190 
Da thraghna a srothaibh Sinna, 
Di ghlaisedice a bhruachaib Birra, 
Da chrotach a chuan nGailbhe, 
Di screchéice a Mbhuirtheimhne. 
Di gheilt glinne Ghleanna Smdil 
Di bhaidbh Atha Mogha moir, 
Da onchoinn luatha a Loch Con, 
Di chait a huaimh Chruachon. 
Da chadhla a Sith Gabhrain gil, 
Di mhuic do mhucaibh Mie Lir, 
Reithe is caera chorcra chas, 
Do radas liom 6 Aonghas. 
Tucas liom each agus lair 
Do ghroigh mhaisigh Mhanannain, 
Tarbh is ban bho a Druim Cain 
Fuaras féin 6 Mhuirn Mhunchain. 
Spireog is still a living word in the very locality here referred to, and signifies the spar- 
row-hawk. Giraldus Cambrensis has a chapter upon birds in his “‘ Topographia Hiber- 
nia,” which, although abounding in the absurdities of writers upon Natural History at 
that period, and presenting in an especial manner the peculiar prejudices of this writer, 
is, névertheless, not devoid of interest. ‘‘ This kingdom produces,” he says, “in greater 
abundance than other countries, hawks, falcons, and ospreys, to which nature has given, for 
the pleasure of the nobles (in hawking), courageous breasts, crooked and sharp beaks, 
and feet armed with talons.” He also remarks upon the circumstance of the nests of birds 
of prey not increasing, although the animals themselves reproduce annually. “The num- 
ber of eagles seen here is,” he says, ‘no less than that of kites seen in other countries.” 
Cranes, he says, collected in his time in such numbers, that one hundred might fre- 
quently be seen together. This, probably, refers to the true crane then common in Ire- 
land, and now replaced by the heron. As a specimen of the credulity of the period, may 
be mentioned the following notice of the crane from this quaint writer :—‘t These birds 
keep watch by night, each one a night in its turn, for the common safety, resting on one 
foot, and having the other foot under its wing, with a stone in it, that by its fall, if 
asleep, perchance, crept on it, the bird being roused, may immediately return to its office 
of watch-holding.” 
41 Birra.—Now Birr, or Parsonstown, a large town in the King’s County, adjoining 
the county of Tipperary. 
42 Muirtheimhne.—A level plain along the sea, in the county of Louth, comprising 
Dundalk, &c. 
43 Glenn-a-Smoil.—The Glen of the Thrush, beyond Rathfarnham, in the county of 
Dublin, near the source of the River Dodder. For Getlé Glinne, the maniac of the woods, 
see Geilt, p. 185. i 
44 Badhbh, the gray or scald crow. p 
45 4th Mogha.— Now Ballymoe, upon the River Suck, county of Galway, on the borders 
of Roscommon, near Castlereagh. There are many legends relating to this glen. 
46 Loch Con.—One of the great chain of the Mayo lakes, stretching between Galway 
Bay and Killala, still celebrated as a locality for the otter. 
47 Cruachain.—The cave of Ratheroghan, now Rawcroghan, the site of the ancient 
palace of the Kings of Connaught, near Castlereagh, county of Roscommon. The stone 
passage here alluded to still exists, and is the scene of many legends, both ancient and 
modern. I remember, whena hoy, being warned by one of the old people against enter- 
