Billy-GoatsAuthor(s): Phyllis GardnerSource: Folklore, Vol. 44, No. 2 (Jun., 1933), p. 218Published by: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. on behalf of Folklore Enterprises, Ltd.Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1255820 .

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218 Collectanea

MacCecht was passing across the third ridge towards the house he saw two men striking off Conaire's head. One man he struck down as he fled; and after the other, who was flying with the

king's head in his hand, he flung a pillar-stone that chanced to be beneath his feet, and it broke his spine. Then Mac- Cecht flung the water of the cup over the neck and gullet of Conaire .... After this MacCecht followed the foe and he routed them.

ELEANOR HULL

BILLY-GOATS

AN old gardener in Berkshire tells me that when he was young he worked on a farm where a large number of cattle were kept. There was always a billy-goat as well, and the explanation given to him was that if any illness were about to attack the cattle, it would fall first on the billy-goat, and the cattle would escape. As this is quite contrary to modern ideas of infection, it seems to fall more into line with the ancient Hebrew idea of the scapegoat.

Many livery-stables and mews in London, where horses were

kept, kept a billy-goat as well. The reason given in this case was usually that the billy-goat is less liable to lose his head in case of fire or other emergency than the average horse, and that in case of fire, if the billy-goat were led out first, the horses would follow without panic.

But although this is a rational explanation enough, is it not more likely that originally the billy-goats of London stables were kept to ward off evil in whatever shape ?

PHYLLIS GARDNER

MIDSUMMER AND MORRIS IN PORTUGAL

THE people in the northernmost province of Portugal, Entre Douro e Minho, are of the same race as the Galicians to the north of them again, and are therefore largely of Celtic blood.

They are of medium height or tall, their eyes are often a clear grey, and they show no signs of Moorish or African taint. Like all Portuguese their language is the same form of Romance as that used in Galicia.

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