HEN ^93 



Coileach a mhairt bidh e 'n a thrathadair daonnan. 



A March (born) cock is always the best watchman. 

 Cridhe na ch*ce an gob na h-ah'ce. 



A hen's heart in the beak of want. Said of one who fears 

 to struggle or strive against staring starvation. 

 Cromaidh an coileach-circ a cheann 'an dorus an tigh mhoir. 

 The cock bows his head at the great house door. Referring 

 merely, it is thought, to his habit of bending cautiously 

 ere entering any enclosure. 

 Failte na circe mu'n ard dorus. 



The hen's salute at the lintel or threshold. 

 Far am bi cearcan bidh gracan. 



Where hens are will be cackling (querulous noise). 

 Far nach cinnich an sparr cha chinnich na's fhearr. 



Where the hen-roost thrives not, neither will what's 

 better. If a housewife neglects her hens, she will 

 neglect her house. 

 Gairm chearc, ni toirmisgt'. 



Crowing of hens, a forbidden thing. 

 Al. Gairm circe ; neo cearcan a glaodhaich. 

 Ge be ghoideadh an t-ubh ghoideadh e chearc nam faodadh e. 



Who would steal the egg would steal the hen — if he dared. 

 Ged is iosal an coileach cromaidh e 'cheann. 



Though the cock be humble, he bends his head. 

 Gheabh cearc na sgriobain rud-eigin, 's cha 'n fhaigh cearc 

 a chrubain dad idir. 



The scraping hen will get something, but the crouching 

 hen will get nothing. Good advice to the indolent. 

 Is coma leam an rud nach toigh leam, eireagan a' dol 'nan 

 coilich. 



I care not for what I like not, pullets becoming cocks. 

 Appropriate to exaggerated "women's rights." 

 Isean deiridh linne, cinnidh e no theid e dholaidh. 



The last chicken of a brood comes to either grief or good. 

 Generally the weakest. (See Nicolson's note.) 

 Is ladurna coileach air otrach fhein. 



A cock is bold on his own midden. Offensive indeed. 

 Is math an t-uaireadair an coileach. 



The cock is a good time-piece. Almost the only one indeed 

 in the days of yore. 

 Is olc a sgrioban nach lion a' sgroban. 



It's poor scraping that won't fill the crop — of a hen, etc. 

 Is seasgair samhach a chearc air a h-iris fhein. 

 Quiet and snug is the hen on her own roost. 

 Mar a ghairmeas an t-sean choileach 's ann a dh' fhoghluimi- 

 cheas an coileach og ; or. 



An uair a ghlaodhas an t-sean choileach foghlumaidh an t-og. 

 As the old cock crows the young one learns. 



