188 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
shot it.. It proved to be an immature example of the Water Pipit (Anthus 
spipoletta), and was exhibited by Mr. Howard Saunders at a meeting of the 
British Ornithologists’ Club on Jan. 19th Jast—G. H. Caton HatcuH 
(Penrhyndeudraeth, Merionethshire, North Wales). 
“ Horse-match,” a name for the Red-backed Shrike,— One of the | 
least-kndwn local English names of the Red-backed Shrike (Lantus collurio) 
is ‘ Horse-match.” The “match” is clearly closely connected with one of — 
the names of the Wheatear, although possibly it may not be cognate with — 
it. A German name for the Wheatear is ‘“ Steinschmatzer,” and we have — 
the same name in use among early English authors, viz. “ Fallow Smich”’; 
Merrett (1667) indeed goes closer still to it with “Smatch.” “ Stein- 
schmatzer” is of course rendered by the English name ‘ Stone Chacker.” 
The Shrike may have been called a “match” from its resemblance to the 
Wheatear in the matter of a conspicuous tail and tail movement; or it 
may have been so called because it also has a loud chacking note. The 
prefix “‘ Horse,” I believe, often merely signifies a larger or a coarser sort 
of a particular thing. In this case it might allude to the fact that the 
Shrike appears considerably larger than the ordinary “‘ Smatch,” although 
there is actually only about an inch difference in the length of the two 
birds. It would be interesting to know in what parts of England this 
curious name is in use. Personally, I have only met with it on the borders © 
of Oxfordshire and South Northamptonshire; but a correspondent informed 
me that it is used in South Warwickshire, which is, however, practically 
the same district.—O. V. Apiin (Bloxham, Oxon). 
Se eee 
Hawfinch near Reigate Railway Station.—I observed a Hawfinch 
(Coccothraustes coccothraustes) to-day (March 1st, 1898) in the kitchen 
garden of a villa not three hundred yards away from Reigate Station, South - 
Eastern Railway. If one escaped from confinement it at least appeared to 
have full use of its wings, &c. It is generally considered a shy bird, 
although bold enough in its attacks on green peas.—ALFreD T. ComBER 
(2, Worcester Terrace, Reigate, Surrey). 
Hybrid Finches at the Crystal Palace Show.—There was a remark- 
able exhibition of hybrid British Finches at the show held last February at 
the Crystal Palace, no fewer than thirty birds being figured in the catalogue. 
The exhibits included such rare hybrids as the Siskin and Greenfinch and 
the Linnet and Redpoll, and also a most beautiful series of crosses between 
the Goldfinch and Bullfinch. This cross has never, I believe, occurred in 
a wild state, but is the most popular of all with breeders for exhibition. 
Descriptions in catalogues are often very loose, and there is no doubt that — 
exhibitors sometimes erroneously describe hybrids of which the male parent — 
is a Goldfinch as crosses between the “ Bullfinch and Goldfinch.” Some — 
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