174 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



December last. In this he states that the name for the Eagle, 

 which is trained for hawking by the Kirghis and Bashkyris, is 

 variously spelled Berkute or Bearcoote ; in Eussia, Berkute. In 

 Eastern Turkey it is Birgut and Bar gut, whilst in Persian it is 

 Bargut and Bargud. The similarity to the Welsh Barcud or 

 Barcit is certainly very remarkable; and it is probably very 

 ancient Welsh, which has been handed down from the earliest 

 times, when possibly this name was generally applied to all large 

 birds of prey in the semi-civilised world. From Mr. Harting's 

 researches it would appear that the term is fairly general in Asia, 

 and unknown in Europe, except where introduced into Eussia 

 and Turkey, until Brittany is reached; then to be known in 

 Cornwall ; and finally, in all its purity, in Wales. 



The Welsh for Eagle is Eryr ; in Cornish and Breton, Er. 

 Williams recognises three kinds, viz., Eryr auraidd, the Golden 

 Eagle; Eryr du, the Black Eagle; and Eryr gynffon wyn, 

 the White-tailed Eagle. He adds that many Eagles were to be 

 seen in Wales in his generation (1826). One was killed in 1776 

 (he does not specify the species, but probably a Golden Eagle), 

 which he saw himself in a place called Llansanwr, near Cow- 

 bridge, Glamorganshire. It was shot in the act of killing a lamb, 

 but its wing being only broken, it nearly killed a dog before 

 it was despatched. 



There is a place in North Wales, he says (which, however, 

 he does not specify), called " The Eagles' Bocks," where these 

 birds used to breed, and were still to be seen there in 1826. 



The Eagle, however, was never very common in Wales, as 

 may be surmised from the above remarks ; and this is borne out 

 by the fact that, so far as I know, we have no rock or crag that 

 bears its name in South Wales ; although we have " The 

 Beaver's Gave" on the Towy, and " The Wolf's Leap" on the 

 Irvon, indicating that in bygone days both these animals inhabited 

 this country. 



The Buzzard in Welsh is called Boda, plural Bodaod, and this 

 name is in general use in Breconshire, and in Carmarthenshire ; 

 sometimes, though rarely, the word Bwncath is used, but this is 

 applied to any large bird, such as Buzzard, or even Bittern. 



The Peregrine Falcon, or Hunting Falcon, is Hebog ; a 

 Falconer is Hebogydd, i.e., one who hunts with Hawks. Some- 

 times Gwalch is given for Hawk, and Gwalchur, a Hawker, i.e., a 



