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by H. Kirke Swann (Author)
A living lexicon of British birds and their lore. Names hold their secret lives. H. Kirke Swann's A Dictionary of English and Folk-Names of British Birds is at once an ornithological dictionary and a generous British bird reference guide. Meticulously compiled entries trace bird name etymology and first usage while bringing English bird folklore and folk-lore bird legends into clear view; the volume also collects the sayings and superstitions that formed the weather-lore of British birds and that country people used to read the skies. Swann writes with the measured clarity of a scholar and the ear of a storyteller, so the work remains accessible for a curious reader yet invaluable as a birdwatching history resource. It bridges scientific nomenclature and local speech, explaining how names, dialects and belief shaped recognition of British Isles birds across generations. Modern readers of natural history will find it a singular window onto how language and landscape met; students of etymology and folklore will appreciate its attention to earliest usage. As both a research tool and a pleasurable read it complements field guides and enriches the practice of observation. Rooted in the practices of Victorian England natural history, this book sits with classic ornithology texts as both reference and cultural record. Casual readers will savour the origins and stories; field guide collectors and the serious student of bird name etymology will find it a steady research aid. For those building a nature writers collection or tracing the wider folklore of the countryside, Swann's pages are a rare map of oral tradition and printed citation. Museum curators, librarians and field guide collectors prize the book for its documentary value and its role as a birdwatching history resource. Out of print for decades and now republished by Alpha Editions. Restored for today's and future generations. More than a reprint - a collector's item and a cultural treasure.
