BUTTERFLY— CATERPILLAR 401 



The famous Mull doctor Farquhar Beaton's soul was said to 

 go on aerial journeys, and on these occasions to take the form of 

 a butterfly, which insect was often thought to contain the soul or 

 ghost of the departed. It is said that there are more white than 

 dark-coloured butterflies, or more pure than defiled souls. It is 

 even thought lucky to catch and preserve alive a white butter- 

 fly. Indeed dark, brown, or spotted ones are actually detested in 

 some places in the above belief, and called witches or evil spirits. 

 These should neither be caught nor kept alive, they are unlucky 

 to keep, and worse luck befalls the killer of one — ergo, they are 

 best left alone. A certain kind of butterfly, called " Arran brown," 

 is considered a rarity by entomologists, a specimen having been 

 known to fetch £5. The "tortoise-shell" variety is the variety 

 which is called " cut-throat " in Pitsligo at anyrate. 



The following rhyme used to be chanted by children in the 

 Highlands, when idly whirling a burning stick at the fireside : — 



Dealan-de duthachan, Butterfly so friendly- like 



Thug am feidh am bruthach orr', The deer to the hill did take, 



Chaidh Mac Shimidh as an deigh Maciramic pursued them in their 

 'S cha d'thug fiadh dhachaidh flight, 



'nochd. But took no deer home to-night. 



We are not quite sure of the accuracy of this version of the 

 above. 



" Mac Shimidh," as is well known to Celts and Highlanders, is 

 the patronymic for the chief of the Clan Eraser, Simon or Simidh 

 being the "chief" name. Another derivation has been given, 

 viz., Mac Simide, son of the black beetle, but unfortunately for 

 this contention, though duthachan comes in, it does not mean 

 black one, but comes frora"duth," friendly, etc., while "simid" 

 means a beetle for hammering, not the insect. 



CADDIS (see Worm). — Caiteas, catus ; Durrag, durrag- 

 chonlaich ; Stiomag. 



C ANKER-MAGGOT.— Cnuimh-lobhta ; Durrag ; Meas-chnuimh 



(tree). 



Crump. 



CATERPILLAR (see also Chafer and Cockchafer). — Ailseag, 

 aoilfeog (Ir.), aoilseag ; Bob, bolb, bratag, builb, burrais, burras, 

 burris, burruis ; Cnuimh-chail ; Daol, daolag, daol-bhuidhe, duill- 

 mhial Or mhiol ; Liubh or luibh-bhiast, lus-chuach. 



Black-canker, blight, bowbet ; Caddis or caddy-pillar, cling- 

 finger (large), cob-worm, cockchafer, connough-worm ; Granny's- 

 needle (hairy) ; Hairy-worm; Log; Mahiscrall, maishrag (Yorks.), 



2 C 



