290 HEN 



cath choileach," day of cock-fighting, victors hiing called " coilich 

 buadha," and vancjuished or cravens *' fuidsidli." In Shakespeare 

 we find this coward called " coystril." This day in the Lowlands, at 

 least latterly, was Candlemas day, or 2nd February, in Ireland on 

 St Stephen's day. This practice is thought to have come from 

 the East whence the common barn-door cock came, along with 

 the Celts themselves, between 2000 and 3000 years ago. A 

 dance used to exist called "cath nan coileach," or the combat 

 of the cocks. A cock crowing is supposed to speak or crow 

 in Gaelic, and say : " Mac-an-righ a' ruamhar 's Mac-Cailein a 

 cliathadh," the king's son delving, and Mac-Cailein (Argyll) 

 harrowing. 



Cameron calls red campion "cirean coilich," cock's comb. A 

 saying exists that "As long as there is a cock i' the North, there'll 

 be a Fraser in Philorth." This family should be pretty secure. A 

 cock is said to be able to see evil spirits, and, if black, he can cure 

 epilepsy by being buried alive under bed of patient. This seeing 

 of evil spirits refers to the well-known belief that spirits must 

 flee at cock crow. The Irish Gaelic name for acock, "cailech," 

 was an epithet — like our own "Cock o' the North" — of a King 

 of Connaught, his real name being "Art Ua Ruaire," 1084 {Chron. 

 Scot.); but though "cailech" is given there and elsewhere as a 

 word in Irish Gaelic for cock, according to Reeve's Adnmimn 

 that word stands for " calix," as in the term " calix offertorii," in 

 Irish cailech or coilech na-aiffrind, the chalice or offertory cup. 

 Another familiar port-beoil or mouth tune chanted by us in our 

 childhood was this somewhat ridiculous doggerel rhyme, whence 

 drawn we know not : — 



Bha tri chasan deiridh air a choileach bh' aig nigh 'n Fhearchair. 



(Repeat twice) 

 Sgiathan 's itean buidhe air a choileach bh' aig nigh 'n Fhearchair. 



Three hind-legs had the cock belonging to Farquhar's daughter. 

 Wings and yellow feathers, etc. 



Dr Keith N. Macdonald in his collection gives another version 

 as follows : — 



Tha tri chasan deiridh aig na h-eireagan aig Cearara. 



(Repeat twice) 

 Tri chasan deiridh, 's ceithir chasan dearg oirr. 



Three hind-legs had the hens of Kerrera, 

 Three hind-legs, and four red feet. 



Also the same as regards a cock belonging to one MacCormaig. 

 In Campbell's Talcs, Vol. III., p. 93, the story of how the cockj 

 took a turn out of the fox is told, and on p. 94, one as to a hen.j 

 A young game-cock, under one year, is called a "stag" in] 

 Ireland. On St Martin's eve, as is referred to under article 

 Cow, some blood must be shed, so where parties are poor a cock 

 is, or was, selected as the victim. 



