Bird Gods in Ancient Europe 



of the air" says the story. In that with Eocho 

 the Blue-Green, Cuchullaind is thrice blown 

 off Eocho's shield into the sea before he is able 

 to overcome that huge monster. The same 

 cuckoo will, if possible, hold the same district 

 year after year and challenge all comers. The 

 combat that Cuchullaind undertakes for Ulster 

 is the war that a cuckoo makes against rivals 

 who invade the district the bird has seized 

 as its own. 



In Cuchullaind's trip to Scotland to learn 

 the military art from Scatach *' the Shadowy," 

 an Amazon who kept a military school, we 

 have the annual disappearance of cuckoos, no 

 very good long-distance fliers, across the Irish 

 Sea where it is narrowest. He lands on Can- 

 tire, and, proceeding to the school, has a love 

 adventure with Aoife, the daughter of Scatach, 

 who bears him Conlaech, but after he has re- 

 turned to Ireland. Like Oidipous, and like 

 the hero Sohrab of Persia, Conlaech has never 

 seen his father ; so the son when he comes of 



98 



