Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 2 (1878).djvu/410

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386
THE ZOOLOGIST

that my imperfect list may elicit a more complete one by way of correction. — W.H. Heaton (Meadow Croft, Reigate).


Norfolk: additional Local Names. — The Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society have just published the fourth part of the second volume of their ' Transactions,' in which I find the following Norfolk names of birds, not included in my recently published list (pp. 287—290):—

Avocet. Shoe-awl.

Spotted Crake. Quail.

Tufted Duck. Golden-eye; Arp.

Teal. Crick.

Garganey. Summer Crick.

Female Goldeneye. Little Rattlewing (the name of "Rattlewing" only being applied to the male bird).

The different species of Merganser. Sawyer.

These names are contained in two letters written by the late Rev. S. Girdlestone, of Great Yarmouth, in 1824 and 1829?— J.H. Gurney (Northrepps Hall).


Oxfordshire: additional Local Names. — Since 1 last wrote to you on the subject of local names of animals in Oxfordshire (p. 291), 1 have been enabled, chiefly by a perusal of Beesley's 'History of Banbury,' published in 1841, to gain some more particulars. The work has a capital flora of the district, and a few pages on the fauna.

Polecat. Fitchet (Beesley).

Mole. Want* (Beesley).

Common Shrew. Hardy Mouse (Beesley).

Field Vole [A. agrestis). Short-tailed Mouse; Meadow Mouse.

Little Grebe. Didapper; didabber. Shakspeare wrote, "Like a dive- dapper peering through a wave"; so that the name, with a slight alteration, still remains.

Greenfinch. Green Linnet.

Heron. Hern ; Mollhern.

Landrail. Corn Crake.

Red-legged Partridge. Frenchman : French Partridge.

Long-tailed Titmouse. Bum-barrel.

Wryneck. Cuckoo 's-mate.

Ten-spined Stickleback. Jack Ban- nell (Beesley).

Rudd. Red-eye; Finscale (Beesley).

I am much obliged to the Editor for the derivation of the name "Quick-me-dick," which no doubt is correct. The term "Wet-my-lip," found in use in West Norfolk by Mr. Gurney, is additional evidence of this. I believe several trisyllabic words are used, both in England and on the Continent, to designate the Quail's note. — C. Matthew Prior (The Avenue, Bedford).


Want = Mole. Amongst the Sloane MSS., No. 2584, is a receipt "for to take wontis," Still in use. — Halliwell's 'Dict. Arch, and Prov. Words,' p. 915.