Oxfordshire.— I have collected the following list of local names during a residence of some years in Oxfordshire: —
Reed Bunting. Reed Sparrow.
Chaffinch. Peafinch.
Chiffchaff and Willow Wren. Feather- bed.
Crow. Gor Crow.
Creeper. Tree Clipper.
Little Grebe. Dabchick.
Hedgesparrow. Billy.
Jay. Jay-pie.
Kestrel. Bloodhawk.
Lapwing. Peewit.
Linnet. Furze Linnet.
Meadow Pipit. Titlark.
Quail. Quick-me-dick.
Redstart. Redtail.
Missel Thrush. Norman Thrush.
Song Thrush. Whistling Thrush.
Pied Wagtail. Dish-washer.
Sedge Warbler, Greater and Lesser Whitethroat. Haytit.
Green Woodpecker. Eccle.
Whenever any Quail's eggs were obtained by the villagers, they called them "Quick-me-dick's," but 1 never could learn any derivation for the word.* The Kestrel is called a " Blood-hawk," owing to the blood-red colour of its eggs.— C. Matthew Prior (Bedford).
Westmoreland.— In compliance with the request of the Editor, for provincial names, I send a list of some which are current in Westmoreland : —
Mistle Thrush. Chercock.
Dipper. Water Crow or Bessy Doucker.
Whinchat. Gorschat.
Wheatear. Stonechat.
Whitethroat. Streasmear.
Pied Wagtail. Watty.
Meadow Pipit. Ling-bird.
Yellow Bunting. Bessy Blakeling.
Chaffinch. Spink.
Goldfinch. Flinch.
Siskin. Aberdavine.
Linnet. Gray or Graybird.
Starling. Shepster.
Raven. Corby.
Carrion Crow. Doupe or Black-neb.
Rook. Crà.
Magpie. Piet.
Swift. Devilin.
Bing Dove. Cushat.
Lapwing. Tuet.
Heron. Crane.
Dunlin. Sand-mouse or Sea-snipe.
Common Sandpiper. Willy Wicket.
Landrail. Laker-hen.
Scoter. Loucker.
Golden-eye. Whiteside.
Want of discrimination is frequently the cause of many different species being called by the same name. Thus, the Garden Warbler, Common Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat, in West- moreland, are all called "Streasmear"; the Blackcap, Great Tit, Cole Tit, Marsh Tit and Black-headed Bunting are indiscriminately termed "Blackcaps." The word "Diver" is still more compre- hensive, being bestowed on the Scaup, Pochard, Tufted Duck, and all the species of Merganser, Grebe, and Diver proper, i.e., Colymbus. — Thomas Gough (Arnbarrow, Milnthorpe).
- The local name " Quick-me-dick" for the Quail is no doubt an imitation of the
trisyllabic note of this bird. — Ed.
