Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/220

188 shot it. It proved to be an immature example of the Water Pipit (Anthus spipoletta), and was exhibited by Mr. Howard Saunders at a meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club on Jan. 19th last.— (Penrhyndeudraeth, Merionethshire, North Wales).

"Horse-match," a name for the Red-backed Shrike.—One of the least-known local English names of the Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) is "Horse-match." The "match" is clearly closely connected with one of the names of the Wheatear, although possibly it may not be cognate with it. A German name for the Wheatear is "Steinschmatzer," and we have the same name in use among early English authors, viz. "Fallow Smich"; Merrett (1667) indeed goes closer still to it with "Smatch." "Steinschmatzer" is of course rendered by the English name "Stone Chacker."

The Shrike may have been called a "match" from its resemblance to the Wheatear in the matter of a conspicuous tail and tail movement; or it may have been so called because it also has a loud chacking note. The prefix "Horse," I believe, often merely signifies a larger or a coarser sort of a particular thing. In this case it might allude to the fact that the Shrike appears considerably larger than the ordinary "Smatch," although there is actually only about an inch difference in the length of the two birds. It would be interesting to know in what parts of England this curious name is in use. Personally, I have only met with it on the borders of Oxfordshire and South Northamptonshire; but a correspondent informed me that it is used in South Warwickshire, which is, however, practically the same district.— (Bloxham, Oxon).

Hawfinch near Reigate Railway Station.—I observed a Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) to-day (March 1st, 1898) in the kitchen garden of a villa not three hundred yards away from Reigate Station, South Eastern Railway. If one escaped from confinement it at least appeared to have full use of its wings, &c. It is generally considered a shy bird, although bold enough in its attacks on green peas.— (2, Worcester Terrace, Reigate, Surrey).

Hybrid Finches at the Crystal Palace Show.—There was a remarkable exhibition of hybrid British Finches at the show held last February at the Crystal Palace, no fewer than thirty birds being figured in the catalogue. The exhibits included such rare hybrids as the Siskin and Greenfinch and the Linnet and Redpoll, and also a most beautiful series of crosses between the Goldfinch and Bullfinch. This cross has never, I believe, occurred in a wild state, but is the most popular of all with breeders for exhibition. Descriptions in catalogues are often very loose, and there is no doubt that exhibitors sometimes erroneously describe hybrids of which the male parent is a Goldfinch as crosses between the "Bullfinch and Goldfinch." Some