‘Blackcap.’ The word ‘Wren’ 
is reserved exclusively for the Golden-crested Wren. Most people 
are accustomed to call young Lhrushes; Throstles. But here the 
Song-Thrush is always a ‘Throstle.’ A ‘Thrush’ is a Missel- 
Thrush. Yellow-Hammers are very appropriately termed 
‘Goldies.’”. Rooks are ‘Crows,’ and Starlings are ‘Gypies’ or 
Gyp-Starlings. In the severe weather we experienced at the 
beginning of 1895, a man told me he had shot two ‘French 
Linnets.’ I asked to see them, and recognised the Brambling 
or Mountain Finch. Shortly after I met with a large flock of 
these birds in Forge Valley. As these birds come to us from 
the north, it is very singular that they should be called ‘ French 
Linnets,’ except that there is a general tendency to call any- 
thing that is foreign, French. Redpoles are called ‘Chevy 
Linnets.’ Perhaps some etymologist can explain the word. 
When I first came to reside in this village, as darkness was 
gathering in at the close of the long May evenings, I often 
wondered what bird produced the loud piping notes as it flew 
up and down the river, which seemed to grow more and more — 
piercing as the darkness deepened. And one morning, when 
I was sleepless, on opening the window about two a.m., I heard — a 
the birds already piping when the dawn had hardly begun Oe 
break. On inquiry, I was told the birds were ‘Sand-snipes.’ ea 
When afterwards I saw them flying up and down the river ie 
broad daylight, I recognised them as Sandpipers 
Every spring one or two pairs of Dippers Gira by the water- 
side in Forge Valley. The people here call them ‘ Water Ouzels.’ — 
Plovers are called ‘Teidifits.’. I imagine the word alludes to the 
tuft on the bird’s head, and is a dialectic form analogous with 
=m for tough, or beéf for bough. 
ame given to the Redstart. Herons are ‘Heron-sews.’ 
are ‘ Jenny-Ulets.’ 
This is a complete list of the local bird-names I fave 
noticed. It would be intefesting if someone residing in the 
Western ae of Yorkshire would furnish a nein list. 
ait 
