138 DOG 



All Irish description of Bran is as follows : — 

 Cosa buidhe a bha air Bran 

 Da thaobh dublia agus earr gcal 



Druim uaine (ruaithne *) air datli na seilge (os cionn na leirge) 

 Da chluas cruinn, gorm-dearga. 



Yellow feet that were on Bran, 

 Two sides black and belly white, 

 Greyish-black of hunting colour (above her loins), 

 Two ears red, round, small, and bright. 



Or, 

 Yellow legs had Bran, both her sides black, and her belly white, 

 A speckled back over her loins, and two crimson ears, very red. 



It will be noted that Bran is here made female ; as in Scottish 

 Gaelic the male sex is most generally attributed to Bran we speak 

 or rather write accordingly. 



Not only was Bran a most famous hunting hound but he could 

 even fish, as it is said 



Bu mhath a thathan dorain duinn, 

 Is cha mhios 'thoirt eisg e h' amhuinn. 

 Well could he tackle the brown otter 

 And no worse to take fish from stream. 



One of Bran's feats was the killing of a giant or sorcerer, as 

 follows. Bran having a venomous claw or shoe (brog-nimhe), pos- 

 sibly had an advantage in cases of the kind. The account runs : — 



Thug sinn (na Feinne) fuasgladh do chu Fhinn. 



Is ruith e gu dian neo-mhall 



Mu 'n robh am Fuath ach gann a steach 



Rug e air le tiolam garg — 



Thug e 'n sin deanail cruaidh 



'S Claigean-ma-choin-a-chinn-chruaidh, 



Is thoisich air le Bran gu 'n fheall 



Ceann chlaigeann ann 'a bheul 



B'ait an sealla' leis an t' sluagh 



Ceann an Fhuath a bhi fui dheud. 



We (the Fingalians) then gave loosening to Finn's dog 



And swiftly and vehemently he ran. 



The demon was scarcely within 



When he seized him with a mighty grip. 



Then followed doughty doings. 



Skull cracking of hard-headed dog 



Bran went at it strait. 



The skull-head in his jaws ; 



A joyful sight to all't was then 



Beneath his teeth the demon's head to see. 



* " Ruaithne " here is an obsolete word, signifying reddish green or grey. 



