Of other tales in which the lower animals figure, the three following are noticeable. I.--THE TWO DEER. The young, confident of its own speed and strength, remarked:-- “Sleek and yellow is my skin, And no beast ever planted foot On hillside that could catch me.” The old deer, who knew better, answered, “The young dog black-mouthed And yellow: the first dog Of the first litter. Born in March, And fed on quern meal and goat’s milk, There never planted foot on hillside Beast it could not catch.” (Sleamhuinn ’s buidhe mo bhian, ’S cha do chuir e eang air sliabh Beathach riamh ’bheireadh orm.” “An cuilean bus-dubh buidhe, Ceud chù na saighe Rugadh anns a’ Mhàrt ’S a bheathaichte air gairbhean ’S air bainne ghabhair Cha do chuir e eang air sliabh Beathach riamh nach beireadh e air). Regarding this description of the deer-hound it deserves notice that the word _Màrt_, translated March, denotes any busy time of the year, there being a màrt, or busy season in harvest as well as in spring, _Màrt Fogharaidh_ as well as in _Màrt Earraich_, and that in the islands meal made with the Quern (_Bràthuin_), and from brown oats, which are the kind of oats most common in these islands, is stronger and more nourishing food than common meal. The merits of goat’s milk are well known. This description of the best kind of deer-hound is striking, and was taken down from a reciter in Skye. II.--THE TWO HORSES. Two horses were standing side by side, ready yoked and ready to commence ploughing, when the youngest, who was but newly broken, and a stranger to field work, said, “We will plough this ridge and then that other ridge and after that the next one, and once we have commenced we will do every ridge in sight, and once we have fairly commenced we will not be long in doing the whole field.” The old horse, who had experience of the work, said, “We will plough this furrow itself first.” III.--THE TWO DOGS. There was a big, sleek, honest-looking dog, and a little yelping cur of “low degree” was always annoying him, and barking at him. One day he caught the little cur, and gave him a squeeze and sent it off yelping. When the cur recovered itself it said, “I will not hurt you or touch you, but I will raise an ill report (_droch-alla_) about you.” In pursuance of his threat the cur went among his acquaintances, and such as he himself was. There are many dogs to be found in every town. “Both mongrel puppy whelp and hound And curs of low degree.” and to such the cur related how the big dog for all his smooth appearance and apparent good nature was in reality a cruel, deceitful dog and under all his apparent or seeming good manners, he was ready to fall upon those weaker than himself, whether they gave him cause or not, and if he could do it without being observed give them a bad shaking. He was a dangerous dog and ought to be watched and no wise dog should put himself in his way.