HAWK 287 



For a hooded crow's nest ..... Is. Od. 

 For a cat shot on the muir . . . .Is. Od. 



On 17th February 1801, another hcence, signed by the factor this time, 

 where the gamekeeper's name is not given, but the premiums are no less 

 and the injunctions quite as stringent. 



On the fly-leaf the following is written:— One shilHng will in future be 

 given for every hooded crow and magpie, and Is. 6d. for every hooded crow's 

 nest. 



It is thought lucky in some places to see a hawk the first thing 

 in the morning. A saying exists in the West Highlands when a 

 person has been particularly fortunate any day, that he or she has 

 seen the clamhan-luch — mouse-hawk. The screaming of a hawk 

 is said to be a sign of a change in the weather. The plant hawk- 

 weed bears the Gaelic name of " lus-na-seabhag " (Cameron). 

 Of the gos or goshawk Mrs Grant, in her essays on the super- 

 stitions of the Highlanders, etc., says, that "on the summit of 

 Craigow (creag dhubh), black rock, scarce approachable by human 

 foot, is the only nest of the goshawk now known to remain in 

 Scotland," and, in the memory of the author, the nearest farm to 

 this awful precipice was held by the tenure of taking down, every 

 year, one of the young of this rare bird for the lord of the soil. 

 This hawk is referred to by Dante. 



Abhsadh a chromain luch. 



The lowering of the kestrel. Clumsy sail-shortening. 

 Cha deanar seobhag de'n chlamhan. 



You cannot make hawks of kites (buzzards). 

 Cha d'thainig ian glan riamh a* nead a chlamhain. 



Clean bird never came out of kite's (? buzzard's) nest. 

 Said of children of questionable parentage. 

 Cha ghlac dorn duinte seobhag. 

 Closed fist won't catch hawk. 

 Cha'n ann gun fhios carson ni an clamhan fead. 



'Tis not without a reason the kite (? buzzard) whistles. He 

 is generally silent when hunting. 

 Faire (or gleidheadh) a chlamhan air na cearcan. 



The watching or keeping of the kite (buzzard) of the hens. 

 Destruction. 

 Ge h-uasal an seobhag 's trie a gheibhar le feall i. 



Though proud be the falcon, there are deft hands can bind 

 her, or though noble is the hawk, 'tis oft got by treachery. 

 Is beo na h-eoin ged nach seobhagan uil' iad. 



The birds live, though not all hawks. 

 Mar is airde theid an calaman 's ann is docha an seobhag 

 breith air. 



The higher the pigeon goes (flies), the more likely 'tis for 

 the hawk to catch it. 

 Mar sheobhag gu ian sleibhe tha bean mic gu 'mathair-cheile. 

 Like hawk to mountain bird is the son's wife to his mother. 



