Obs. [f. CLOT, clod + BIRD.] A species of bird frequenting fallow-land; the Wheat-ear (Saxicola œnanthe); called also Arling, Clod-hopper, and Fallow-smiter. (Erroneously applied by some to the Hawfinch, Coccothraustes vulgaris.)
1544. Turner, Avium Hist., 44. Κυανός, Cœruleo, a clotburd, a smatche, an arlyng, a steinchek.
1580. Baret, Alv., C 680. Clotbirde, a birde that appeareth not in winter, a smatch; an arling, cœruleo.
1618. Latham, 2nd Bk. Falconry (1633), 144. The Clot bird in the fallow fields … is a very fat and a dainty bird much like vnto the Martine.
1655. Moufet & Bennet, Health’s Improv. (1746), 185. Coccothraustes … The Clot-bird, called sometimes a Smatch, or an Arling, is as big almost as a Thrush, feeding chiefly upon Cherries, and Cherry-kernels.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Clot-bird … a name by which the common œnanthe is called in many parts of England.
