Story about the bird Langai [langaid or guillemot], 1867
Scope and Contents
Story about the bird Langai [langaid or guillemot] probably collected from Roderick MacNeil, aged 88, crofter, MiĆ¹ghlaigh/Mingulay describing its seemingly unjust feeding behaviour in which two guillemots feed their peite [chick] but the bigger chick does not finish its food so the parent of the smaller chick takes it and gives it to its young instead. The parent of the larger one returns, sees that its chick has nothing and goes to the smaller chick, picks it up in its bill and throws it over the precipice. The informant also states that a Mingulay woman has had a pet gull for seven years 'It goes am[ong] all the houses in the place can un[derstand] all said to it and do what is said to it.' The text ink has been smudged probably by water droplets and contains one pencil amendment.
Dates
- Creation: 1867
Language of Materials
Gaelic English
Conditions Governing Access
This material is unrestricted.
Extent
From the Series: 88 folios ; 16.6 x 19.8 cm
Physical Location
5.07
Physical Location
folio 67v, line 1 to folio 67v, line 16
Subject
- MacNeil, Roderick, c1790-1875 (Person)
Creator
- From the Fonds: Carmichael, Alexander, 1832-1912 (Excise officer | folklorist and antiquarian | Edinburgh | Scotland) (Person)
- From the Fonds: Watson, William John, 1865-1948 (Professor of Celtic) (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
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Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
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