472 EEPORT— 1897. 



The Wren. 



384. Kirkmaiden, Balmayhie. — It is unlucky to kill a wren. 



385. Babnaghie. — It brings ill luck to harry a wren's nest. 



The RoUn. 



386. Babnaghie, Kirkmaiden. — It is accounted unlucky to kill a robin 



387. Babnaghie. — 



The robin and the wran 

 Sits at God's I'icht han'. 



388. Babnaghie. — It is accounted unlucky to harry a robin's nest. 



The Lark. 



389. Babnaghie. — 'Geed the laverack's heicht, I cudna follow.' 



The Peewit. 



390. Kirkmaiden. — The Peeweet is called Tappitie-wheet. 



391. Babnaghie. — 



Peeweet, peeweet, 



I built my nest in a coo's fit, 



An I rue it, I rue it. 



The Cuckoo. 



392. Dab-y. — The first time of the season one hears a cuckoo, the 

 number of times the bird utters its note indicates the number of years till 

 marriage or death, according as the one that hears may be married or 

 unmarried. 



393. It is unlucky to hear the cuckoo for the first time of the season 

 when one is in bed or before breakfast. 



394. Borgue. — It is unlucky to shoot a cuckoo. 



395. Corsock. — The first time one hears the note of the cuckoo, let her 

 or him turn three times round, and below the foot will be found a hair of 

 the colour of the hair of the future husband or wife. 



The Rook. 



396. Mochrum. — It is regarded as lucky to see crows (rooks) about the 

 dwelling-house. 



397. When crows fly low, rain is not far off". 



398. Dab-y. — It is unlucky to destroy a rookery. 



399. Borgue. — In days gone by it was accounted unlucky to shoot 

 crows. 



400. Rerrick. — Rooks ' diving,' i.e., flying up and down and wheeling, is 

 an indication of a breeze. 



The Magjyie. 



401. Kirkmaiden. — The magpie is I'egai'ded as a bird of ill omen. 



402. Mochrinn, Dairy. — ^It is unlucky to see a single magpie. 



403. Minnigaff. — It is considered unlucky to see a single magpie when 

 one is going a journey. 



404. Borgue. — The appearance of three magpies near a dwelling-house 

 is an indication that a funeral will soon go from that house. 



