6 7 



" Theid an nathair troimh an teine dhearg 

 Mu'n teid i troimh dhuilleach an uinnsinn. " 



The serpent will go through fire, rather than through the leaves of the ash. 1 



It was a most potent charm for cures of diseases of men and 

 animals — e.g., murrain in cattle, caused, it was supposed, by being 

 stung in the mouth, or by being bitten by the larva of some moth. 

 " Bore a hole in an ash-tree, and plug up the caterpillar in it, the 

 leaves of that ash are a sure specific for that disease." Martin 

 .adds, "the chief remedies were 'charms' for the cure of their 

 -diseases." 



The badge of Clan Menzies, according to some authorities. 



Vinca minor — Periwinkle. Gaelic and Irish : Faochag, Faochag 

 na gille-fuinbrinn, Gilleachafionn, Gilleachfionntruinn, Giorradan 

 — all dictionary names given for " A periwinkle." Which do they 

 mean — the little univalve whelk of the sea-side or the evergreen 

 trailing plant Vinca Minor ? Shaw gives " Gilleachafionn, peri- 

 winkle that dyes red." He clearly means this plant. Logan 

 /gives the second name as a badge plant. But here the difficulty 

 .arises, Where were they to get it ? It is not indigenous to the 

 Highlands, and probably only naturalised south of Stafford. It 

 is now pretty frequently met with in gardens, rockeries, &c, bear- 

 ing a pretty blue flower. Manx : Fughage. 



The badge of Clan Maclachlan. 



GeNTIANACEjE. 



Gentiana campestris —Field gentian. Gaelic : lus a' chritbain, 

 the crouching plant, or the plant good for the disease called 

 trilban, "which attacks cows, and is supposed to be produced 

 by hard grass, scanty pasture, or other causes. The cows become 

 lean and weak, with their hind-legs contracted towards the fore- 

 feet, as if pulled by a rope " (Armstrong). This plant, in common 

 with others of this genus, acts as an excellent tonic ; its qualities 

 were well known in olden times. Welsh : crwynllys. Gaelic : 

 creamh, is given also a name for gentian. 



' In Scandinavian mythology the first man was called Ask, and the first 

 woman Ambla — ash and elm. The gods is represented in the Edda as held 

 under an ash — Yggdrasil. Connected with these circumstances probably 

 arose the superstitions. — Chambers's Encyclop/edia. 



