WHITE CATTLE : AN INQUIRY INTO THEIR ORIGIN, ETC. 435 



" CoRMAc's ' Glossary.' AVhitley Stokes (edition 1868, p. 72). — 

 ' As Fachtna son of Sencha said ' . . . ' I have a right to 

 three dirnas of silver in addition for three white cows, for each 

 shapely cow between the scales of Lugba beautiful to the eye, 

 profitable. This, then, Avas the appearance of the cows of Echaid 

 Echbel from Scotland, which Curui captured (from the Ulstermen), 

 i.e. J white cows, with red ears.' 



" Another edition of the Glossary adds — ' these cows, then, of 

 Echaid Echbel used to come to graze from Ard Echdai Echbeil 

 from Scotland into the province of Dalriada, and they used to be 

 in Seimne XJlad. Curoi, however, carried them off by force from 

 the Ulstermen.' 



'"The Eulogy of Saint Columba.' Whitley Stokes (see 

 Revue Celtique, vol. xx., p. 251). — 'Three white cows,' as Fachtna 

 of the just judgments uttered this decree, saying ' I award three 

 dirnas of silver, between Lugba's scales, for them, for three white 

 cows, with the same form as the erca (of luchna Echbel). beautiful 

 to the eye, a profitable contract.' 



" That is, Fachtna adjudged three dirnas of silver for three 

 white red-eared cows in the likeness of the three cow^s of luchna 

 Horsemouth (these famous cows were captured by Cu-roi), because 

 ere means ' cow,' and ferb ' cow,' and lannoir ' cow^,' ut dicitur. 



" luchna's cows (erca), savage the kine, in destroying them 

 Luar fell ; coming out from his house the grave of Loeguire the 

 Victorious was found. 



" ' Revue Celtique,' Vol. I., p. 261.—' Then a Bull-feast is 

 made by them there, so that they might know thereout unto 

 whom they should give (the) kingdom. 



" ' Thus used that Bull-feast to be made, to wit, a white bull to 

 kill and one man to eat his fulness of his (the bull's) flesh and of 

 his broth, and sleep to him under that fulness, and or (i) of truth 

 to say over him by four druids, and by him in vision used to be 

 seen the kind of man who should be made king there, from his 

 shape and from his description, and the kind of work he was 

 doing. 



" ' The man awoke from his sleep and makes known his dream 

 to the kings. To wit, a young champion, noble, strong, with two 

 red girdles over him, and he above (the) pillow of a man in sick- 

 ness in Emain Macha.' lb., p. -46. 



