ON THE ETHNOGRAPHICAL SURVEY OF THE UJVITED KINGDOM. 475 



Caterpillar. 



424. Girthon. — The caterpillar of the Nettle Butterfly ( Fanessa uriicce) 

 bears the name of ' Grannie.' When one meets one crossing the path or 

 otherwhere, it is spit upon. If this is not done, it is believed that some 

 misfortune will befall the grandmother, if she is alive. 



The Spider. 



425. Balmaghie. — It is accounted unlucky to kill a spider. 



Trees and Shrubs. 



426. Borgue. — The Boortree, i.e., the elder, used to be planted round 

 kailyards and near dwelling-houses as a protection against witches. 



427. Kirkmaiden. — There are old-fashioned folk that will not allow a 

 domestic animal to be struck with a ' boortree ' stick. 



428. Corsock, Kirkmaiden, Balmaghie. — A branch or piece of rowan 

 tree used to be placed over the byre-door inside to keep off witches. 



429. Kirkmaiden. — My informant has seen pieces of rowan tree laid on 

 the mantel-piece to protect the house from witches. 



430. Portlogan. — The thowl pins of a boat, or at least some of them, 

 are always made of rowan tree. 



431. Kirkmaiden. — Fishermen tie their lines to a I'owan stick to keep 

 the witches at a distance. 



432. Borgue. — Rowan tree was used as a protection for unbaptizecl 

 children against witches. 



433. Balmaghie. — Our Saviour always carried in one hand a staff of 

 hoUand, i.e., the holly tree, and in the other a rod of rowan tree. 



434. Corsock. — The farmer of Grogo Mill had in the byres some of the 

 stakes to which the cattle are fastened, made of rowan tree, as a safeguard 

 from witches. He died about ten years ago. 



435. Kerrick.—^lj informant saw an old woman bring a piece of 

 rowan tree into the byre of one of her neighbours on the occasion of a cow 

 falling ill. 



436. Balmaghie. — About twenty years ago my informant saw at Loch- 

 inbreck a woman milking her cow tied to a rowan tree. 



437. Corsock, Kells. — In houses built some time ago, it was quite com- 

 mon to have some of the lintels made of rowan tree. 



438. Corsock. — It was customary to plant rowan tree in the garden. 

 438a. Kells. — It was a custom to plant rowan tree as well as elder, 



near the dwelling-house and byres, as a protection against witches. 



439. Corsock. — 'Binnans,' i.e., bindings for cattle, were formerly made 

 of bent rods of wood. It was not uncommon to have some of them in each 

 byre made of rowan wood as a safeguard against witches. 



440. Kirkmaiden.- — In Claish Glen, near Portlogan, grow fairy trees, 

 i.e., blackthorn bushes, which no one will cut, and some will not even 

 touch them. 



441. A blackthorn bush growing in a field is sometimes called a 

 * fairy thorn.' It is not removed, though it stands in the way. 



442. Dundrennan. — Many haws 



Many snaws. 



Haws are in most abundant profusion this season, and my informant 



