Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/267

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mentioned by O'Flaherty in his History of Yar Connaught, "of which kind the white-faced otter is very rare. It is never killed, they say, but with the loss of man or dog; and its skin is mighty precious." It is larger than ordinary, and has a white breast: it is called the king of the otters. A great virtue of its skin is that the owner is always fortunate in battles, and victory is always on his side.

The sea-birds, such as the guillemot, which never flies over the land, but lives altogether in the cliffs or on the sea, is considered to be a fish and not a fowl, and is eaten on fast days.

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In very ancient times some of the Clan Coneely, one of the early septs of the county, were changed by "art magick" into seals; since then no Coneely can kill a seal without afterwards having bad luck. Seals are called Coneelys, and on this account many of the name changed it to Connelly.

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It is said that at one time there were none in Ireland. O'Flaherty, in his History of Yar Connaught, written in 1684, says there are no rats in it.

On the shore of MacDara's island there is a stone called the "Captive's Stone," where, until very lately, women during low water gathered ililuk. This was supposed to gain the intercession of the saint for a friend in captivity. MacDara is the patron saint of the sailor, and sailors when passing the island always dip their sails thrice, if not they are sure to be shipwrecked.

St. MacDara's real name was Sinach, a fox. Of his name Hardiman thus writes:—"It is a curious coincidence that the name of this favourite saint of our western fishermen should be that of an animal which, of all others, they most abhor. So great is their aversion to a fox,