when an ample supply of hares, rabbits, muir fowl, partridges, ptarmigans, snipes, &c., were speedily procured.

The Scots, like the Germans, are fond of singing birds, and do not often kill them. The Nightingale, which has now forsaken the northern part of the island, is supposed to have once frequented the woods of Scotland. Its name in Gaëlic is beautifully expressive of the sweetness of its song, and the character of the bird. In Ros an ceol, the rose music, the melody is put for the melodist, the former being heard when the latter is unseen.

The DRUID-DUBH, erroneously called Lon-dubh, or mountain blackbird, I believe is peculiar to the Alpine regions of the Scotish highlands. It resembles in everything, except its colour, the blue bird of the Alps, mentioned by Bellonius and others. The female is larger than the common blackbird, and the feathers on the back are varied by a beautiful dark green gloss. The cock is distinguished by a snow white collar, or ring about threequarters of an inch broad, round its neck, and above all birds for the loudness and clearness of its notes.

The CNAG, or Lair fligh, a bird like a parrot, which digs its nest with its beak in the trunks of trees, is thought peculiar to the county of Sutherland.*

The numerous sea birds found on the coasts of Scotland and the isles, that form so large a part of the subsistence of the inhabitants of some places, are caught with peculiar dexterity, and by the most adventurous methods, practised only by the hardy and experienced natives.

The Celta had a prejudice against fish, which probably arose from the veneration they paid to the waters.

The

The bird referred to is probably the Pine Grosbeak-Loxia enucleator of Linnæus—or it may be the Crossbill (Loxia Curvirostra). Both birds are rather uncommon, and more frequently met with in the northern counties than elsewhere. ED.

Gaël retained this antipathy, and notwithstanding the numerous lochs, rivers, and arms of the sea which intersect their country, the Highlanders have never paid much attention to angling or other methods of catching the finny tribe. Many of their lakes have never been stocked.*

The Gauls employed themselves very sedulously in hunting, and practised various methods to make sure of the game. The want of food is a strong incentive to the pursuit, which is not always one of pleasure, and however much attached a rude and spirited people may be to the activity and enterprise of the chase, we may believe with Tacitus, that during peace they usually resigned themselves to sleep and repasts.

DOGS were employed by the Gauls both in hunting and in war. The Celtic dogs were excellent in the chase, and those of the Britons were superior to all others. They were so much esteemed, that great numbers were exported not only to Gaul but to Italy, being highly valued by the Romans." They excelled in swiftness, a quality for which all Celtic dogs were celebrated. Those of the Belgæ, Segusi, and Sicambri, were next in value to the British."

Vossius says, that the Latin catulus, a little dog, is a Gallic word. Lewis, in his history of Britain, derives the Roman cynegii, dog keepers, from the British ci, a dog. Ovid uses gallicus canis for a greyhound, and those now called beagles were denominated agassæos and vertragos. The Scots dogs were celebrated all over Europe. Their use in hunting rendered them inestimable to the tribes of

*

A prejudice against fish is a characteristic of rude and uncivilized peoples. The Highlanders of the present day are as fond of fish as their neighbours, though there are some kinds of fish that they will not eat if they can help it, such as the skate, the eel, the flounder, and flat fish generally. ED.

Caledonia, and produced a strong attachment between the hunter and his faithful companion, who was believed to accompany his master to the "airy hall" of his rest. A beautiful lamentation of Umad, an aged warrior, over Gorban, his hound, is preserved in the poem of "Manos,” and it shews, in a strong light, the love of the Highlanders for hunting, and the regard which they have for their dogs, that this ancient composition is at the present day the most universally known among them.'

The docility and attachment of the dog may have arisen from sharing its master's confidence, and receiving his continued attentions. Buffon ascribes these qualities in the Hottentot oxen to their enjoying the same bed and board as their owner, and experiencing his daily care. The Caledonians maintained great numbers of dogs, and the names of some of the most famous are still preserved.* Bran and

* In an old Ossianic ballad taken down from oral recitation by the editor a year or two ago, occur the names of five dogs celebrated among the Fingalians for their courage and speed.

Latha dhiunn a'n Gleann-a-Cheo,

Deichnar-na bha beo dhe 'n Fheinn,

Bha caogad chu a'n lamh gach fir,

Seangshlios, Busdubh, Mollach, Torm a's Treun.

Be sid ainm mo chiulean con;

Bu luath, laidir íad ri gaoith;

Bu ro mhath an siubhal air leirg,
'Sair cholg feirg cha robh iad fáoìn!

A-hunting one day in the Glen of Mist,

Of the Fingalian host were then alive,
Alas, but ten-the last of all the race!

Of brawny deer hounds each of us led five.

Fifty good dogs in all, and mine were named

Smooth skin, Black face, Mollach, Treun and Torm,

Fierce, with their bristles up! my gallant dogs

That in their speed outstripped the howling storm.

Smith's Gallic Ant. p. 255.

Sgeolan were favourites of Fingal, and in Glenlyon, in Perthshire, is pointed out his conabhacan, or stake, to which his hounds were fastened. In the Isle of Sky is a stone which was used by Cathullin for the same purpose. The Irish greyhounds that were used for hunting the wolf, are described as having been bigger of limb and bone than a colt."

The shepherd's dog I believe is peculiar to Scotland. The instinct of this animal is wonderful, and its services incalculable. It will bring the most numerous flock of sheep from the distant mountains, without other assistance, and without missing a single individual!

It is probable the Celts used horses in the chase, after they had been domesticated, but they may have often amused themselves in hunting the animals themselves; for in the northern counties of Europe they were formerly wild, and roamed about in large troops. Even in after ages these animals must have continued to enjoy a freedom approximating to wildness. This is still nearly

Seanghslios is smooth and small loined.

Busdubh is black muzzled.

Mollach is rough and hairy.

Torm is a mighty rushing river.

Treun is strong, mighty.

Appropriate enough names for favourite stag-hounds.

"Bran," an avalanche or landslip.

"Luath," Swift, are the names of dogs famous in Ossianic song.

66

In the, at least, equally genuine Heroic Ballads," occur such dog

"Ird" or "Iurd," the meaning of which it is difficult to tell.

the case in some parts of Scotland, and in the Isles of Orkney and Shetland. All, a Gallic term for a horse, is long gone into disuse, and is only preserved in cab-all, a tamed horse or mare. *

Besides the assistance of horses and dogs, the Gauls endeavoured to secure their prey by assisting the effect of their weapons with poison. With one sort, which Pliny calls vénenum cervarium, they rubbed their arrows, in staghunting; limeum, or hartsbane, was used in the same way." They also dipped the points of their weapons in the juice of hellebore, but in thus studying to render their shot effectual, they took care that the game should not be injured. They immediately cut the flesh from around the wound, and affirmed not only that the venison was uninjured, but that it was much improved, being rendered very tender.

An antique sculpture, representing a boar hunt, was discovered in the province of Narbonne. The animal appears of a very large size, and is attacked by two hunters on foot, each armed with a dart, or venabulum, about 3 feet long, which is held in the right hand, while in the left they carry a piece of cloth, which one of them is about to thrust down the throat of the animal, as it rushes open mouthed on its assailants. This forms the subject of the vignette to this Chapter, only it will be observed, that one of the figures, who is in the same attitude, is omitted. In the portfeuille of M. Lenoir, is a representation of a similar attack, by a single hunter, who, instead of the cloth, wraps his hand in his sagum.

The hunting of the boar was particularly famous among

*Capull or Caball is just the Caballus of the Latin, for which the Celt is indebted, as for so many other words, to the Romans. ED.

a Lib. xxvii. 11.

b

Pliny, xxv.

c Montfaucon.