244 BIRD 



Is binn gach ian 'n a dhoire fliein. 



Sweet (sings) each bird in its own grove. 

 Is binn guth an coin far am beirear. 



Sweet is a bird's voice where he was born. Even in a cage. 

 Is fhearr aon ian 's an lainih na dha-dhiag air iteig. 



A bird in the hand is better than a dozen on the wing. 

 Is iad na h-eoin acrach a's fhearr a ghleacas. 

 The hungry birds fight best. This is a truism, and applies 

 to more than birds. 

 Is mairg a theid do'n traigh an uair a tha h-eoin fhein 'g a 

 treigsinn. 



Pity him who goes to the shore when its own birds are 

 forsaking it. Or, 

 Is mairg a thaghlagh a chreag 's a h-eoin fein ga fagail. 



Pity him wlio visits the rock which its own birds are leaving. 

 Where the birds fail, on land or sea, few will find any- 

 thing worth. 

 Is math na h-eoin far an gintear iad. 



The birds are good in their native place. So are men. 

 This is genuinely Celtic. 

 Is olc a chreag a threigeas a h-eoin fhein. 



It's a bad rock which its own (or the very) birds forsake. 

 (This and some preceding proverbs point to strict ad- 

 herence to localities by birds.) 

 La Fheill Phadruig bidh nead anns gach coill. 



On St Patrick's day (17th March— O.S.) there will be a 

 nest in every wood. 

 Ma dh* fhalbh an t-ian, faodaidh a nead a dhol 'n a theine. 



If the bird be flown, the nest may burn. 

 Ma dh' itheas tu cridh an eoin, bidh do chridh air chrith ri 

 d'bheo. 



If you eat the bird's heart, your heart will palpitate for ever. 

 A mode of warning against cruelty. 

 Mu'n cailleadh e buileach na h-iteach (or an t-iteach) bheireadh 

 an t-ian a bhiodh glic ris an t-snaimh. 



The wise bird will take to swimming before he lose the 

 power of flying ; i.e., not to be beat. 

 Na abair "diug " (no " Bid ") ris an ian gus an tig e as an ubh. 



Don't say " chuck " to the chick till it be out of the egg. 

 Rinn e biadh ian deth. 



He made birds' food of him ; i.e., pounded him well. 

 Sgugairneach no gugarluch de dh'ian deireadh Foghair, 

 *s mairg a dh' fheith ri d' bhreith, 's a mhairt. 



Useless bird at harvest end, pity those who waited for your 

 birth in March. Applied to people more in the way 

 than useful. 

 Talaidhidh, cataichidh no meallaidh am biadh an t-ian athair. 

 Food will entice the bird from the sky. 



