INTIIODUCTION xv 



This work does not profess to be a complete dictionary of the 

 subjects treated therein, neither does it profess to be a scientific 

 vocabulary, as either should include the whole "appropriate 

 phraseology " of that science, which it will be seen at a glance it 

 does not. 



Classical nomenclature has been sedulously avoided, as that is 

 considered by many a mere jargon, which rather obstructs than 

 facilitates the acquiring a familiar knowledge of such a subject, 

 which I fervently hope our Celtic and Highland youth of both sexes 

 will shortly do. Some perhaps may find it useful, when conquered, 

 that is if time and opportunity permit. It is thought, however, 

 that nothing can be more appalling, not only to the eager and 

 unclassical student, but even to the casual reader, than a regular 

 and formidable array of more or less unintelligible and pedantic 

 phrases, diverting his or her attention from the main object of 

 curiosity, interest, and instruction, and, in point of fact, interrupt- 

 ing these entirely from the understanding. Where, however, a 

 desire or craving exists for these " scientific " terms, reference 

 can be easily made to the numerous existing works in 

 English, etc. 



In confining myself, therefore, to what may be called "bare 

 names," I have done so because I consider that there is almost 

 always more truth in the usual acceptance of general terms than 

 in the apparently more precise and hard definitions of science. 

 In such a work as this, these constitute a quagmire to be shunned. 

 Common sense has given to words their ordinary signification, and 

 common sense is the genius of mankind, and what is generally 

 accepted as the general human and popular sense of words is 

 what I think should be studied. Be this as it may, my chief aim 

 and intention in issuing this work, even in its present shape, is to 

 try and help in giving an impetus to the love I believe my fellow 

 Celts have for Nature and poetry, in as simple a way as possible, 

 for the study of Nature is a science, and whatever tends to assist 

 such study is in itself poetical and refining. P'merson says that 

 unpoetical science is false, and what race is more poetical and 

 imaginative than the Celt ? Goethe did not believe that a good 

 naturalist could exist without this faculty, while Wordsworth says, 

 "Nature never did betray the heart that loved her," and Nature 

 and Nature's works are poetry, be it the humblest flower of the 

 field, or the animal which feeds upon it. God Himself does not 

 speak prose, but ever communicates with us by hints, omens, 

 inferences, and dark resemblances, which may so far justify, if 

 justification be requisite, the giving of many of the so-called 

 superstitions throughout this work ; and still another saying is 

 "he prayeth well who loveth well, both man and bird and 

 beast." 



To draw the attention, therefore, of my Celtic countrymen and 

 women, young and old, to the study of Nature, and thus quicken 



