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Page 8 1. 

 Potamogeton natans — Duiliasg na h'aibhne. The broad-leaved 

 ])ond\veed is used in connection with a curious superstition in 

 some parts of Scotland, notably in the West Highlands. '• It is 

 gathered in small bundles in summer and autumn, where it is 

 found to be plentiful, and kept until New Year's Day (old 

 style) ; it is then put for a time into a tub or other dish of hot 

 water, and the infusion is mixed with the first drink given to 

 milch cows on New-Year's Day morning. This is supposed to 

 keep the cows from witchcraft and the evil eye for the remainder 

 of the year ! It is also supposed to increase the yield of milk." 

 — Rev. A. .Stewart, Nether Lothaber. 



Page 87. 



Arundo phragmites — Cruisgioniach [cniisig/i, in Irish, music, 

 song). Reeds were said by the Greeks to have tended to sub- 

 jugate nations by furnishing arrows for war, to soften their man- 

 ners by means of music, and to lighten their understanding by 

 supplying implements for writing. These modes of employment 

 mark three different stages of civilisation. The great reed mace 

 {Typha latifolid) cnigcal nam ban sithe, is usually represented by 

 painters in the hand of our Lord, as supposed to be the reed 

 with which He was smitten by the Roman soldiers, and on which 

 the sponge filled with vinegar was reached to Him. 



Oats — Coirc. Martin mentions an ancient custom observed 

 on the 2d of February. The mistress and servant of each 

 family take a sheaf of oats and dress it in woman's apparel, put 

 it in a large basket, with a wooden club by it, and this they call 

 Briid's bed. They cry three times Briid is come, and welcome. 

 This they do before going to bed, and when they rise in the 

 morning they look at the ashes for the impress of Briid's club 

 there ; if seen, a prosperous year will follow. 



Algse — Feamainn. The inhabitants of the Isle of Lewis had 

 an ancient custom of sacrificing to a sea-god called " Shony " 

 at Hallowtide. The inhabitants round the island came to the 

 church of St Mulvay, each person having provisions with him. 

 One of tlieir number was selected to wade into the sea up to 

 the middle, and carrying a cup of ale in his hand, standing still 

 in that position, crying out with a loud voice, " Shony, I give 

 you this cup of ale, hoping you will be so kind as to send us 

 plenty of sea-ware for enriching our ground the ensuing year.'"' 

 And he then threw the cup into the sea. This was performed 



