258 CROW 



even more objectionable than the ordinary carrion crow : all is 

 fish that comes to his net, on mountain, plain, or shore; a peculiar 

 and sa«jacious habit of his in the latter locality being the raising 

 of shellfish and crabs in his beak or talons some distance into the 

 air, and letting them drop on a stone or rock for the purpose of 

 getting at the contents : they are particularly partial to the crogan 

 or large periwinkle, which is hence called " crogan-feannaig." 'J'he 

 carrion-crow lays five eggs: its name, "gor-crow," is from "gor" 

 or " gaor," filth, etc. A childish idea has gained some currency, viz., 

 that the "crows' parliament," so called, is systematically held by 

 these birds for pronouncing judgment and punishing or executing 

 a victim or victims for certain misdemeanours ; this is not the case, 

 the birds only gathering for company's sake. 



" The gale (or guile), the Gordon, and the hoodie-craw are the 

 three worst things that Moray ever saw," is a well-known saying. 

 The gale or guile is thought by some to be the wild thyme, but 

 more correctly the marigold, which, where plentiful, betokens 

 light soil. The Gordons were the special plunderers of the 

 district. The crow, according to Celtic belief, cannot be put to 

 shame ; for when the lapwing says, " I never saw your like for 

 stealing eggs," he answers, "Nor did we ourselves, tho' 'tis we 

 who are older." The royston or hoodie-crow (feannag) plays a 

 prominent part in folk-lore tales such as have been collected by 

 Campbell, who describes it as a "sly, familiar, knowing bird." 

 The following is one of many : — 



AN FHEANNAG A' TEAGASG THE CROW TEACHING ITS 



A' CHORRACHDAIN. CHICK. 



Thoisich an fheannag air teagasg The hoodie-crow began to Leach 



a' ghorrachdain 's thuirt i ris, "Ma its chick, and she said to it : "If you 



chi thu fear a tighinn agus stichd see a man coming, and a thin stick 



chaol 'na asgaill agus ceann leathann 'neath his arm, and a broad end on 



oirre, teich ; 'se gunna bhios ann ; it, fly, it will be a gun ; he will be 



bidh e del ga d' mharbhadh. Ma going to kill you. If you see one 



chi thu fear a tighinn agus e to^^ail coming and lifting a stone, 'tis for 



doirneig, 's ann 'ga togail a dhol the purpose of killing you he lifts it, 



go d' mharbhadh-sa bhitheas e; fly. If you see a man coming without 



teich. Ma chi thu fear a tighinn anything, and walking upright, and 



lom, direach, 's gun ni sam bith 'na nothing 'neath his arm, and not 



asgaill, 's gun e cromadh, cha ruig bending, you need not move; that 



thu leas carachadh ; cha bhoin am man will not touch you." "What," 



fear sin duit " Gu de," ars an said the chick, " if the stone be in 



gorrachdan, " ma bhios a' chlach 'na his pocket?" " Oh," said the crow, 



phoca ? " " O," ars' an fheannag, " I need not teach you any more." 

 cha ruig mise leas a bhi ga d' 

 ionnsachadh na 's fhaide." 



The Crowberry in Gaelic is " Lus-na-feannaig," also written 

 fionnag, fiannag, fiadhag ; also "caor'-feannaig,'' etc. 



The proverbial sayings in reference to this "knowing" bird 

 are fairly numerous ; some are : — 



