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

412 MOTH— REPTILE
moke, mote, moutl ; Nicht-hawk, night butter-flooge (A. S ) ;
Oolert, owl (Sussex) ; Puss-moth ; Saul, sphmx ; Tiger.
In the Scottish island of Arran, the moth is called " a chuibhle-
mhor," or the great wheel, from its habit of going round the light,
certainly nuich as other moths do ; it also there gets the name of
" tarbh-nathrach." In some places the moth is called a witch
and thought to be uncanny. The eggs of the moth are called
" guirean " and " sal," blot or scum. The caterpillars of the codlin-
moth are most destructive to apples, the moths arriving just when
the blossoms open, the female laying her egg on the skin of the
newly-formed fruit, which is hatched in a few days, the pest
eating its way into the apple.
N
NEWT (see Lizard). — Arc or arch-luachair, art-luachra ;
Dearc-luachi'ach, dochi-luachair ; Liugair, liugaire.
Anevet, a neut, a nevet, arriman, asgal, ask, askard, aske,
askel, asker, askern (Salop) ; Cocktyeft}', cuddyevat, cuttyevat or
evet ; Dark-looker ; Efeta, efete, effet (A. S.), eft, eirgt, eschar
(North), evet, evete, ewitt ; Hoyt (Bucks) ; Lewker ; Man-creeper
or keeper ; Yolt (Glouc).
Properly an ewt or eft, signifying an animal that goes in water.
In some places a dread exists that they are prone to go down
a sleeping person's throat. Terrible tales are told round the fireside
in regard to this alleged habit, one of which describes the extrac-
tion of no less than thirteen of the "alp-luachra " from one man's
stomach. The male has an orange-coloured belly, red-tipped tail,
and olive back, and is at once beautiful and harndess.
NIT (see also Louse). — Sneadh, sneamh ; Ubh mial.
From Teutonic " hnit " ; Aryan " knid," to tease, to make itch,
attack, thrust.
PALMER MAGGOT WORM (see Worm).
PISMIRE (see Ant).
R
REPTILE.— Darb, dirb, duchdin (Ir.) ; Ilpiasd ; Snagach,
snaigeach, snaigeau, sumaire ; Tore or tuirc-neimh or nimh.