School: Borrisoleigh, Glenkeen (roll number 590)

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1. Bird-Lore

   

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   The wild birds to be found in this district are the robin wren yellow hammer, lark blackbird thrush wagtail, green linnet, bull finch gold finch, chaf finch, sparrow, curlew, hawk. magpie wood-cust[?], plover, starling, corn-crake cuckoo, jackdaw crow, phesant, grouse, partridge, wild duck, swallow. Some of these birds migrate the swallow the cuckoo and the corn-crakes. Nearly all the birds build their nests in the trees and bushes. The swallows build their nests in the rafters of houses. the cuckoo builds no nest at all, she lays her eggs in another birds nest. The magpies nest is made of sticks the swallows nest is made of mud and sticks, nearly all the other birds build their nests of moss and hair. Some birds eggs are of a blue colour others brown and speckled. Boys are told by their parents if they rob birds nests they would get a very sore hand. The weather can be judged by the birds, it is believed that when the swallows fly low it is a sign of rain and if they fly high up in the sky it is a sign of fine weather or if the curlew is crying loudly it is a sign of bad weather. The robin is called "robin redbreast" because he has a red breast it is said that when Our Lord was dying on the cross the robin touched His Sacred Wounds and the blood fell upon the robins breast and since that every robin has

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. agents (~1)
      1. animal-lore (~1,185)
         1. bird-lore (~2,478)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Mary Bourke

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Cullahill, Co. Tipperary

   Informant

   Patrick Bourke

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   65

   Address

   Cullahill, Co. Tipperary