SALMON— SCALLOP 383 



Cho fallain ris a blireae. 



As healthy as the salmon. This does not always hold good. 

 Cho glan ri goile bradain. 



As clean (empty) as a salmon's stomach. A river salmon is 

 said never to eat, or at least nothing is ever fomid in its 

 stomach. 

 Is math thig am bradan an aigeal na h-aimhne. 



The salmon suits well the river pool. 

 La Fheill Phadruig bidh breach air gach linne. 



On St Patrick's day there M^ill be a salmon in every pool. 

 The word "breach " or "breac," it will be observed, used 

 to mean a salmon — lit., the speckled one ; now, however, 

 generally applied to a trout. 

 Tarr a bhradain. 



The salmon's tail. The choice part. 



SAND-EEL. — Ceannan-siolag (Tiree); Nathair-thraghad ; 

 Sachasan, sanndag, sgiolag, siolag, siolagag, siolagaig, siolghobach. 



Lesser launce ; Snedden (large). 



The names ceannan-siolag and nathair-thraghad are, it is 

 thought, given in mistake for another sand-fish or worm, which 

 often stings or wounds the feet when people are digging for the 

 real sand-eels. 



Fuil air iasg, mharbh mi sgiolag. 



lUood on fish, I've killed a sand-eel, or diminutive fish. Said 

 by boys when fishing is slack. 



SAND-WORM.— Lungach ; Nathair-thraghad. 

 SARDINE. — Sardail, sardan, sairdeal. 



SCALLOP (see also Clam). — Creach, creachag, creachag-seis- 

 reach, creachan ; Eisirean ; Mac-muirigheach, maighdeag, maigh- 

 deag-thraghad ; Slige-chreachan (shell), sliog, sliogan. 



Clam, cockle ; Escallop ; Large-ribbed shellfish ; Partan clam ; 

 Scallop-shellfish. 



The shell of this bivalve was, and is, a favourite drinking-dish, 

 and is frequently referred to in Gaelic prose and poetry ; in a 

 verse of the latter we are told : — 



'* B' iomad slige 'del mu 'n cuairt Many a shell went round, 



Is oran nuadh ga chuir an ceill. Many a sweet song sung, 



Ag caitheamh nam fleagh san tur While joyous faces beamed around 



B' ait an gnuis le gean gu leir. " From feasting— none were " sprung. " 



Sean dana has " Chaidh an t-slige 's an t-oran mu'n cuairt," the 

 shell and the song went round. In Fingal is " Tha solas slige 

 na feile mu Thriath Eirinn a's guerme suil," the joy of the 

 generous shell is around the Chief of Erin of bluest eye. " Slige 

 na feile " is more properly the shell of, belonging to, or appropriate 

 to, the feastt 



