ON THE ETHNOGRAPHICAL SURVEY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. 171 



opened the door, and light in hand looked in what direction the bird was 

 looking. That direction indicated the direction from which some piece of 

 bad news was to come. 



363. Kirkmaiden. — When a hen crowed she was killed at once. Such 

 a thing was accounted very unlucky. ' A era win' hen's no sonsey ' and 

 ' A crawin' hen an' a whisslin' lass is no sonsey ' and ' Whisslin' maidens an' 

 crawing hens are no lucky aboot ony man's hoose,' are three saws. 



364. Kirkmaiden. — The small egg a hen sometimes lays bears the 

 names of a ' nocht ' and ' a mock.' Such an occurrence is regarded as the 

 forerunner of some piece of misfortune. 



365. Minnigaff. — The first egg a hen lays is called a 'maiden egg.' 



366. Kirkmaiden. — A hen is set in the evening after sunset. 



367. Portlogan. — A hen is not set during the month of May. TJie 

 saying about chickens hatched in May is : 



Come oot in May 

 Moom for aye. 



368. Portlogan. — A hen hatches as many chickens as the days of the 

 moon's age when she is set. 



369. Kirkmaiden. — A hen is set with an odd number of eggs, 

 commonly thirteen. 



370. Kirkmaiden. — If the tread is right on the top of the egg, a cock- 

 bird is hatched, if it is towards the side a hen-bird comes forth. 



371. Kirkmaiden. — If a black spot is painted on the egg of a white 

 hen before it is placed for hatching, the bird hatched will have a black 

 spot. 



372. Balmaclellan. — It is considered unlucky if a hen lays a very 

 small egg. Guidwives did not like to get such an egg. 



373. Balmaclellan. — A hen is set in the gloaming with the number of 

 thirteen eggs. 



374. Laurieston. — It is unlucky to have a crowing hen about the 

 house. 



Sea-hirds. 



375. Kirkmaiden, Balmaghie. — When sea-birds fly inland, a storm is 

 approaching. 



376. Mochrum. — The cormorant bears the name of Mochrum Elder. 



377. Rerrick. — The cormorant is called Colvend Elder. 



378. It is accounted unlucky by some to shoot a cormorant. 



The Swallotv. 



379. Balmaghie. — If swallows come to a house it is accounted lucky. 



380. Kirkmaiden. — It is unlucky to do harm to a swallow's nest. 



381. Dairy. — It is unlucky to injure swallows in any way. 



382. Kirkmaiden. — 



Sit and see the swallow flee, 

 Gang and hear the gowk gell, 

 The foal afore its mither's ee, 

 An that 'ill be a guid year for thee. 



383. Borgue. — It is unlucky to shoot a swallow. 



