Blair Collection > Gaelic names of beasts (mammalia), birds, fishes, insects, reptiles, etc

DOG 137
Fifty good dogs in all, and mine were named
Smooth-skin, Black-face, Mollacli (hairy),
Form (mighty rushing), and Treun (strong),
Fierce, with their bristles up, my gallant dogs !
That in their speed outstripjied the howling storm.
But, to Celts, Fingal's dog Bran must take first place, and we
have no hesitation in la^ung before our readers a few descriptive
facts, culled from various sources, in regard to that famous hound.
In the book of the Dean of Lismore, Bran is said to mean " raven,"
but used as an adjective signifying " black." Bran is also said to
mean an avalanche, a landslip, a mountain stream. One or two
descriptions of Bran are as follows : —
Spogan buidh ta air Bran
Tarr-gheal uaine dhath san leirg
Suil mar airneig, spuirean comhlach,
'S da chluais bhiorach ehrodha dhearg.
Or,
Casaibh buidh bha aig Bi'an
Da shlios dhuthaidh a's tarr gheal
Druim uaine mu 'n iadhadh an t'calg.
Or,
Druim uaine mu 'n iadhadh an t'suidhe,
Druim uaine air an suidheadh seal,
Druim uaine air cuilean na seilge,
Druim uaine air dhreach na seilge ;
Da chluais chorrach chro-dhearg,
Da chluais chomhaiita cho deai'g.
A general translation of the above may be given as
Yellow paws that are on Bran,
Belly whitish-grey, heath coloured.
Eye like sloe, crooked claws.
And two sharp-pointed ears, keenly active.
Or,
Yellow paws Bran did have,
Two dark sides and belly white.
And grey back of noble shape.
Or,
A grey back of shape of seat (so broad)
A grey back, a lasting seat,
A grey back on the hunting pup,
A grey back of hunting colour ;
Two sharp ears, keenly active,
Two ears alike, so red.