98 



Probably this name was applied to this plant, meaning a com- 

 plaint, a groan. Welsh : geraiii^ to squeak, to cry. 



Lecanora. — Etymology of this word uncertain (in Celtic, lech 

 or leac, means a stone, a flag), Greek : \iOo%. 



L. tartarea — Cudbear. Gaelic and Irish : co7'car or cojrur, 

 meaning purple, crimson. This lichen was extensively used to 

 dye purple and crimson. It is first dried in the sun, then pul- 

 verised and steeped, commonly in urine, and the vessel made 

 air-tight. In this state it is suffered to remain for three weeks, 

 when it is fit to be boiled in the yarn which it is to colour. In 

 many Highland districts many of the peasants get their living 

 by scraping off this lichen with an iron hoop, and sending it to 

 the Glasgow market. M'Codrum alludes to the value of this 

 and the next lichen in his line 



" Spreigh air mointicli, 

 Or air chlachan." 

 Cattle on the hills, 

 Gold on the stones. 



Parmelia saxatilis and omphalodes — Stone and heath par- 

 melia. Gaelic and Irish : crotal. These lichens are much used in 

 the Highlands for dyeing a reddish brown colour, prepared like 

 tartarea. And so much did the Highlanders believe in the 

 mx\MQ^ oi crotal that, when they were to start on a journey, they 

 sp^kled it on their hose, as they thought it saved their feet 

 frbm getting inflamed during the journey. Welsh : ceii du^ black 

 head, applied to the species Omphalodes. 



' Sticta pulmonacea {Fulmonan'a of Lightfoot) — Lungwort 

 lichen. Scotch : hazelraiv. Gaelic and Irish : crotal coille 

 {^^ coille^^ of the wood), upon the trunks of trees in shady 

 woods. It was used among Celtic tribes as a cure for lung 

 diseases, and is still used by Highland old women in their oint- 

 ments and potions. 



According to Shaw, the term grim was applied as a general 

 term for lichens growing on stones. Martin, in his description 

 of his journey to Skye, refers to the sliperstition '' that the natives 

 observe the decrease of the moon for scraping the scurf from 

 the stones." The two useful lichens, corcur and crotal^ gave rise 

 to t|ie suggestive proverb — 



" Is fhearr a' chlach gharbh air am faighear rud-eigin, na 'chlach mhin air 

 nach feiighear dad idir." 



Better, the rough stone that yields something, than the smooth stone that 

 yields nothing. 



