MAGPIE— MARTIN 303 



"pige" or "pighead." The word "Breac-mac/' etc., means the 

 son or child of spots, or " speckled child or son." 



The magpie is said to have been the only bird that did not go 

 into the ark with Noah, as it preferred to sit outside on the 

 roof. 



The magpie is called " Gille-ruith nan Caimbeulach," the 

 messenger, or running-boy of the Campbells, and, except to 

 individuals of that name, it is unlucky as a rule, though the 

 seeing one is bad or good according to circumstances : if it jumps 

 on to the road before a traveller it is good, also if seen to one's 

 right hand, bad to the left, in front fair ; if seen before breakfast 

 as the first living thing for that day, it is unlucky, if seen hopping 

 near a dwelling then good news may be expected. It is very 

 unlucky, indeed a sure presage of "little happiness," to shoot 

 or kill one. On account of such unluckiness various sayings and 

 rhymes are current, the well-known one that "one is a birth, two 

 sorrow, three a wedding, and four a death," the preponderance 

 being evil. Comneach odhar used this bird's name in one of his 

 prophecies as to the church of Ferrintosh, which prophecy nearly 

 came true. The saying in Gaelic as to above is : — 



Chunnaic mi pioghaid is dh' eirich leam, 

 Chunnaic mi dha 's gum b' iarguin iad 

 Chunnaic mi tri a 's b' aighearach mi, 

 Ach ceithir ri m' linn cha n' iarain iad. 



I saw a magpie, to me then luck did hie, 

 I once saw two and they troubled me, 

 Great joy was on me when once I saw three, 

 But four forever let me not see. 



Eating the leg of a magpie is said to be a cure for one bewitched. 

 This bird is said to have assumed the form of a Mull witch — or 

 the witch to have assumed the form of a magpie. The witch was 

 named "Dodiag," to whose evil agency the wrecking of a ship 

 on Morven was attributed. Dodiag had the help of eleven other 

 witches, all also in the shape of magpies. 



Pigheid Clachain, aon de thriuir a's coir a sheachnadh. 

 A village magpie, one of three to be avoided. 



MALLARD (see also Duck). — Bardal ; Mullard ; Rac. 

 Grey duck ; Mire-duck, moss-duck^, muir-duck ; Sore (flock), 

 stock-duck. 



MARTIN (see also Swallow). — Fallag, fallaig (sand) ; Gobhlan- 

 dubh (black), gobhlan-gaineacha-gaineimh-gainmhich (sand). 



Bank-martin, biter, bitter, bitter-bank, bitterie, butterie (sand) ; 

 Easin-swallow, eaves-swallow ; Godon (common) ; House-martin ; 

 Martern, martin-swallow, martlet, martyn, morton ; Pit-martin ; 

 River-swallow ; Sand-backie, sand-swallow, sandy-swallow, shore- 

 bird, swallow ; Window-swallow, witch-chick, witchuck. 



