ON THE ETUNOGRAPHICAL SURVEY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. 473 



405. Miniiigaff. — It is accounted unlucky to shoot a magpie. My 

 informant's father would on no account shoot one. 



406. Kirkmaide)i. — 



Yin's sorrow, 

 Twa's mirth, 

 Three's a beerial, 

 Fowr's a birth. 



407. Minnigaff. — 



Yin's sorrow, 



Twa's mirth, 



Three's a funeral, 



Fowr's a birth. 



Five's a ship on the sea, 



or. 



Five's a message from over the sea, 



"O'- 



Six is a letter coming to me 



o 



408. Kells.— 



Yin's sorrow, 

 Twa's mirth, 

 Three's a beerial, 

 Fowr's a birth. 

 Five's rain, 

 Seven's frost. 

 The worst o' a'. 



409. Forfar.— 



Ane's sorrow, 



Twa's mirth, 



Three's a weddan, 



Fowr's a birth. 



Five's a cirs'nan. 



Six is hell 



Saiven's the deevil himsel'. 



410. Ayrshire. — The formula regarding the magpie when seen by a 

 woman great with child is : — 



Y'in's joy, 

 Tway's grief, 

 Three's a girl, 

 Fowr's a boy. 



411. Minnigaff. — "When one sees a magpie the words : 'Sorrow to you 

 and none to me ' are called out. 



412. Balmaghie. — 



Yin's sorrow, 

 Twa's mirth. 

 Three's a beerial, 

 Fowr's a birth. 

 Five's a waddin'. 

 Six is a ship sailin'. 



