Tuesday, 21 May 2024

What's In a Critter's Name? 87. Magpie

In the 16th Century, misogynists referred to all women as 'Margarets'. They considered the bird's chattering call, to be like that of a woman. 'Mag' is an abbreviation. The 'pie' may refer to the bird's beak; tail or pied plumage.

No comments:

'Stone age' Food Production?

  Michael Grunwald's book, Are We Eating the Earth? points out that around one third of 'greenhouse gases' are generated by proc...