_Rats and Mice._—When a place is infested to a troublesome extent with rats or mice, and all other means of getting rid of the pests have failed, the object can be accomplished by composing a song, advising them to go away, telling them where to go, and what road to take, the danger awaiting them where they are, and the plenty awaiting them in their new quarters. This song is called the Rat (or Mouse) Satire, and if well composed the vermin forthwith take their departure. When the islet of Calv (_an Calbh_, the inner door), which lies across the mouth of Tobermory harbour, was let in small holdings, the rats at one time became so numerous that the tenants subscribed sixpence a-piece, and sent for _Iain Pholchrain_ to Morven, to come and satirize the rats away. He came and made a long ode, in which he told the rats to go away peaceably, and take care not to lose themselves in the wood. He told them what houses to call at, and what houses (those of the bard’s own friends) to avoid, and the plenty and welcome stores—butter and cheese, and meal—to be got at their destination. It is said that after this there was an observable decrease in the number of rats in the island! An Ardnamurchan man, pestered with mice, in strong language tried to get them away, and all who have had experience of the annoyance, will heartily join him in his wishes. The poet, with whips and switches, gathers the mice in a meadow near a stream, and sends a number of the drollest characters in the district to herd them, and ‘old men, strong men, striplings, and honest matronly women, with potato beetles,’ to chase them. At last he gets them on board a boat at _Eabar an ròin_, and sends them to sea. “The sea roaring boisterously, The ocean heaving and weltering, The tearing sound of sails splitting, The creaking of the keel breaking, The bilge water through the hull splashing Like an old horse neighing.” And leaving them in this evil plight, the song ceases. _Cormorant._—This bird passes through three stages of existence; it is “seven years a scart (_pelecanus cristatus_), seven years a speckled loon (_colymbus arcticus_), and seven years a cormorant (_pelecanus carbo_)” (_Seachd bliadhna na sgarbh, seachd bliadhna na learg, ’s seachd bliadhna na bhallaire bodhain_). _Magpie._—The pyet (_piaghaid_) is called ‘the messenger of the Campbells’ (_Gille ruith nan Caimbeulach_), a name also given (for what reason the writer has not been able to ascertain) to a person who is ‘garrulous, lying, interfering with everbody’ (_gobach, briagach, ’g obair air na h-uile duine_). It is said of a meddling chatterbox, “What a messenger of the Campbells you have become!” It is ‘little happiness’ (_beagan sonais_) for any one to kill a magpie.