HEN 291 



In addition to proverbs, there are familiar sayings, etc., more 

 or less apposite, in regard to this domestic fowl. Some are : — 



Ite na circe brice fachiste mo shean-mhathair. 



A feather of the speckled hen 'neath my grandmother's 

 chest. 

 Tha nead na cearca breaca ann an ciste mine mo shean- 

 mhathair. 



The speckled hen's nest is in the meal-chest of my grand- 

 mother. 

 Chleachd a chearc dhubh 'bhi breith anns a chliabh, agus 

 chleachd a chearc liath 'bhi breith anns a chro. 



The black hen used to lay in the creel, and the grey hen 

 used to lay in the fold. 

 Baine cioch circe ann an adharc muice 's ite cait ga shuathachadh. 

 The milk from a hen's teat in a pig's horn, rubbed on with 

 the feather off a cat — an infallible cure for some evils, 

 or indeed, for all sores. 

 Bean bheag a' tighinn do'n bhaile so, 's creagada creag air a 

 muin, casan urra (orra), 's i gun lamhan, 's ultachan cathadh 'na 

 h-uchd. 



A wee wife coming to this town, a little rockity rock on her 

 back, with feet but no hands, and a fluffy burden in her 

 breast. 

 Am fear a ghoideadh ubh circe ghoideadh e 'n t-ubh geoidh. 



Who would steal the hen egg would steal the goose egg. 

 An gog mor 's an t-ubh beag. 



Loud cackle, little egg. 

 An t-ian a thig e ubh coilich sgriosaidh e 'n saoghal. 



The bird (chicken) that will come out of a cock's egg can 

 destroy the world. Yes, when ? 

 Aon de thriuir nach fulling an cniodachadh — cearc. 

 One of three that won't endure caressing — a hen. 

 B'ainnrig leis a chirc aghartan a bhi aice. 



'Tis not common for hens to have pillows. 

 Beiridh cearc dhubh ubh geal. 



A black hen will lay a white egg. 

 Be sin a chearc a gairm roimh 'choileach. 



That were the hen crowing before the cock. Against 

 nature. 

 Be sin trial 1 nan cearc gu h-Eirinn. 



That were the hens' march to Ireland. Talking, not acting. 

 B'fhialaidh an coileach (no an cearc) mu chuid an eich. 



The cock (or hen) was very bountiful with the horse's corn. 

 Bidh an coileach-circe 'g obair fad an latha, ach cha bhi ni 

 'n a sgroban 'am bial na h-oidhche. 



The barn-door cock works all day long, but his crop is 

 empty at night. 



