THE HEATHER AS A CLAN BADGE. 



thus be equally conspicuous in winter as in summer. 

 This was the practice of all except the Stewarts, who 

 generally wore the oak; which from losing the leaf 

 and decaying, many regarded as ominous of the decline 

 of the family and name, who also considered the oak 

 emblematical, as the leaves, though withered and de- 

 cayed, still hang by the branches till forced off by the 

 new leaves in spring." 



It appears, however, that the Heather badge was 

 not at all times displayed in the bonnet; indeed, a 

 bonnet was more often than not wanting in the garb 

 of the fighting clansman. A letter in the Wodrow MS. 

 in the Advocates' Library, dated February I, 1678, gives 

 an account of the Highland host, which was brought 

 down to curb the Covenanters, and we find "among 

 the ensigns, besides other singularities, the Glencow 

 men were verie remarkable, who had for their ensigne 

 a faire bush of heath, well spread and displayed on the 

 head of a staff, such as might have affrighted a Roman 

 Eagle." 



As has been stated, the Heather, Fraoch gorm, is 

 the badge of the Clan Macdonald ; it is also that of the 

 Macdonalds of Clanronald, of Keppoch, and Glen- 

 garry ; and Fraoch-eilean, "heathy isle," is their slogan 

 or war cry. The Heather is likewise the badge of 

 Clans Macalister, Macintyre and Macnab. And the 

 following clans wear Heather with another badge or 

 badges: Duncan, or Robertson, Heather, Bracken; 

 Lament, Crab-tree, Heather; Macdougall, Heather, 

 Pine, or Cypress; Macfarlane, Heather, Cranberry, 

 Goudberry; Maclaughlan, Heather, Rowan, Peri- 



i54 



