School: Baile Uí Mheirigín, Merginstown

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1. The Birds (continued)

   

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   or four blue eggs
   The curlew is a fairly large sized bird with a crooked beak. She lays two large green eggs with brown specks on them She builds her nest in a meadow field or in a bog. When the curlew is heard whistling rain may be expected.
   The robin builds her nest in a bush. Sometimes you might find a robin's nest in an old kettle or tea pot that would be thrown out. The robin lays about five white eggs with brown specks When the robin comes into a house early in winter it is said that a hard winter will follow. When our Lord was being crucified the robins were trying to help Him and their breasts got covered with His Blood. That is how the robin got its red breast.
   The wren builds her nest in many places. She may build it in a bush or in the eve of a thatched house, or inside a house. When she builds it in a bush she puts a roof on it. Then she scoops a hole inside to pass through. The wren lays about twelve or thirteen eggs twice in the year. The wren is called

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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

   Joseph Perkins

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Merginstown, Co. Wicklow

   Informant

   Mr Joseph Perkins

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   74

   Address

   Mullycagh Lower, Co. Wicklow