216 SHEEP 



A sheep-pen or enclosure is called in most places, cro, fang, or 

 faing, sheep-cot, fold, or pen. Mr A. Carmichael says this applies 

 to Lewis and Harris specially. A drove of sheep is called a 

 "drift" in some places (North), while the owner of a thousand 

 is found in Old Irish as " Kidire caorach," a knight of sheep. 

 Another rhyme among children is : — 



Orda^^, colgaj?, nieur-fad, Mac-an-Ab' Thumb, face-finger, middle finger. 

 Rag mheirleach nan caorach 's nan Son of Abbot 



gobhar ; Arrant thief of the sheep and the goats 



Cuir gad ris, cuir gad ris. Put a tie (withy) on him, put a tie 



on him. 



Sleeping among sheep is said to be a good remedy in cases of a 

 lingering disease, while a coarse cure for whooping-cough and 

 jaundice was a decoction of sheep's droppings, "puslooks" or 

 " buaichleach." Cameron, in his Gaelic names for plants, etc., 

 gives "sheep-bit" in Gaelic as dubhan-nan-caora, the sheep's 

 kidney, while the Old Irish for "sheep's yew" is simply Ibur- 

 caorach, lubhar chaorach. "Sheep-sorrel" again is samhadh- 

 caorach. Caora-bada-meann is stone-bramble. The " rot " among 

 sheep goes under several names, one being " mua or moor-sickness." 

 Sheep afflicted with the disease called stuird, stuirdean, vertigo, or 

 " sturdy," are also called " dunt-sheep," probably from dunting or 

 knocking up against things, etc. The tie between the hind and 

 forefoot of a sheep is called " Bangle," while a sheep is said to be 

 amuUed, awart, cast or non-powered, when lying on its back in a 

 hollow or ridge-furrow and unable to rise. The word " amuUed " is 

 derived from the Gaelic word "amaladh," hindered, tha i air amaladh, 

 she is hindered — from rising. Bragsaidh again is a disease said 

 to be occasioned by "eating withered grass and from wart of 

 water," also from over-eating of young succulent grass. Sheep- 

 scab or itch is "scrutach." In Soval at Lochs, Lewis, we find, 

 as one of the many Norse names, the word "Saudhr," sheep. 

 " Coilpeachadh " or equalising stock, referred to more fully else- 

 where, as regards sheep is generally three one-year-old hoggs equal 

 to two sheep, and one two-year-old hogg equal to one sheep. 



As is generally known, proverbs, riddles, and sayings as to 

 sheep are fairly numerous, the following fairly exhaust them : — 

 Aireamh na h-Aoine air caoraich a bhail' ud thall. 



The Friday numbering of (or on) the sheep of yonder town- 

 ship. Equivalent to an evil wish, as it is thought 

 unlucky to count sheep on a Friday. This is an 

 exception to another belief that it is lucky to begin a 

 piece of work on a Friday, or to give it "ruith na 

 h-Aoine," the Friday's run or inception. 

 A chaor theid 's a chreig, cha'n 'eil aic' ach tighinn aisde 

 mar a dh' fhaodas i. 



The sheep that gets into the rock (some cleft), must get out 

 as best she can. 



