DOG 147 



applies equally to Scottish Gaelic ; as also Mailcon in Pictish 

 Chronicle, Melcon in Irish Nennius ; Maelchon (Tighernac), father 

 of Brude, genitive of Maelchu. In the Isle of Man there are two 

 places named Bal-na-madadh, and Adh-chuillean, dog-town and 

 whelp's-ford, so called from being stations where dogs which were 

 constituted guards of the sacred fire of Baal kept watch, Bel, 

 Beal, or Baal-tinn being synonymous with the Manx Tinvaal or 

 Tynwald. Other names from dogs are Conan, Coinin, Culen, 

 Catulus, Caniculus, Cailean, Branchu (raven dog), Fian-chu (Fenian 

 or hunting dog), Dichu, Glaschu, Onchu, (leopard), Dobarchu 

 (water-dog, otter), etc. The term Ci-cingeach, translated "leader," 

 is equivalent to the head dog or leader of a pack, or the brave 

 head or leading hound, this is the ci or ci-cingeach or ceangach 

 in Dean of Lismore's " Caoilte's ransom." The dog-days are named 

 in Gaelic "an t-iuchar," which we find in what we cannot help 

 saying is the very coarse Gaelic of Rob Donn as "futhar." 

 It is said that the best dog to have and to hunt with is 



Cuilean bus-dubh buidhe 



Ceud mac na saidhe 



Air arach air meog 's air bainne ghabhar 



Cha deach air sliabh air nach beireadh. 



A yellow brindled dog, first born of his dam (first litter). 

 With a muzzle black as jet, reared on whey and milk of goats, 

 no stag in forest can escape him. 



A Celtic ambassador had dogs as his bodyguard. Celtic dogs were 

 noted for their ferocity and their superiority, the Romans therefore 

 imported them extensively from Scotland. A rough and ready 

 way of telling a dog's age is from its teeth ; though doubtless to 

 the initiated professional this way is infallible, to the ordinary 

 individual the mere fact of their appearing white and sharp 

 bespeaks youth while blackness and bluntness naturally betokens 

 age — see how Fionn selected his dog-given supra. Even " dancing " 

 dogs are on record in Gaelic rhyme as may be gathered from the 

 following " Port-beoil " : — 



Ruidhleadh Fhionnladh, dhannsadh Fhionnladh 

 Ruidhleadh Fhionnladh 's an cu breac 

 Ruidhleadh Fhionnladh, dhannsadh Fhionnladh 

 'Null 's a nail air drochaid Pheairt. 



Finlay reel would, Finlay dance would, 

 Finlay 'd reel with spotted dog, 

 Finlay reel would, Finlay dance would 

 Back and fore on Brig o' Perth. 



The word cuilean^ though primarily a whelp or puppy, is also 

 applied to a full-grown hound as 

 Ceud cuilean lughmhor dian. 



A hundred hardy powerful hounds. 



