Some years ago a herd boy was observed making one in a farm-kitchen (Udny). It was discovered that when he was sent to bring the cows from the fields to the farmyard to be milked, he used it to frighten them, and they ran frantically to their stalls. The noise made the animals dread the bot-fly or "cleg." This torment makes them throw their tails up, and rush with fury through the fields or to the byres to shelter themselves from its attacks. A formula to effect the same purpose, and which I have many and many a time used when herding, was: Cock tail! cock tail! cock tail! Bizz-zz-zz! Bizz-zz-zz.--Keith (Rev. W. Gregor).
Dr. Gregor secured one of these that was in use in Pitsligo, and sent it to the Pitt-Rivers Museum at Oxford, where it now lies. Professor Haddon has made a collection of these toys, and has written on their connection with the Australian boomerang.
They are still occasionally to be met with in country districts, but are used simply for the purpose of making a noise.
A game mentioned by Drayton, and still played in Warwickshire.--Halliwell's _Dictionary_. The same game as "Touch."
An old game (undescribed) mentioned in Taylor's _Motto_, 1622, sig. D, iv.
Ticky, ticky Touchwood, my black hen, She lays eggs for gentlemen; Sometimes nine and sometimes ten, Ticky, ticky Touchwood, my black hen.
Addy (_Sheffield Glossary_, under "Tiggy Touchwood") says, "One player who is called Tiggy stands out, and each of the others takes hold of or touches a piece of wood, such as a door, or rail, &c. One then leaves his 'wood' and runs across the playground, and if whilst doing so Tiggy can touch him he must stand out or take Tiggy's place."
One child is chosen to be "Ticky," _i.e._, to be on the _qui vive_ to lay hold of or touch any one who is not touching wood. If played out of doors it must be clearly defined _what is wood_, trees and all growing wood being forbidden. The fun consists in the bold ventures of those who tempt "Ticky" to run after them, and contrive to touch "wood" just before he touches them. When one is caught he is "Ticky" in turn.--Swaffham, Norfolk (Miss Matthews).
Played within a given boundary, in which were wooden buildings or fences. When one of the players was being pursued by the tigger, if he touched wood he could not be made prisoner, but he was not allowed to remain long in that position, and directly his hand left wood he was liable to instant capture. If when pursued he called out "a barla!" he was again exempt from capture, but he could not move from the position or place where he or she was when they called out, a barla! When wishing to move he had to call out "Ma barla oot!" No den in this game, but constant running.--Biggar (Wm. Ballantyne).