DOG 149 



she may be engaged on. Dogs are said never to bite idiots ; 

 immunity, however, does not infer idiocy. A good way is 

 recommended to keep running after a dog, and he will never 

 bite you. (See proverb.) A dog eating grass is said to foretell 

 rain, dreaming of being bitten by one means plotting of enemies, 

 a dog howling thought to be seeing a phantom funeral, and is a 

 warning of a real one to follow (Folk-lore). Where the belief in 

 witch hares exists, it is also believed that the only animal that 

 can be run against these with any effect is a spayed or castrated 

 bitch. Among North and North-eastern fishermen the word 

 "beamer" for a dog is considered a lucky word to use, names of 

 animals, inter alia, being debarred among them. A famous — or 

 rather infamous — phantom dog was one generally believed to be 

 seen near Kinloch Bervie, but accounts differ as to his colour, etc., 

 he was reported harmless except for the evil effects his horrid 

 appearance had on those who were unfortunate enough to see him. 

 In Revue Celtique the dog has a prominent position in the " Glen 

 of tortures" (? Hell), where there are said to be "many dogs, 

 keen, greedy, gluttonous, broad-eared, long-clawed, and sharp- 

 pawed " — Ilchoin gera, cicara (cha), ciochra, croesmora, cluaslethna, 

 ingnecha, crobgera — though in justice to the dogs they were not 

 the only animals said to be there. 



As may be admitted, proverbial sayings as to dogs rank high ; 

 the following give a fairly good idea of the class. 



A chuil a bhios fosgailte theid na coin innte. 



The dogs will go into the corner that's open. 

 A h-uile cu air a' chu choimheach. 



All the dogs down on the strange dog, or, 

 Gach olc an toin a choimhich. 



Every evil behind the strange one. 

 Aithnichidh gu geur a lochd. 



A sharp hound knows his fault. Most people are aware of 

 their own particular fault. 

 Am fear, no an te, a bhuaileadh mo chu, bhuaileadh e (no i) mi 

 fhein. 



The man or woman that would strike my dog would strike 

 myself. 

 Am fear a luidheas leis na coin eiridh e leis na deargannan. 



He who lies with the dogs will rise with the fleas. 

 Am fear nach biath a chu, cha stuig. 



Who does not feed his dog, will not set him on. 

 An uair a bhuaileas tu cu, buail gu math e. 

 When you strike a dog, strike him well. 

 Aois coin tri bliadhna' na chuilean, tri bliadhna 'na neart, agus 

 tri 'dol air ais. 



A dog's age, three years a pup, three years of strength, and 

 three years of declining. 



