this bird by the names of Richard and Robin. "Agus Robin 'g a bheusadh Air a' ghéig os a chionn, Gur glan gall-fheadan Richard A' seinn nan cuisleannan grinn." And in "The Sugar Brook," "Allt-an-t Siucair "Bha Richard 's Robin bru-dhearg Ri seinn, 's fear dhiubh 'n a bhéus." Macintyre again uses Bru-dhearg, in Coire-Cheathaich. He says:"An druid 's an bru-dhearg, le móran uinich, Ri ceileir sunntach bu shiubhlach rann." I have never heard the name Nigidh, for the robin, anywhere in common use, but it is given in the Highland Society's Dictionary. The common name in Perthshire is Roban-roid. Most writers on birds have taken notice of the many wonderful places in which this bird will sometime build its nest. I remember, when a boy, preserving as a curiosity for several years a robin's nest which was actually built inside the ribs of a dried skeleton of a buzzard hawk, which the keepers had nailed to the back wall of a stable many years before. The impudent bird reared its young brood in that strange nesting place to the astonishment of the natives. Had that hawk known the fate that was before it, it might well say with Napoleon that there was only one step between the sublime and the ridiculous. BLUE-THROATED WARBLER. Latin-Phoenicura Suecica. Gaelic-Ceileiriche, Oranaiche. REDSTART. Latin-Phœnicura ruticilla. Gaelic-Ceann-dearg, Ceann-dheargan, Earr-dhearg, Ton-dhearg. Welsh-Rhonell goch. STONE-CHAT. Latin-Saxicola rubicola. Gaelic-Cloichearan, Clacharan (Grey). Welsh-Clochder y cerrig. Sheriff Nicolson gives the following old Lismore saying, which, he adds, is suggestive of the devolopment theory:-"Cloicheirean spagach, ogha na muile-máig."--The waddling stonechat, the frog's grand-child. WHIN-CHAT. Latin-Saxicola rubetra. Gaelic-Gochdan, Gochcan. WelshClochder yr eithin. WHEATEAR. Latin-Saxicola ananthe. Gaelic--Cloichearan, Bru-gheal, Crithachan, Bogachan. Welsh-Tinwyn y cerrig. This bird no doubt got its two last Gaelic names from its constant habit of shaking or quivering its tail. Grey gives the following old Hebridean superstition about this bird:-"There is a very curious superstition prevalent in North and South Uist regarding the bird on its arrival. When seen for the first time in the season, the natives are quite unhappy if it should happen to be perched on a rock or a stone-such a circumstance, as they say, being a sure sign of evil in prospect; but should the bird be seen perched on a bit of turf, it is looked upon as a happy omen." SEDGE WARBLER. Latin-Salicaria phragmitis. Gaelic-Glas-eun, Uiseag-oidhche. Welsh-Hedydd yr helyg. This bird got its Gaelic name-Uiseng-oidhche, Night-lark from its well-known habit of singing all through the night, which makes so many people mistake it for the nightingale. NIGHTINGALE. Latin-Philomela Luscinia. Gaelic-Spideag, Beul-binn, Ros-anceol. Welsh-Eos. The first Gaelic name is that given by Alex. Macdonald in his vocabulary, also in the Highland Society's Dictionary, which also gives the second name— -Beul-binn, sweet mouth; the third is that given by Logan in his Scottish Gael. He says "The Nightingale, which has now forsaken the northern part of the island, is supposed to have once frequented the woods of Scotland. Its name in Gaelic is beautifully expressive of the sweetness of its song and the character of the bird. In Ros-an-ceol, the rose music, the melody is put for the melodist, the former being heard when the latter is unseen.' ,, Latin-Curruca atricapilla. BLACKCAP. Gaelic-Ceann-dubh. Penddu 'r brwyn. WHITE-THROAT. Latin--Curruca cinerea. Gaelic Gealan-coille. gwddfgwyn. WILLOW WREN. Latin-Sylvia trochilus. Gaelic-Crionag-ghiubhais. Latin GOLDEN CRESTED WREN. Gaelic Dreathan-ceann-bhuidhe, Crionag-bhuidhe, Bigein. GREAT TITMOUSE. Latin-Parus major. Gaelic--Currag-bhain-tighearna (the lady's nightcap). Welsh - Y Beuloyn fwyaf. BLUE TITMOUSE. Latin-Parus caeruleas. Gaelic-Cailleachay-cheann-yhorm, An Snoileun (Grey). Welsh-Y Lleian. COLE, TITMOUSE, OR BLACKCAP. Latin-Parus ater. Gaelic-Smutag, Cailleachag-cheann-duibh, Welsh-Y Benloyn lygliw. This bird got its name of "Smutag" no doubt from its habit of spitting and puffing, like an enraged cat, when on its nest, in a hole on a wall or tree, if disturbed. MARSH TITMOUSE. Latin - Parus palustris. Gaelic — Ceann-dubh. Welsh y cyrs. LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE. Latin-Parus Condatus. Gaelic-Ciochan, Ciochan-fada, Miontan. Welsh-Y Benloyn gynonhir. Group I. Family VII.-Motacillida. PIED WAGTAIL. Latin-Motacilla Yarrellii. Gaelic-Breac an t-sil, Glaisean seilich. Welsh-Brith y fyches, Tinsigl y gwys. GREY WAGTAIL. Latin-Motacilla boarula. Gaelic-Breacan-ban-tighearna (spotted lady). Welsh-Brith y fyches lwyd. YELLOW, OR RAY'S WAGTAIL. Group 1. Family VIII.-Anthidae. TREE PIPIT. Welsh Latin-Anthus arboreus. Gaelic-Riabhag-choille. MEADOW PIPIT, OR HEATHER LINTIE. Latin-Anthus pratensis. Gaelic-Snathag, Kiabhag-mhonaidh (Grey). Welsh-Hedydd y cae. The first is the Gaelic name always given in Athole to this bird, and a story is told in Strathardle of an English gentleman, who had asked an old shepherd what were the commonest birds on his hill, getting for answer-"Needleag, whistleag, heatheraig-hen, and rashirag-horn;" being the best English the old man could muster for snathag (heather lintie), feadag (golden plover), cearcfhraoich (grouse), and adharcan-luachrach (green plover). Latin-Anthus petrosus. ROCK PIPIT. Gaelic-Gabhagan, Bigein, Glaseun (Grey). Group II-Conirostres. Family 1.-Alaudido. SKY-LARK, OR LAVEROCK. Latin-Alauda rplestris. Gaelic-l'iseag, Riabhag. Hedydd, Uchedydd. Welsh The Douglas said that he would rather hear the laverock sing than the mouse squeak. The old Highlanders expressed the same sentiment in their old proverb-"Cha 'n 'eil deathach 'an tigh na h-uiseige❞—There is no smoke in the lark's house. Sheriff Nicolson says "The bird of most aspiring and happy song has untainted air in its lowly home." As the mavis was honoured as the prima donna of song in the woods and bushy glens, so the lark was reckoned the sweetest songster in the open moors and meadows. As the bard says— "Bidh uiseag air lon Agus smeorach air géig." WOOD LARK. Latin-Alauda arborea. Gaelic-Uiseag-choille, Riabhay-chville (Grey). Welsh-Hedydd y coed. The wood lark is mentioned by Macintyre and amongst his other woodland birds in "Coire cheathaich " "Bha eoin an t-sleibhe 'nan ealtainn gle-ghlan, A chuag, 'sa smeòrach, am barr nan dgan, 'Nuair ghoir an cuannal, gu loinneil guanach, SNOW BUNTING. Latin-Plectrophanes nivalis. Gaelic-Eun-an-t-sneachdai. Welsh -Golfan-yr-eira. COMMON BUNTING. Latin Emberiza miliaria. Gaelic-Gealag-bhuachair, Gealabigein. Welsh-Bras y ddruttan, Bras yr yd. BLACK-HEADED, OR REED BUNTING. Latin-Emberiza schoeniclus. Gaelic-Gealag-dubh-cheannach, Gealag-loin. Welsh-Golfan y cyrs. YELLOW HAMMER. Latin-Emberiza citrinella. Gaelic-Buidheag-bhealaidh, Buidheagbhuachair, Buidhean. Welsh-Llinos felen. This beautiful bird is of very evil repute in the Highlands where it is counted a very meritorious deed to harry its nest, from the old superstition that this bird is badly given to swearing; also that it sang on Calvary during the time of the crucifixion. In the lowlands one of its country names is the yellow yeorling, and the old rhyme says "The Brock, the Toad, and the Yellow Yeorling Get a drap o' the deil's bluid ilka May morning." So that, if it imbibes much of that blood, it will account for its swearing as well as for the evil reputation it has gained. Group II. Family III.—Fringillida. CHAFFINCH. Latin-Fringilla Calebs. Gaelic-Bricean-beithe Breacan-beithe. Welsh-Asgell arian, Winc. Alex. Macdonald in his Allt-an-t Siucair, says— "Am-bricein-beithe 's lub air, MOUNTAIN FINCH. Latin-Fringilla Montifringilla. Gaelic-Lu-eun, Breicean-coarainn. Welsh-Bronrhuddyn y mynydd. |
