176 HOUSE 



introrsum non spectant, clunes rotundi, ungula; duru) concavae et 

 rotundae, mediocresque super illas coronap." For characteristics of 

 horse, see Leabhar na Feinne, "ton inhor, earball meadhon mor 

 's mairsinn huar air a mharcachd." Another old description 

 of a " good " horse is as follows : — *' Heded of an ox, ta} led as a fox, 

 comely as a kyng, nekkyd as a dukyng, meuthyd as a kliket (fox), 

 wilted as a woodkok, mylled as a wedercoke (i.e., easily guided or 

 turned)." But the most minute description of what "a really 

 good" horse should be is given in the Irish Brehon laws, as 

 follows: — "Each mor slan . . . og, tirasa, ard-ceannach, airreachtach, 

 beocraide, bruridleathan, bairneach, breac a tiathagad, suilig 

 sleamain, seimchosach, socinevil, slangaitias, slangoisti, slan daib ; 

 sorag a thucht, so chomail i laim ; ni bi cnoca na leac um a druim ; 

 ni bi manidruimneach ; ni bu calace imneach ; ni ro isel, nib ro 

 ard ; nib ocheall, nib imleimneach ; nib ro beil, nib do carrdach ; 

 nip lease, nip lose, nip luach, nip luath chairceach ; ni bi cu 

 anfthach, na hetrocht na crithach . . . forlim, slan, soimrime, 

 somul ; dia mbe nachae, as Athchuirthe, no is faillithe," which 

 has been translated as follows : — A big horse, sound, young, noble, 

 high-headed, load-carrying, lively-hearted, broad-breasted, haughty, 

 easy-bearing, sleek, slender-legged, well-descended {i.e., of good 

 breed), free from spear thrusts, free from sword cuts, his form 

 (chest) well-set, tractable to the hand, without lumps or flags on 

 his back, not broken-backed, not rough-stepping, not too low, 

 not too high, not shy, not starting, not big-mouthed, not ill- 

 stepping, not lazy, not lame, not kicking, not dusty-haired, not 

 puffing, not drop-eared, not shaky . . . perfectly sound, easj- 

 ridden, obedient. If he be not such, he is rejected." The above 

 is as given in a volume of the Ulster Journal of Archceoiogy. 

 The translation into pure and idiomatic Scottish Gaelic will afford 

 pleasure to any student who has the ability, inclination, and time. 



Another account of a " special steed " is given in an ancient 

 Celtic tale, "The Destruction of Da Berga's Hostel" (as found in 

 Rev. Celt., Tome 22), as follows : — Tri coecait gabur ndubglas. Itt 

 e cendbecca, corrderga, biruich, baslethaidh, bolg (s) roin, 

 bruinniderg, beolaide, s (o) aitside (soastaide or saitside), soga- 

 baldai (fogabaltaide or sogabaltaide), crechfobdi, fegi, faebordae, 

 femendae, cona trib ; coectaib srian cruan-maith (co cruan agus 

 maithni, cruanmaithne, cruan moethne), friu. 



Thrice fifty dark-grey steeds. Small headed are they, red- 

 nosed (?), pointed, broad-hoofed, big-nosed, red-chested, fat, 

 easily stopt, easily yoked, foray nimble, keen, whetted Q), 

 vehement (?) ; with their thrice fifty bridles of red enamel upon 

 them ; these were not the lady's horse, called gennet or jennet, 

 a Spanish breed. 



The following fine description of a horse is from " Sean Dana " : 

 "Co so air an each steudach, las-shuileach, chobhar-bheulach, 

 amhach mar bhogha catha, lubta, grinn 's an ard adhar.^" 



