lxxvi PROCEEDINGS—PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
heterophylhts ) probably derives its name of Deer’s Ear {cluas cut 
fheidli). 
The Old Man with the Skulls ( bodach na claiginn ) is a fanciful 
name for the Yellow Rattle ( Rhinanthus ), apparently derived from 
the appearance of the plant when in fruit 
That most handsome of native plants, the Foxglove ( Digitalis ) 
has more than one Gaelic name. Several of these are, like the 
English name, derived from the shape of the flowers. Thus, the 
Fairy Thimble ( meuran sith), Dead Men’s Thimbles ( meuran nan 
daoine marbh ), and Dead Women’s Thimbles ( meuran nan caillich 
mharbha ), may be compared with the lowland name, Witches’ 
Thimbles. The Skye name, ciochan nan cailleachean marbha (the 
Dead Old Women’s Paps), is from a different similitude. A less 
significant name, and one not confined to it, is the Big Plant {an lus 
mor ), while at Aberfeldy it is sometimes called the Fox-weed {Ins a 
bhalgair ). This latter name is evidently founded on a misconception 
of the meaning of the English name, Foxglove, fox being a cor¬ 
ruption of folks, /.<?., the fairies. Another name is the Fairy-Women’s 
Plant {lus nam ban sith). 
The Wake-Robin ( Arum ), which, though not a native plant in 
the Highlands, yet occurs, as at Finlarig, is the Soft Ear {cluas 
chaoin ), from the shape of the spathe. 
The Fairy-Women’s Spindle {cuigeal nam ban sith) and the Black 
Tail {bodan dub/i) refer to the spikes of the Mace Reed {Typhci); 
and the white heads of the Cotton Grass (. Eriophorum ) — canach — 
are frequently taken as the symbol of purity and fair beauty — 
Her form was fairer than the down of Cana.” (Ossian). 
In Fochaber the Common Polypody is called mearlag , perhaps 
from the resemblance of the pinnules of the frond to fingers. Some 
fungi, such as Boletus , are called Toads’ Bonnets {bonaid an losgainn ), 
whilst, from its sponge-like texture, another fungus {Polyporus) is 
spuing or spuinc (sponge), whence, as it is used for tinder, the word 
“ spunk,” for a match, has, I suppose, been derived. 
5. Personal Names. 
Names derived from persons are not very numerous. As in 
English and other languages, many of them refer to St. Mary and to 
other saints, testifying to the deep religious feeling which has always 
characterised the Highlanders, A few examples may be given. 
The St. John’s Wort {Hypericum) had in various nations a repu¬ 
tation as a holy plant. In England it was dedicated to St. John, and 
by the Welsh it is called the blessed plant. St. John wtis the saint 
of Iona’s favourite evangelist, and this plant, in consequence, was his- 
favourite flower, therefore its name was St. Columba’s Flower {caod 
aslaghan Cholum chille). It was also called St. Mary’s Image {alias 
Mhuire). The old traveller Martin speaks of a man in Bernera who 
always wore a piece of the plant to prevent his seeing visions, and 
elsewhere in Scotland it was used as a charm against witchcraft and 
enchantment. Children say (or used to say) when they come across 
