PIG 201 



A mhuc a mharbh mi'n uiridh 

 Bha uirceanan aic 'am bliadhna. 



The pig that I killed last year 

 Has produced young this year. 



The shoots from a cut-down tree. A riddle. 



" Ma bhriseas bun-fionn bidh fhios aig do cheann." If the 

 sow's tail (pig-end) break, your head will know, was a pithy and 

 appropriate saying used on a pig-hunting exploit, where one 

 Highlander caught an enraged sow by the tail as she was 

 entering a cave where his comrade was busily engaged slaughter- 

 ing the brood, and who inquired why the darkness. Another 

 riddle runs : — 



^ 



Tri mucan dubha, dubha, 



Tri mucan datha, datha, 



Muc an ear 's muc an iar, 



'S pian air an fheanach tomhais e. 



Three black, black pigs, three coloured, coloured (?) pigs, 

 A pig in the east and a pig in the west, plague on him who 

 doesn't guess it. The waves. 



An uair a bhios mhuc sathach cinnidh an drabh gort. 



As the sow fills the draff sours. 

 An uair a shaoil leat a bhi air muin na muice, 's ann a bha thu 

 lamh rithe 's an luib. 



When you thought you were on the sow's back, you were 

 beside her in the puddle. Mistaken estimate of one's self. 

 A pig is one of the most difficult of animals to catch 

 and hold. 

 Buadhaichidh bean air muc 's muc air aonaich. 



A woman will get the better of a pig, and a pig of the 

 market ; when it runs amuck. 

 Cha chord muc sheasg 'us al. 



A barren sow was never good to pigs, or 

 A barren sow agrees not with piglings. 

 Cha 'n e rogha nam muc a gheabh fear na faighe. 



It's not the pick of the swine that the beggar gets. This is 

 distinctly Irish. (See Nicolson.) 

 Cha 'n aithnich a mhuc a bhios 's an fhail (no's a chro), a 

 mhuc a bhios a' gabhail an rathad mor. 



The pig in the stye will not recognise the pig on the high 

 road. Said of snobbish people. 

 Cha 'n fhacas a mhuc riamh gun chabhag oirre. 



The sow was never seen but in a hurry. This is almost 

 ridiculous. 

 Cha tig o'n mhuic ach uircein. 



From the sow comes but a little pig. 



