DOG 137 



Fifty good dogs in all, and mine were named 

 Smooth-skin, Black-face, Mollach (hairy), 

 Form (mighty rushing), and Treun (strong), 

 Fierce, with their bristles up, my gallant dogs ! 

 That in their speed outstripped the howling storm. 



But, to Celts, Fingal's dog Bran must take first place, and we 

 have no hesitation in laying before our readers a few descriptive 

 facts, culled from various sources, in regard to that famous hound. 

 In the book of the Dean of Lismore, Bran is said to mean *' raven," 

 but used as an adjective signifying " black." Bran is also said to 

 mean an avalanche, a landslip, a mountain stream. One or two 

 descriptions of Bran are as follows : — 



Spogan buidh ta air Bran 

 Tarr-gheal uaine dhath san leirg 

 Suil mar airneig, spuirean comhlach, 

 'S da chluais bhiorach chrodha dhearg. 



Or, 



Casaibh buidh bha aig Bran 



Da shlios dhuthaidh a's tarr gheal 



Druim uaine mu 'n iadhadh an t'ealg. 



Or, 



Druim uaine mu 'n iadhadh an t'suidhe, 

 Druim uaine air an suidheadh seal, 

 Druim uaine air cuilean na seilge, 

 Druim uaine air dhreach na seilge ; 

 Da chluais chorrach chro-dhearg. 

 Da chluais chomhanta cho dearg. 



A general translation of the above may be given as 



Yellow paws that are on Bran, 



Belly whitish-grey, heath coloured. 



Eye like sloe, crooked claws. 



And two sharp-pointed ears, keenly active. 



Or, 



Yellow paws Bran did have. 

 Two dark sides and belly white. 

 And grey back of noble shape. 



Or, 



A grey back of shape of seat (so broad) 



A grey back, a lasting seat, 



A grey back on the hunting pup, 



A grey back of hunting colour ; 



Two sharp ears, keenly active. 



Two ears alike, so red. 



