I know! I know! I know!
The magpie was annoyed at this ignorant assurance, and with bitter sarcasm said: “Since you know, do it then,” and this is why the wood pigeon’s nest is so untidy in our days. In its own mind it knew all about nest building, and was above receiving instruction, and hence its present clumsy way of building its nest. This fable gave rise to a proverb, “As the wood pigeon said to the magpie: ‘I know.’”
It is believed that when wood pigeons are seen in large flocks it is a sign of foul weather.
Woodpecker.
The woodpecker’s screech was a sign of rain. This bird is called by two names in Welsh which imply that it foretold storms; as, Ysgrech y coed, the wood screech, and Caseg y drycin, the storm mare.
These names have found a place in Welsh couplets:—
“Ysgrech y coed!
Mae’r gwlaw yn dod.”The Woodpecker’s cry!
The rain is nigh.
Bardd Nantglyn, Robert Davies, Nantglyn, has an englyn to the woodpecker:—
“I Gaseg y Drycin.”
“Och! rhag Caseg, grêg rwygiant,—y drycin,
Draw accw yn y ceunant,
Ar fol pren, uwch pen pant,
Cyn ’storm yn canu ’sturmant.”Barddoniaeth R. Davies, p. 61.
My friend Mr. Richard Williams, Celynog, Newtown, translates this stanza as follows:—