i8 9 2-93-] 577 



On alighting at, or departing from, a particular spot, their rapid 

 motion through the air creates a noise somewhat resembling 

 the loud humming of bees when swarming from a hive. Some- 

 times what is called a Shee gaoithe, in English a whirlwind, is 

 supposed to have been raised by the passing of the fairy host. 

 Sometimes they go out hunting, and in the calm summer 

 evenings may be heard the sound of horns, cry of dogs, tramp 

 of horses, cracking of whips, and " tally-ho " of huntsmen. 



It is only at a distance that fairies appear graceful in figure or 

 handsome in countenance, but their clothes are always of rich 

 and fine material. Frequently they change their shapes ; they 

 suddenly appear, and as suddenly vanish. These elves are 

 found on a near inspection to be old, withered, bent, and having 

 very ugly features, especially the men, though the female fairies 

 are often lovely. Fairies are generally supposed by the country 

 people to have a mixed nature, partly human and partly spiritual, 

 but at the same time to have no solid substance, unless they 

 assume this for a time to enable them to carry out some plan 

 or trick against mortals. Although invisible to men, at least 

 during the day, they hear and see all that takes place among 

 them, especially any things that seem to concern themselves : 

 hence the peasantry are always anxious to have their good 

 opinion and kind offices, and try to turn away their anger by 

 civil doings and kind acts. It is considered unfriendly and 

 wicked to strain potatoes, or spill hot water over the threshold 

 of a door, as thousands of invisible little creatures are supposed 

 sometimes to gather at such a spot and to suffer from such 

 doings. 



The fairies appear, like human beings in Ireland, to belong 

 to certain districts, for although we hear of the king and queen 

 of the Irish fairies, we also know by many a tale of the king and 

 queen of the Ulster fairies, or the Munster or Connaught ones. 

 They are sufficiently quarrelsome among themselves, and some- 

 times desperate battles with opposing bands hostile to each 

 other are waged ; some are like knights in complete armour. 

 The air bristles with their spears and flashing swords, their 



