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From: dmark@acsu.buffalo.edu (David Mark)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Contact Notes of Winter Birds in Seattle
Message-ID: <47500@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU>
Date: 26 Nov 90 03:39:04 GMT
References: <11634@milton.u.washington.edu> <WVENABLE.90Nov26075805@spam.ua.oz.au> <1990Nov26.005512.16482@massey.ac.nz>
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In article <1990Nov26.005512.16482@massey.ac.nz> A.S.Chamove@massey.ac.nz (A.S. Chamove) writes:
>I think a chickadee is what the rest of the rest of the world calls a Tit.
>

Of course, what Mr. Chamove probably meant was the rest of the _English_S
Speaking_world_.  But typical members of genus Parus are called chickadees in 
Canada, too, so they are "chicakdees" in predominantly-English-speaking 
countries totalling almost 300 million people, and "tits" in the UK (<< 100M). 
And it hardly seems relevant if they are referred to as "tits" in the
antipodes, since they are not native there, nor introduced in Australia
(are any Parus established in New Zealand).

Incidentally, they are 'Mesanges*' in French, '-mees' in Dutch, '-meise' in
German, and '-mes' in Swedish (compound names), which I guess is where the 
'mouse' part comes from in the American term 'Titmouse' for crested members of 
Parus.

* accent-acute sur le premier 'e'

David Mark
dmark@acsu.buffalo.edu