Blair Collection > Carmina gadelica > Volume 2

NOTES 251
Clacharan, cloichirean, wheatear, stone-bird. The wheatear is facetiously
called ' fear na Feill Padruig/ bird of the Feast of Patrick, because
he appears then. The people speak of the wheatear as 'slant/
sained, as, they say, he lies dormant during winter. Ornithologists
are not agreed on this point. It has not been the privilege of
the \vTÌter to see the wheatear dormant, but he has conversed
with several reliable men who assured him that they had so
seen it.
Donald MacMurdoch, crofter, Bailemeadhonach, Islay, said
that he and his boys were clearing away a fail-dyke in mid-
winter, when they came upon great numbers of wheatears in
hollows in the turf. The birds were stiff and cold, and to all
appearance dead. The boys took home a bonnetful of the
wheatears and placed them on the floor round the fire. Bj'
degrees the apparently dead birds began to show signs of
returning life, and to rise to their feet, and to flap their wings,
and to fly about, though evidently weak and dazed. Many flew
out at the open door to fall witli the falling snow, others died,
while some lived for several days. Donald MacMurdoch is a
most intelligent man, and a very observant naturalist.
Donald MacColl, foxlnniter, Glencreran, said that one winter,
early in the century, a long stretch of undermined bank fell down
on the road. Among the debris of roots, moss, and gravel there
were masses of wheatears, apparently dead. There had been
long-continued frost, followed by a sudden thaw and abnormal
heat. The birds exposed to the warmtli of the sun showed signs
of reviving life. Boys and girls took home many of the dormant
birds and brought them to life before tiieir home fires. People
from distant places came to see the strange phenomenon. Donald
MacCtill visited the place several times, and he was an entirely
trustworthy man and a minute observer.
Clar, clarsack, harp, harp stave. The harp was common throughout
the Highlands and Islands down to modern times. The poems
and proverbs are full of sayings about harps and harpers : —
• Piobair an aona phuirt. The piper of the one tune,
'S clarsair an t-seana phuirt.' And the harper of the old tune.
' Chan eil tend am chlarsaich, There is not a chord in ray harp,
Bho 'n a dh' fhag mo run mi.' Since my lover has left me.
' Dheanadh Eoghan clarsaichean Koglian would make harps
Nan cuireadh cacha ceol annt.' If others would put melody in them.