tive names for natural objects. There exists a very
curious ancient poem in that language which professes to enumerate the
whole fauna of the island. It is founded on the legend that Fian
MacCumhaill was made prisoner by Cormac MacArt, king of Erinn; that the
victor promised to give him freedom on condition that, as a ransom, a
pair of each wild animal found in Ireland were brought before him on the
green of Tara. Cailte MacRonain, the foster-brother of the captive
general undertook the task, and succeeded in bringing the collection
before the king within a twelvemonth; and in the poem, he is supposed to
narrate to St Patrick the detail and result of his enterprise. Of this
poem, which is considered to be as early as the ninth century, the
reader may like to see the following translation by Mr Eugene Curry,
containing the zoological portion:--

"I then went forth to search the lands,
To see if I could redeem my chief,
And soon returned to noble Tara,
With the ransom that Cormac required.

"I brought with me the fierce _Geilt_,[28]
And the tall _Grib_[29] with talons,
And the two Ravens of Fid-da-Beann,
And the two Ducks of Loch Saileann.

"Two Foxes from Sliabh Cuilinn,
Two Wild Oxen[30] from Burren,
Two Swans from the dark wood of Gabhran,
And two Cuckoos from the wood of Fordrum.

"Two _Toghmalls_[31] from Fidh-Gaibhle,
Which is by the side of the two roads,
And two Otters after them,
From the brown-white rock of Dobhar.

"Two Gulls from Tralee hither,
Two _Ruilechs_[32] from Port Lairge (Waterford),
Four _Snags_[33] from the River Brosna,
Two Plovers from the rock of Dunan.

"Two _Echtachs_[34] from the lofty Echtghe,
Two Thrushes from Letter Longarie,
Two _Drenns_[35] from Dun Aife,
The two _Cainches_[36] of Corraivte.

"Two Herons from the hilly Corann,
The two _Errfiachs_[37] of Magh Fobhair,
The two Eagles of Carrick-na-Cloch,
Two Hawks from the wood of Caenach.

"Two Pheasants from Loch Meilge,
Two Water-hens from Loch Eirne,
Two Heath-hens from the Bog of Mafa,
Two Swift Divers from Dubh Loch.

"Two _Cricharans_[38] from Cualann,
Two Titmice from Magh Tualang,
Two Choughs from Gleann Gaibhle,
Two Sparrows from the Shannon.

"Two Cormora