Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 2, 1891.djvu/145

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Miscellanea.
137

the upper part of the body, as many Highlanders are in the habit of wearing it," p. 111.

Snow Bunting.—"Numbers are taken at this season [end of April] to the bird-stuffers of Brechin and Kerriemuir, and are called in these towns mountain finches," p. 128.

Yellow Hammer.—"The familiar Yellow Yite or Yeldrin, as it is called in Scotland," p. 130. [Mr. Swainson gives Yellow Yale, but not the second form.]

Hooded Crow.

"The Guil, the Gordon, and the Hooded Craw,
Were the three worst things Murray ever saw.

The gule is a well-known weed infecting growing crops, and Lord Lewis Gordon, who made plundering excursions into Morayshire from the Castle of Rothes, is referred to as the second 'worst thing' in the county." [A variant of lines and explanation as given by Swainson, pp. 178, 179.] "The Gaelic name of this bird is Feannag, which means to skin, or play," p. 178.

Jackdaw, called Kay, p. 183.

Magpie.—"Not more than thirty years ago a worthy Dunbar bailie, whose residence was about two miles distant from the town, was in the habit of turning back if he happened to encounter a pair of magpies on his way either to administer justice or attend divine service," p. 187.

Ringdove.—"Throughout western Scotland the Ring Dove is best known by the name of Cushat," p. 219. [Mr. Swainson gives "Cushat (Berks; Bucks; Craven; Westmoreland). Cruchet (North.)," p. 165; yet certainly Cushat, and not Cruchet, is the usual Scottish name. Cf. Burns—

"On lofty aiks the cushats wail.
And echo cons the doolfu' tale;
The lintwhites in the hazel braes,
Delighted, rival ither's lays."

Bessie and Her Spinning-wheel.

By-the-way, Mr. Swainson attributes, p. 65, lintwhite for linnet only to "Orkney Isles."] "'Wood-pigeons should be kept down, they are so destructive.' 'Very true,' rejoined my friend; 'but that's not the name we gi'e the bird here.' 'And what name do you give it?' I inquired. 'Oh,' said he, apparently unconscious of any parody, 'we just ca' them Timmer doos!'" p. 219. [Timmer = wood. Cf. Burns—