The name _Faoilleach_ is said to mean “Wolf-month,” from _faol_, wild, whence also _faol-chu_, a wolf, lit. a wild dog. It embraces the last 14 days of winter and the first 14 days of spring, the former being called the winter Faoilleach (_am Faoilleach geamhraidh_), the latter the spring (_am Faoilleach Earraich_). It is also known as “the Dead Month” (_a’ marbh mhiòs_). Winter is still ruling the inverted year, and all nature seems to be dead. The trees have long lost their foliage, the grass gives no sign as yet of returning growth, and fields and fallows are bare. When over all there is a coating of snow the name of “Dead Month” appears peculiarly appropriate. The time, being reckoned by old style, corresponds almost exactly to the present month of February, and the saying that “every month in the year curses a fair February.” is amply corroborated by the Gaelic sayings regarding it. Old men liked it to commence with a heavy storm and end with a calm, or (to use their own words) “to come in with the head of a serpent and go out with a peacock’s tail” (_tighinn a stigh le ceann na nathrach, ’s dol amach le earball peucaig_). There are to be three days of calm during it, according to the saying, “Three days of August in February, and three days of February in August” (_trì la Faoilleach san Iuchar, ’s trì la Iuchar san Fhaoilleach_). Both the February calm and the August storm, however, have become proverbial for their uncertainty and short duration. “February calm and August wind” (_Fia’ Faoilleach is gaoth Iuchar_) are the most fickle things in the world. In the north it was said mist in February means snow next day (_Ceò san Fhaoilleach, sneachda maireach_). Old people said, “Better the land be plundered than a calm morning in February.”[56] The most unreasonable of expectations is to expect black “brambles in February” (_smeuran dubha san Fhaoilleach_). It is unfortunate if the heat of this season is such, as old men say they have seen it, that the cattle run with the heat; but it is a healthy sign of the season if men go about with their hands wrinkled with the cold till they resemble an animal’s hoof, and kept in their pockets (anciently belts) for warmth. “Wild month, wild month, hoof in belt Much rejoicing should be held; Cows and sheep running in heat, Weeping and wailing then are meet.”[57] It was said to be as unnatural to hear thunder at this time as to hear a calf lowing in its mother’s womb (_laogh a geumraich am broinn a mhàthiar_). _Earrach beag nam Faochag._ “The little Spring of Whelks” is the period from Christmas (_Nollaig_) to St Bride’s day, or beginning of February. That species of shellfish is then at its best, and the soup made from it, called _siabh_ or _brochan fhaochag_, was deemed as good as flesh. ST. BRIDE’S DAY.