HEATHER LORE. 



she sang some wild air, and her long gray locks waved 

 over her shoulders. If any hunter saw the Cailleach 

 he knew well it was useless for him to roam the heath 

 that day." 



Cailleach Bein-Y-Vreich 



Weird wife of Bein-y-Vreich ! horo ! horo ! 



Aloft in the mist she dwells ; 

 Vreich horo! Vreich horo! Vreich horo! 



All alone by the lofty wells. 



Weird, weird wife ! with the long gray locks, 



She follows her fleet-foot stags, 

 Noisily moving through splintered rocks, 



And crashing the grisly crags. 



"When hunter men round my dun deer prowl, 



I will not let them nigh ; 

 Through the rended cloud I cast one scowl, 



They faint on the heath and die. 



Then I mount the blast, and we ride full fast, 

 And we laugh as we stride the storm, 



I, the witch of the Cruachan Ben, 

 And the scowling-eyed Seul-Gorm!" 



J. C. S. Shairp. 



On receiving a present of a box of grouse, if the 

 birds have been packed with a few sprays of Heather, 

 it is stated that the receiver should wear in his hat one 

 of the sprays, or he will never again receive a similar 

 gift. 



