Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 1 (1897).djvu/104

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THE ZOOLOGIST.

Golden Plover, Charadrius pluvialis. *Ushag reaisht, reeaisht, or reeast (M.S.D. and Cr.)=Bird of the waste. *Fedjag (pr. Fashag) reeast (Cr. and M.S.D.)=Whistler of the waste; Feddag (M.S.D.). Cf. Sc. Gael. Feadag, Feadag-bhuidhe; I. Feudog. See Blackbird, supra. Some Manx people say Ushag-reeast is applied to some smaller bird, perhaps the Redwing or Snow Bunting; but the legend, with its imitation of the Plover's well-known cry, cannot apply to either of these. Mr. Moore says this is also the "little red bird of the black turf-ground" in the ballad on pp. 149, 150 of 'Manx Folk-lore'; but the description seems very inappropriate.

Ringed Plover, Ægialitis hiaticula. (Miller or Millard; Sand-lark; Sea-lark; this and other small shore-birds.) I do not know the etymology of the first two names; perhaps simply English "Miller" from the bird's colouring. Can it have any connection with Norse "Sandmyla" (Holmgren, 'Skan. Foglar,' ii. 766)?

Lapwing, Vanellus cristatus, (Peewit.) *Eairkan (M.S.D.); Earkan (Cr.). The "Lapwing" of Lev. xi. 19 is also so rendered in the Manx Bible. Derived from Eairk, "a horn." Cf. Sc. Gael. Adhareag-luachrach, Adharean-luachrach; I. Adhairein; Welsh Conchwiglan; Bret. Kernigel. There is a hill-farm in Lezayre called Parknearkin or Park-ny-earkan; and Mr. Moore derives from the bird's name also the appellation of a shore in Maughold, Traie ny Earkan or Earaghyn, which I have heard locally explained in the same way; but a different and perhaps more likely derivation is given in 'Yn Lioar Manninagh,' vol. i. part ii. p. 75.

Oystercatcher, Hæmatopus ostralegus. *Garey-vreck; *Garee-breck (Cr.); *Bridgeen. Vreek=Pied. For the meaning of Garey, see 'Fauna of the Outer Hebrides,' p. 117, where the equivalent Gearra is said to be applied to various animals and birds. In the same volume Gearra-breac is given as a name for the Black Guillemot (Uria grylle). Cf. Sc. Gael. Bridean, Gillebride; I. Gillebride.

Snipe, Gallinago cœlestis. *Coayr-heddagh (M.S.D.); Coar-chrattagh (Cr.); two attempts at spelling the same sounds. *Coarny-heddagh. Cf. Sc. Gael. Gobhar Athar; I. Gobhar-oidche; German Himmelziege; French Chèvre céleste, &c. Coar (Crane) in the Manx names should doubtless be Goar (Goat).