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

MOUSE 193
The following, by Aonghus nan aoir, falls to find a place here.
It is given in the Duanaire as " Aoir nan Inch."
A h-uile luch fhiorionn 'us bhoirionn. All ye male and female mice,
Eadar Cnocan Dal-na-carra Between the knoll of Dalnacarra
Agus lonmhar AUt-a-mhuilinn, And the mouth of Millburn,
Bithibh uUamh gu dol thairis. Be ready to cross.
Gabhaibh seachad air an dam, Take your way across the dam
Beagan am braigh a mhuilinn, A little above the mill,
Cumaibh sios rathad-mor an Diuc Hold down the Duke's high road
Seachad cul Tom-na-h-aire. Past the back of Tomnaharry ;
Ruigibh an sin Drochaid Nibheis, Then make for the Nevis bridge,
Tha e tiorani, 's bithibh thairis. It is dry, and get across ;
Gabhaibh sios cul nan garadh. Go down by the back of the wall,
Seachnaibh an t-sraid, tha i soilleir. Avoid the street, it is bright,
Mu'm much iad sibh fo'n casan Lest they crush you 'neath their feet
'S mu'n t-saltair iad 'n ur goille. And tread upon your throats.
Tha figheadair an ceann shios a bhaile There's a weaver at the lower end of
Agus ciste rahine air a chulaobh. the town
Fanaibh an sin gus an abuich eorna Who has a meal-chest behind him ;
Shiuna, Stay there till the Shuna barley ripens,
Agus cho ceart 's gum beil boinn' And as sure as there's a drop of water
uisg' an Lochaidh in Lochy
Cuimhnichibh an t-ordugh 'chleach- Remember to observe this injunction !
dadh.
Though not a bird the mouse is known to sing, which was
thought peculiarly unlucky, this is true — to the mouse, as the
singing arises from or is caused by a bronchial disease which
proves fatal. When a mouse is found dead it is said to mean a
presage of death to the finder, but no particulars as to time, etc.,
seem to exist. Cameron, in his Gaelic names for plants, etc., says.
Mouse-ear chickweed in Gaehc is Cluas-an-luch. Creeping mouse-
ear is Peasair-nan-luch, mice peas, mouse-ear hawkweed, also that
tufted vetch is elsewhere given as Lus-nam-mial, in Ireland,
Lus-midi.
A roasted mouse is said to be a sure cure for the whooping-
cough and jaundice. Paralysis is sure to follow the running of
a field-mouse over the bare feet, and it is specially unlucky for a
field-mouse to pass in front of a cow or horse. We have not
learned whether it is unlucky for the mouse or the others, but
presume the latter.
Every Gaelic-speaking Highlander, it is presumed, is familiar
witli the lines which, it is said, convey mysterious meaning, viz. : —
Rug an luchag uan boirionn
'S thug i dhachaidh cual chonnaidh.
The mousie bore a female lammie
And carried home a load of firewood.
Pi'overbial sayings in connection with the mouse are : —
x\n rud a bhios samhach cha chluinn na luchain e.
What is silent the mice won't hear
N