Flipping the . . . Dickey Birds?

As I was searching for bird-related camp activities, I ran across a few postings explaining that the old nursery rhyme "Two Little Dickey" birds has actually traditionally been an entertaining finger play intended for little children. Unfortunately, as I read through the instructions for the finger-play, I realized that it would probably not be a good choice for camp . . . partly because the phrase "dickey birds" would very likely elicit snickers, and partly because the accompanying finger-play involves waving middle fingers (!)

Yesterday it suddenly occurred to me that this might not be an unfortunate coincidence at all: instead, I may have stumbled upon the actual origin of the phrase "flipping the bird" (something that I have wondered about before, since there don't appear to be any birds involved in either the gesture or its meaning!)

Far-fetched? Maybe-- and tracing the origins of coarse expressions is apparently notoriously difficult, even for experts-- but I think this explanation has distinct possibilities! Here's the scoop:

The "Two Little Dickey Birds" rhyme was first recorded when published in Mother Goose's Melody in London, around 1765. Of course, by then it had probably already been around for quite some time.

The words are simple:

"Two little dickey birds/ sitting on a wall
One named Peter/ the other named Paul.
Fly away, Peter! Fly away, Paul!
Come back, Peter! Come back, Paul!"

Apparently the appellation "dickey bird" has long been used in England to refer to any small, chirpy bird (not a particular species).

Many nursery rhymes that have remained in use throughout the years have meanings or accompanying games that have been long forgotten.  For this particular rhyme, a piece of stamp paper (since I live in the U.S.A., I'm not sure exactly what that is!) is stuck to the pads of each index finger, right and left, to represent Peter and Paul. As each bird is named in line two, the respective index finger is waved around to attract attention. (The rest of the hand is loosely closed into a fist.)

As Peter "flies away" in line three, the speaker puts his right hand quickly over his shoulder and brings it back, but now with the middle finger waving around. Whoa! Where did the birdie go?! Paul quickly follows suit.

Then, on the last line, each hand goes over the shoulder again and comes back with . . . magically! . . . the little "birds" visible once more!  http://ingeb.org/songs/twolittd.html

I can see how this finger play must have been very entertaining to small children . . . almost like a magic trick!  However, my conjecture is that the extended middle fingers must have appeared noticeably phallic, and may have elicited smirks and perhaps even the beginning of unsavory associations for the words "Dick" and "Peter." And . . . who knows? . . . perhaps this little finger play for children is the reason that the coarse hand gesture is now referred to as "flipping the bird."

Or . . . the purported connection could be total misinformation!  :)