THE HEATHER AS A CLAN BADGE. 



"Is it not possible that the sprigs carried as clan 

 badges may hint at another survival, while its effect 

 in tradition is clear in the story in which Macbeth is 

 described as defeated by the followers of Malcolm (the 

 servant of the dove) when they carried green boughs 

 of the 'Byrnnane' wood to TJunsynanc,' the hill of 

 charms or enchantment?" 



It is, however, more reasonable to infer that the 

 custom had its origin in the practice of the primitive 

 inhabitants of Scotland, of painting or dyeing their 

 skins either with vegetable or mineral colors, depicting 

 various figures of animals, shells, flowers, fishes, plants, 

 birds, etc. It is recorded that the Highlanders of 

 Druidal times always fought stripped to the kilt; and 

 that they painted their crests on their bosoms, so that 

 they might be recognized and distinguished in the 

 conflict, as well as among the slain should that be their 

 fate. As a sequence of civilization, would result the 

 transition from this barbaric portraiture to the adoption 

 of the natural object. Consequently we are also told 

 that it was a custom of the clans to enter into battle 

 each one bearing its own significant twig. 



General Stewart, in his "Highlanders," says : 

 "These marks of distinction were composed of a tuft of 

 heath, pine or such plant as would not fade or cast 

 the leaf. Thus the Macdonalds wore in their bonnets 

 tufts of heath; the Macgregors and Grants a bunch 

 of pine ; the Drummonds and Mackenzies wore the 

 holly the former the plain, the latter the variegated ; 

 the Macintoshes the boxwood, and so on ; always taking 

 care, whatever the badge was, that it should be per- 

 manent and not affected by the change of season, and 



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