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

258 CROW
even more objectionable than the ordinary carrion crow : all is
fish that comes to his net, on mountain, plain, or shore ; a peculiar
and sacfacious habit of his in the latter locality being the raising
of shellfish and crabs in his beak or talons some distance into the
air, and letting them drop on a stone or rock for the purpose of
getting at the contents : thej'^ are particularly partial to the crogan
or large periwinkle, which is hence called " crogan-feannaig." The
carrion-crow lays five eggs: its name, "gor-crow," is from "gor"
or " gaor," filth, etc. A childish idea has gained some currency, viz.,
that the "crows' parliament," so called, is systematically held by
these birds for pronouncing judgment and punishing or executing
a victim or victims for certain misdemeanours ; this is not the case,
the birds only gathering for company's sake.
" The gale (or guile), the Gordon, and the hoodie-craw are the
three worst things that Moray ever saw," is a well-known saying.
The gale or guile is thought by some to be the wild thyme, but
more correctly the marigold, which, where plentiful, betokens
light soil. The Gordons were the special plunderers of the
district. The crow, according to Celtic belief, cannot be put to
shame ; for when the lapwing says, " I never saw your like for
stealing eggs," he answers, " Nor did we ourselves, tho' 'tis we
who are older." The royston or hoodie-crow (feannag) plays a
prominent part in folk-lore tales such as have been collected by
Campbell, who describes it as a "sly, familiar, knowing bird."
The following is one of many : —
AN FHEANNAG A' TEAGASG THE CROW TEACHING ITS
A' CHORRACHDAIN. CHICK.
Thoisich an fheannag air teagasg The hoodie-crow began to teach
a' ghorrachdain 's thuirt i ris, " Ma its chick, and she said to it : " If you
chi thu fear a tighinn agus stichd see a man coming, and a thin stick
chaol 'na asgaill agus ceann leathann 'neath his arm, and a broad end on
oirre, teich ; 'se gunna bhios ann ; it, fly, it will be a gun ; he will be
bidh e dol ga d' mharbhadh. Ma going to kill you. If you see one
chi thu fear a tighinn agus e togail coming and lifting a stone, 'tis for
doirneig, 's ann 'ga togail a dhol the purpose of killing you he lifts it,
go d' mharbhadh-sa bhitheas e; fly. If you see a man coming without
teich. Ma chi thu fear a tighinn anything, and walking upright, and
lom, direach, 's gun ni sam bith 'na nothing 'neath his arm, and not
asgaill, 's gun e cromadh, cha ruig bending, you need not move ; that
thu leas carachadh ; cha bhoin am man will not touch you." "What,"
fear sin duit. " Gu de," ars an said the chick, " if the stone be in
gorrachdan, " ma bhios a' chlach 'na his pocket?" " Oh," said the crow,
phoca?" " O," ars' an fheannag, " I need not teach you any more."
cha ruig mise leas a bhi ga d'
ionnsachadh na 's fhaide."
The Crowberry in Gaelic is " Lus-na-feannaig," also written
fionnag, fiannag, fiadhag ; also "caor'-feannaig,'' etc.
The proverbial sayings in reference to this "knowing" bird
are fairly numerous ; some are :—