Local Names of British Birds

Abstract

INEPTITUDE for the performance of a literary task has long been held by some publishers to be no bar to a man's undertaking it; but we believe that hitherto this opinion has not been shared by publishing Societies. These bodies may not always have been fortunate in the selection of editors or authors; but in a general way it may be asserted that a grave mistake is seldom made. Such a mistake, however, it is our unhappy lot now to record, and it is the more marked in that it is common to two of them—the English Dialect Society and the Folk-Lore Society. Most of the publications of the former are everywhere recognized as possessing high value—some naturally are better than others; but each of them has reflected credit upon the Committee of that Society, formed as it is of some of the best English scholars, and its work has undeniably been of great use. With the publications of the latter the present writer must avow himself inadequately acquainted, though he is willing to accord to them a reputation not inferior to that which those of the sister Society enjoy. By what perverse fate, then, these two Societies have combined to intrust a subject so exceedingly interesting, and of which it was possible to make so much, as the “Provincial Names and Folk-Lore of British Birds,” to a gentleman whose know ledge of it is obviously inadequate, is beyond the re viewer's power to explain. Perhaps it may be only one of those well-known results of divided responsibility which are almost invariably exhibited in statesmanship, general ship, and editorship. A more unsatisfactory work than that of which the double title stands above has seldom appeared on the counter of a careless publisher, and of this fact the Committee of the English Dialect Society seems, when too late, to have become aware; since its thirteenth Report, read at the annual meeting on February 14 last, contains what cannot be looked upon as otherwise than an apology for the course into which it was led. Here we read—

Provincial Names and Folk-Lore of British Birds.

By the Rev. Charles Swainson, M.A. Published for the English Dialect Society. (London, 1885 [sic ]).

The Folk-Lore and Provincial Names of British Birds.

By the Rev. Charles Swainson. Published for the Folk-Lore Society. (London, 1886.)