Welsh Journals

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MORE WELSH BIRD NAMES By THOMAS DAVIES (Addendum to the List previously published in Nature in Wales) IN Vol. 1, Nos. 2, 3 and 4 and Vol. 2. Nos. 1 and 2 of Nature in Wales a list was given of names used in various parts of Wales for some of the common as well as rarer birds. All the names included therein had been found in print or given on good verbal authority. Since then many more names or variants of names have been discovered in books and periodicals. A few, though not seen in print, have been reported as being in use in certain parts of the country. The spellings have been given as found in print though they do not always conform to modern standards. The existence of so many names and variants of names for a particular bird makes it highly desirable that some authoritative body representing both North and South Wales should prepare a standard list of Welsh bird names. The National Museum of Wales or the Board of Celtic Studies or the University of Wales, assisted by some expert ornithologists, might well sponsor such a project. The great interest taken in various aspects of nature, as is shown by the sales of books thereon and the keen following of nature programmes in sound radio and television, emphasises the urgency of this matter. Local names and popular names are common in England as well as in Wales, but in English books, and talks arranged by the B.B.C., standard" names are almost universally used so that readers and listeners in all parts of the country know what bird is being referred to. At present in Welsh feature pro- grammes such as Byd Natur, produced in North Wales, names are used which are unfamiliar to listeners in South Wales. For example the name BRAN ARTHUR actually used in Byd Natur would not be understood by the majority of people in South Wales whereas its South Wales equivalent BRAN BIG-GOCH or BRAN GOESGOCH (Ghough in English) would. A mere glance at some of the variants is enough to show that certain names are more apt than others. But often there is little to choose between some names. For example BRAN GOESGOCH (RED-LEGGED CROW) and BRAN BIG-GOCH (RED- BEAKED CROW) are equally suitable for the CHOUGH as both names describe a prominent feature of the bird. It is immaterial in such a case which name is chosen so long as one is accepted as the stan- dard" name as recommended by some authoritative body. More- over the adoption of a standard list would help materially to remove a considerable amount of confusion which now is inevitable particularly in cases where the same name is used for entirely different birds.