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

304 MAVIS— NIGHTINGALE
MAVIS (see also Thrush). — Cullionag (lit. holly-bird) ;
Smaolach, smeol, smeolach^ smeor, smeorach ; Truideag.
Common thrush ; Garden-thrush ; Linnet-ousel or ouzle ; Mavie,
mavish, mawish, mawysse (A. S.), mevies^ missel-thrush ; Ousel,
ouzle ; Song-thrush ; Thristle-cock, throstle, thrush.
Ousel or ouzle is from " Ansala."
The mavis or thrush is supposed in the Highlands to sing in
Gaelic. It was said by some ardent seceders in or after 1843 to
have been heard saying or singing : —
An eaglais shaor 's i 's fhearr.
An eaglais shaor "s i 's fhearr,
Na ' moderates,' na ' moderates,'
Cha 'n fhiach iad, cha 'n fhiach iad !
The Free Kirk's best by far, the Free Kirk's best by far.
The Moderates, the Moderates
Are worthless, are worthless !
Many Gaelic or Celtic songs to this bird and also personifying
it are extant ; among the most notaI)le of the latter are the well
known Smeorach Chlann Raonuill ; Thorra Ghoill, etc., etc.
Cha dean aon smeorach samhradh.
One mavis makes not summer.
Cha 'n 'eil port a sheinneas an smeorach 's an Fhaoilleach,
nach caoin i mu'n ruith an t-Earrach.
For every song the mavis sings in February, she'll lament
ere spring be over.
Cho binn ri smeorach air geig.
As tuneful as a mavis on a bough. The ne plus ultra of
sweetness.
MERGANSER (see also Duck). — Crann-lach ; Tumaire.
Bar-drake ; Diving-goose ; Earl-duck ; Gi'ey-diver ; Harle,
harle-duck, herald, herald-duck ; Land harlan, lesser-toothed
diver; Popping wigeon ; Sawbill, sawbill wigeon, sawneb, scale-
duck.
MERLIN (see Falcon, etc.). — Meirneal.
Rock-hawk ; Sparrow-hawk, stone-falcon.
MISSEL-THRUSH (see Thrush).
N
NIGHTINGALE.— Beul-bhinn or binn; Eosag ; Lon (Dean
of Lismore); Ros-an-ceol ; Seiniolach, smileach, smileag, smiol,
smiolach, smoltach, spideag.
Barley-bird ; Nightgale (Morte d'Arthur) ; Rosignell.
From ''niht," night, and "gale," a singer — a night singer.
Not heard much— if at all — in either Scotland or Ireland.