TWELFTH CENTURY 47 
with a pretty good description of that species, and describing 
the subsequent miracle, the monk goes on to speak of “* Lomes,”’ 
with which he appears to have confounded the Eider Duck. 
“Aves ille Beati Cuthberti specialiter nominantur; ab 
anglis vero Lomes vocantur; ab Saxonibus autem et qui 
Frisiam incolunt Hires dicuntur.” Loon or Loom is understood 
to mean a bird which is awkward on land, and deficient in 
walking powers. Both these names have been applied to 
the Divers, but the reference here is most likely to the 
Guillemot, which no doubt was then, as now, very abundant 
on the Farne Islands. 
The word “ Eires”’ is not so plain, but is perhaps synony- 
mous with Alk = an auk. Professor Skeat has pointed out 
that it can hardly mean Eider Ducks in this passage,* as 
the editor of Reginald’s Chronicle supposes,} abundant as 
is that species on the coast of Northumberland. It may be 
remarked also that Aron or Arron, a word which might be 
latinised as Eire, for it is very similar, is found, as has been 
indicated by Mr. O. V. Aplin, to be a local name for the 
Guillemot in parts of Wales (“‘ Zoologist,” 1902, p. 109). 
Mr. Aplin, who is no doubt right in thinking that it is 
taken from the bird’s cry, also draws attention (7n litt.) to 
the use of Arrie for the Guillemot in Russia, and Airo, which 
is nearly identical, in Portugal—see note by A. C. Smith, 
“This,” 1868, p. 457. 
* “ Notes and Queries,” 1912, p. 115. 
+ Tic., p. 332. 
