ON THE ETHNOGRAPHICAL SURVEY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. 463 



230. Rerrick. — The circle round the moon is called a ' ring.' It indi- 

 cates a change of weather. The saying is — 



The farder oot the ring 

 The narder han' the storm. 



231. Corsock. — The halo round the moon is called a 'faul' (fold). It 

 is an indication of a coming storm. The open space in it lies in the 

 direction from which the storm will blow. 



232. Rerrick. — The circle round the moon is called a ' broch.' It is 

 looked on as an indication of a change of weather. 



233. Corsock. — When one sees the new moon for the first time, let the 

 money in the pocket be turned and three wishes formed, and they will be 

 fulfilled. 



234. Dundrennan. — Cabbage-seed must be sown in the waning of the 

 moon, else the plants will run to seed. 



The Sun. 



235. Corsock. — If at sunrise the sky becomes red, and the red extends 

 far over the sky, the day will be fine ; but if the red remains low, and 

 disappears soon after sunrise, rain follows in a short time. 



236. Kirkmaiden. — A mock sun is called a ' dog.' 



237. Dundrennan. — A glassy glittering sunset is an indication of a 

 breeze. 



Thunder. 



238. Minnigaff, Balmaghie. — During a thunder-storm some are in the 

 habit of opening the door and windows of the dwelling-house, with the 

 idea of allowing the lightning to escape if it enters the house. 



239. Balmaghie. — The fire is taken out of the grate. Sometimes it is 

 extinguished with water. 



240. Kirkmaiden, Minnigaff, Balmaghie. — It is usual to cover up all 

 looking-glasses. 



The Dwelling-house. 



241. Kirkmaiden. — When the foundation of a house is laid, the work- 

 men are entertained with whisky. This whisky is called the ' funin pint,' 

 i.e., foundation pint. 



242. When the carpenters begin to put on the roof of a house, they 

 receive at times whisky. This is called the ' reefin pint,' i.e., roofing pint. 

 (Informant a carpenter.) 



243. Dairy. — It is unlucky for one to build a house to live in. 



244. Kirkmaiden. — My informant has heard it said that it is unlucky 

 for one to build a house to live in. 



245. Dcdry. — It is not lucky for one to enter for the first time by the 

 back-door a house he (she) is to live in. 



246. Balmaghie, Kirkmaiden. — The floor of the dwelling-house must 

 never be swept towards the door, but towards the hearth. 



247. Kirkmaiden. — The hearthstone is accounted the most sacred part 

 of the dwelling-house. 



248. Kells. — When Kirkdale House, in the parish of Anwoth, was 

 built, the man that laid down the first load of stones for the buildino- 

 of it was hanged for the murder of a woman whom he had led astray, and 

 the mason that laid the first stone of it was killed in the course of its 



