A YOUNG man was consecrated before he went out to hunt. Oil was put on his head, a bow was placed in his hand, and he was required to stand with bare feet on the bare grassless ground. The dedication of the young hunter was akin to those of the 'maor,' the judge, the chief, and the king, on installation. Many conditions were imposed on the young man, which he was required to observe throughout life. He was p. 311 not to take life wantonly. He was not to kill a bird sitting, nor a beast lying down, and he was not to kill the mother of a brood, nor the mother of a suckling. Nor was he to kill an unfledged bird nor a suckling beast, unless it might be the young of a bird, or of a beast, of prey. It was at all times permissible and laudable to destroy certain clearly defined birds and beasts of prey and evil reptiles, with their young.
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| BHO m’ leasraidh   ghineadh thu a mhic, An ainm   Sheumais, Pheadail, agus Phail, An ainm Phadra   naoimh nam feart, An ainm   Mhicheil mil nan slogh, An trath a   dhuineas to do shuil, | 
 | FROM my loins   begotten wert thou, my son, In name of   James, and Peter, and Paul, In name of   Patrick holy of the deeds, In name of   Michael chief of hosts, The time thou   shalt have closed thine eye, | |
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 | Eala bhan a   ghlugaid bhinn, Air an ite   bitheadh iad a ghnath Chan ith thu   farasg no blianach, Eala shith   Bhride nan ni, | 
 | The white swan   of the sweet gurgle, On the wing be   they always Thou shalt not   eat fallen fish nor fallen flesh, The fairy swan   of Bride of flocks, |