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Message: <blockquote data-quote="davevikingr" data-source="post: 1301421" data-attributes="member: 69939">To answer some questions - to the best of my knowledge - and that may or may not be 'best' at all - hay-ho1 - Puffin was apparently originally used to name the fat young shearwater, and indeed other fat young seabirds collected by maritime cimmunities for food and fat, as in St. Kilda.  This name was transferred to the 'chubby' auk we now call puffin.  The Old Norse nick-named the Puffin, Papae, meaning 'father', the name they used for priests !  Another old name for Puffins was Lundi, again Old Norse - presumably the origin of Lundy island's name - Lundi-ey, isle of puffins ?2 - Collins 'black' field guide is fairly good with 'obscure views'.4 - As mentioned by others Cormorant's feathers are not fully waterproof - their family is an ancient one, one of the earliest to evolve - presumably they've been adapted well-enough not to need oiled-feathers - although why one family develops in this way when others have 'oiled-up' is another matter.6 - Presumably Pied Wagtails have no taste - after all they like dung-heaps so perhaps service stations is a natural progression.7 - Murre is the name for Guillemots and auks in America I believe - Presumably White Murre's live in places where Murre is the name.  Can anyone explain the origin of 'Guillemot' as a name - I'm guessing Murre is echoic.8 - Snobery ?  Twitchers seem to value rarity over actual interest - avian train-spotting.  Who put the twit in twitcher ?10 - Avian humour - akin to cat's walking through wet cement despite disliking getting their paws wet otherwise ?</blockquote>

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