Birds of Guernsey (1879): And the Neighbouring Islands: Alderney, Sark, Jethou, Herm; Being a Small Contribution to the Ornitholony of the Channel Islands — John Shaqi
Birds of Guernsey (1879): And the Neighbouring Islands: Alderney, Sark, Jethou, Herm; Being a Small Contribution to the Ornitholony of the Channel IslandsSmith, Cecil
History
Birds of Guernsey (1879): And the Neighbouring Islands: Alderney, Sark, Jethou, Herm; Being a Small Contribution to the Ornitholony of the Channel Islands
Smith, Cecil
Birds -- Channel Islands
All the Guernsey Dippers I have seen, including the two in the Museum,
which are probably Guernsey-killed, have been the common form, _Cinclus_
_aquations_. The dark-breasted form, _Cinclus melanogaster_, may occur
as an occasional wanderer, though the Channel Islands are somewhat out
of its usual range. There being no trout or salmon to be protected in
Guernsey, the Dipper has not to dread the persecution of wretched
keepers who falsely imagine that it must live entirely by the
destruction of salmon and trout ova, though the contrary has been proved
over and over again.
Professor Ansted includes the Dipper in his list, but only marks it as
occurring in Guernsey.
22. MISTLETOE THRUSH. _Turdus viscivorus_, Linnaeus. French, "Merle
Draine," "Grive Draine."--I quite agree with the remarks made by
Professor Newton, in his edition of 'Yarrell,' as to the proper English
name of the present species, and that it ought to be called the
Mistletoe Thrush. I am afraid, however, that the shorter appellation of
Missel Thrush will stick to this bird in spite of all attempts to the
contrary. In Guernsey the local name of the Mistletoe Thrush is "Geai,"
by which name Mr. Métivier mentions it in his 'Dictionary of Guernsey
and Norman French.' He also adds that the Jay does not exist in this
Island. This is to a certain extent confirmed by Mr. MacCulloch, who
says he is very doubtful as to the occurrence of the Jay in the Island,
and adds that the local name for the Mistletoe Thrush is "Geai." Mr.
Gallienne, in a note to Professor Ansted's list, confirms the scarcity
of the Jay, as he says the Rook and the Jay are rarely seen here,
although they are indigenous to Jersey. The local name "Geai" may
perhaps have misled him as to the occasional appearance of the Jay. I
have never seen a real Jay in Guernsey myself.
As far as I am able to judge from occasional visits to the Island for
the last thirty years the Mistletoe Thrush has greatly increased in
numbers in Guernsey, especially within the last few years, and Mr.
MacCulloch and others who are resident in the Island quite agree with me
in this. I do not think its numbers are much increased at any time of
year by migrants, though a few foreigners may arrive in the autumn, at
which time of year considerable numbers of Mistletoe Thrushes are
brought into the Guernsey market, where they may be seen hanging in
bunches with Common Thrushes, Redwings, Blackbirds, Fieldfares,
Starlings, and an occasional Ring Ouzel. Fieldfares and Mistletoe
Thrushes usually sell at fourpence each, the rest at fourpence a couple.
Professor Ansted mentions it in his list, but confines it to Guernsey
and Sark. This is certainly not now the case, as I have seen it nearly
as numerous in Alderney and Herm as any of the other Islands. There is a
specimen in the Museum.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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