Bird Gods in Ancient Europe 



ning of August, the cuckoo has deserted its 

 foster-parents : at seventeen years Setanta or 

 Cuchullaind defended Ulster single-handed 

 against an army. At twenty-seven weeks, or 

 September, the cuckoo disappears into hollow 



trees, or is turned to a 

 hawk ; at twenty-seven 

 years Cuchullaind was 

 slain by the magic of the 

 sons of Cailletin. 



His origin is as mys- 

 terious and veiledly crimi- 

 nal as that of Arthur in Wales or of Kullervo 

 in the Kalevala. Like Kalevipoeg, who was 

 born of Linda, the bird, long after his re- 

 puted father Kalev's death, and took the 

 heritage from his elder brothers by beating 

 them at hurling the stone, Cuchullaind thrashes 

 and completely drives off fifty boy-princes in 

 the royal school to which he comes at a tender 

 age. These feats are echoes of the young 

 cuckooes exploits in ridding the nest of such 



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