Page:Shetland Folk-Lore - Spence - 1899.pdf/183

 could have the same mark. If anyone got a lamb from another, an oobregd (off-break) mark must be put thereon. The various sheep marks had names by which they were known, bits, crooks, fidders, and shöls indicating different cuts in the ear. The people were constantly among the hills tending their sheep and kyndin the cows; and there was scarcely a spot that was not called by some appropriate name of Norse origin, such beautiful characteristic names as Grunna Blaet (the green spot), Swarta Blaet (the black or dark spot), Gulla Hammar (the yellow rocks), Rora Klaet (the red rocks). Many others might be named. Animals too had names, generally derived from their colour, such as Sholma (white face), Sponga (spotted), Greema (white spotted on the cheeks), Rigga (having a stripe running along the back), Cullya (polled), etc. These names all end in a, and denote the feminine gender. The masculine of animal names ended in i or e.