NAMES OF BRITISH BIRDS* 
*25 
)3cribers. Those of the names of which I have not been able to discover the 
meaning—if indeed there be any meaning in them—I have left in statu quo^ and 
shall be glad if any of your correspondents can supply my lack of knowledge.— 
The Latin names are mostly from vaj Guide to an Arrangement of British Birds. 
I am, Sir, &c. 
Francis Orpen Morris. 
Accipiter. [[From accipio, to take or receive.—^E d.] Hawk. 
----- Fringillarius. — Fringilla, a Finch. Finches and other small birds 
being generally the prey of this species of ITawk. Sparrow Hawk. 
Astur.—^Qui est ex Asturia. One from Asturia, Castile, in Spain, the supposed 
original habitat of this bird. Gossak. 
- - palumbarius. — Palumba^ a Dove, often preyed on by this species. 
Rock Gossak. 
Pernis. (incorrectly written for XItb^vis) a rapacious bird, supposed to 
be the Honey buzzard. Pern. 
-- apivorus. — Apis^ a Bee, and voro^ to devour. Honey Pern. 
Buteo. Buzzard. 
-- lagopus. a Hare, and noy?, a foot. Rough-legged Buzzard. 
-- vulgaris. Common. Common Buzzard. 
Pandion. 
--- haliaetus. aX?,the sea and ahrov, an Eagle. White-headed Osprey’ 
Aquila. [[Supposed to be from aquilus., dark, sunburnt.— Ed.[] Eagle. 
- albicilla.—Alba^ white, and cilia, a tail. White-tailed Eagle. 
— -- chrysdetus. X^va-os gold, and ccibtov, an Eagle. Golden Eagle. 
Falco. [Fiomfalco, to cut, or prune, with a hook.— Ed.] Falcon, 
- Islandicus. Of or belonging to Iceland. 
— - peregrinus. A foreigner, stranger, or alien. Peregrine Falcon. 
- subbuteo. A diminutive of Buteo, the Buzzard. Hobby Falcon. 
-— rufipes. Red-footed, rufus, red, and pes, a foot. Orange-legged Falcon. 
-- (Bsalon. A bird supposed to be the Merlin of the ancients. Merlin 
Falcon. 
— -- Unnunculus. Supposed to be the Kestril of old authors. Kestril 
Falcon. 
Milms. Kite. 
- regalis. Royal. Cinereous Kite. 
Circus. —Kffjcoy, a species of Hawk, supposed to be of this kind ; perhaps from 
its beating the ground in circles; another meaning of the word K/pxoy. 
Harrier. 
We have added the English names, in order that the species may he recognised by all.—En, 
No. 7, Vol. II, E 
