The work is divided into nine sections. Chapters I. and VII. treat of sacred plants and flowers, and contain endless contributions, culled from all conceivable sources illustrative of the emblematic uses to which plants have been applied in all times, especially by the monks. Somewhat akin in subject is chapter III., which deals with "superstitions connected with trees, plants, and flowers," and is replete with interest. Perhaps the chapter to which the Celt would be expected to attach most importance is the one on the use of plants as heraldic symbols, and in particular the part of it referring to the Celts and their various badges of distinction. Mrs Paterson furnishes a complete list of the various clans and families of the Highlands, and under the name of each, gives the badge which distinguished it from its neighbour. Every clansman, however, worthy of the name, knows not only his own decorations, but also something of those of the other clans; it is therefore unnecessary to quote the author's very useful table. Chapters V. and VI. are of a more scientific eharacter, being devoted to the habits of plants. They evince a minute acquaintance with the nature of plants and flowers; the various insects that frequent them; the order in which they come into bloom; and a thousand other useful and entertaining facts connected with the subject. The following is from page 104 on the "Sensibility of Plants :"-" The irritability of the sun-dew and of Venus' fly-trap resides in the hairs which spring from the discs of their lobes. No sooner does a fly or other insect touch the hairs than the two lobes of which the leaf consists collapse and entrap the hapless intruder, retaining it there until its body becomes decomposed and absorbed, when the leaf reopens to perform a similar function." Apropos of this carnivorous propensity of the class of plants referred to, the author gives the following bit of humorous rhyme from "Scribner's": What's this I hear, My Molly dear, About the new Carnivora? Can little plants Eat bugs and ants And gnats and flies? Who is this wise, Who is the great "diskiverer ?" Not Darwin, love, A sort of retrograding; Of flowers is air Or sunshine sweet; Or do aught so degrading. Alas 't would be Sad news to me To hear your own dear Fido pet Had lost his breath In cruel death, In thoughtless play, He went too near a violet. O! horror! what If, heeding not, Some cruel plant carnivorous We ventured near Yes, we, my dear- To succour or deliver us? And yet, to die By blossoms, I Would call a doom chromatio For one might wait A harder fate Than have a rose End all his woes In pain called aromatic. Ah! science knows To make a fuss; For aught we know, From dining on Welsh rabbits, A work on flower lore would be incomplete without a chapter on the "Language of Flowers." It need not be said that in the work before us there is a whole section devoted to the subject, where the language of flowers is, of course, taken down from their own lips! The book closes appropriately with a chapter on "funeral trees." We conclude by again reiterating our unqualified testimony to the excellence of the gifted author's labours, and the great beauty of the book as a work of art. We have never seen a more successful attempt at holding the mirror up to Nature." ANSWER TO QUERY. THE MACRAES.-In reply to "Garbhag an t' Sleibhe," who writes from South Australia:1. The Macraes are one of the most ancient clans in the North. They were formerly very numerous in Kintail, where many still remain. A large number have, however, emigrated. The old 78th Regiment of Highlanders was very largely composed of Macraes, and the splendid stature and physique of the men from this clan are still remembered. The grenadier company was at first composed of Macraes, every one six feet or more in height. Their chiefs were the Macraes of Inverinate, on Loch Duich. This family is undoubtedly of very ancient origin. The tradition of the country says they were descended from Fingal, and that this is the origin of the name Mac Ra-sons of Ra Mòr. It is certain that many of the ancestors of the present family were buried at Iona. The Maeraes of Inverinate possessed these lands, with many others, on both sides of Loch Duich for about 400 years, but the estates were sold by the grand uncle of the present chief, who is Mr Colin Macrae of Wellbank, Forfarshire, presently residing in Edinburgh. 2. The arms of the clan are-Argent, a Fesse Azure, between two Mullets in chief, and a lion Rampant in base-gules. The chief also has two Highlanders as supporters. The crest is a hand holding a sword. Motto, Fortitudine. The badge is the Fir Club Moss. 3. The Macraes have a distinot and very beautiful tartan, not unlike that of the Clan Fraser, although distinctly different. The late Mr Kenneth Macleay, who painted a selection of some of the Highland clans, always regretted that he was not authorised to paint a Macrae, as he said their tartan was, in his opinion, the most beautiful of all the Clans. It is to be found in the best works on Clan Tartans, although not always correctly given, and is well known. MACRAE A HISTORY OF THE HOUSE AND CLAN OF MACKINTOSH, by Alexander Mackintosh Shaw, author of "The Clan Battle of Perth," and of "The Highland Family of Shaw," we are glad to find, is to be published this year by subscription. Separate accounts will be given of the other families of Clan Chattan, such as the Macphersons, Macgillivrays, Macbeans, Macqueens, Macphails, Shaws, Farquharsons, and others. The readers of the Celtic Magazine will remember Mr Mackintosh Shaw as the author of the excellently written and valuable articles published by us a few years ago on "Brigadier Mackintosh of Borlum." His claims to do justice to this work may be judged by the sketch of the Clan Chattan in Fullarton's "Highland Clans ;" for we are informed by the editor in his preface that the narrative of the Clan in that work "owes its value almost entirely to his (Mackintosh Shaw's) kindness," "who," we are told at p. 197, "has revised the whole." Mr Mackintosh Shaw is engaged in excellent work, and we heartily wish him the success he so well deserves. We are apparently on the way for having a complete series of Clan Histories worthy of our ancestors. IX. ALEXANDER, third Lord of the Isles, and after the death of his mother, Countess of Ross in her own right, he became Earl of Ross, which title was in 1429 or 1430 acknowledged by the Crown, notwithstanding that his father had given up all claims to it by the treaty of Port-Gilp noticed in the previous number. It may be questioned, however, whether Donald of Harlaw was entitled to style himself Earl of Ross, though he undoubtedly possessed, in right of his wife, the territory comprising the Earldom, and notwithstanding that Skene is of opinion that Donald may fairly be considered the first Earl of Ross of the race of Somerled; but be that as it may, there is no doubt whatever that Alexander was not only styled Earl of Ross, but was acknowledged as such by the Government and the Crown, by right of descent through his mother. This Lord of the Isles was a man of great spirit and distinguished ability, and, like his father and grandfather, was ambitious to found a Celtic kingdom of the Isles, the sovereignty of which should be in his own family. At this period, however, Scotland was ruled by James I., a man who was exhibiting kingly talents of a high order, and a resolution to bring his rebellious vassals, however powerful, to submission. In this he was ultimately successful, even in the case of the great Lord of the Isles, though, at first, more by strategy than by actual force of arms. The King, who possessed a remarkable energy, great decision of character, and personal bravery unsurpassed, determined to break down the independence and power of the turbulent Island Lords, and, collecting a large force, in 1427 he marched, accompanied by his principal nobles, to the town of Inverness with an army which made any resistance on the part of the Highlanders quite unavailing. Here he summoned his barons, including the Highland chiefs, to attend a parliament. Even the Lord of the Isles, seeing the power and splendour of the King, thought it prudent to obey; and, with most of the Northern barons, he proceeded to meet King James at Inverness. As they entered the hall in which the parlia R FLOWER L WE canno been published aspect a piece o proud of. is the very perfect In referring to the auth style of unqualified praise as work. Perhaps the reader wi anticipating what the merits what ought to be no secret, tha the late lamented Dr Carruthe when we further observe that the that the succession to the accompl age of culture, taste, and informatio. by confining itself to "heirs male of EL THE MACRAES.-In reply to "Garbhag an t' Sleibhe," who write Their chiefs were the Macraes of Inverinate, on Loch R doubtedly of very ancient origin. The tradition of the country from Fingal, and that this is the origin of the name MacB certain that many of the ancestors of the present family Maeraes of Inverinate possessed these lands, with many thi Duich for about 400 years, but the estates were sold by th chief, who is Mr Colin Macrae of Wellbank, Forfarshin Of 2. The arms of the clan are-Argent, a Fesse Azure, 3. The Macraes have a distinot and very beautiful Clan Fraser, although distinctly different. The late M selection of some of the Highland clans, always rep to paint a Macrae, as he said their tartan was, in his the Clans. It is to be found in the best works on correctly given, and is well known. The work consists of nine divis flowers, trees, and plants, whether as emblem, or heraldic badge; the nature & almost every conceivable purpose to wh the necessities or the fancies of man. M of story, and the rich treasuries of poetry. been put under tribute to complete the va lore" which the gifted author has brought tog the most admirable discrimination and taste. loving admiration of the subject which is necessa to be met with merely in the numerous extract placed under contribution, but the author herself, if a poet, is possessed of a very large share of the const poets are made, one of them being a large and loving works of nature, with a sympathetic appreciation of all tha. elevating and good in the world around. A HISTORY OF THE HOUSE TOSH, by Alexander Mackintosh Shaw, Perth," and of "The Highland Family be published this year by subscription of the other families of Clan Chatta mays, Macbeans, Macqueens, Ma The readers of the Celtic 1 Fob Boom the author of the exc This work is certainly composed in the "language of flow the ordinary and arbitrary acceptation of that phrase; it is a terpreter of the speech of the "tongues in trees" spoken of by as well as of the utterances of the "heart," which the fancy of the al put "in every stirring leaf." few years ago on ustice to this w Fullarton's " preface that t most entirely P. 197," cellent w We are Histories je, taken down from th h a chapter on "furer" by again reiterating gifted author's labours We have never s art. airror up to Nature." Genealogical t THE TIC MAGAZINE. APRIL, 1880. ANSWER TRY OF THE MACDONALDS, 4umerous in Kintail, where maHE LORDS OF THE ISLES. 5.-In reply to "Garbhag an tSla chiefs were the Macraes of Inver gal, and that this BY THE EDITOR. VOL. V. hat many of theors of the Lord of the Isles, and after the death of his or about 400 years, but the est 1429 or 1430 acknowledged by the Crown, not Ross in her own right, he became Earl of ther had given up all claims to it by the treaty of previous number. It may be questioned, howHarlaw was entitled to style himself Earl of edly possessed, in right of his wife, the territory and notwithstanding that Skene is of opinion considered the first Earl of Ross of the race of who is Mr Colin Macrae The arms of the clan are-Argent rest is a hand holding a sword, Mot lion Rampant in base-gules. The chief 3. The Macraes have a distinct and y Fraser, although distinctly different Paint a Macrae, as he said their tartan w lection of some of the Highland clans, a Clans. It is to be found in the best may, there is no doubt whatever that Alex Carl of Ross, but was acknowledged as such by own, by right of descent through his mother. was a man of great spirit and distinguished and grandfather, was ambitious to found at A HISTORY OF THE HO he sovereignty of which should be in his y strategy than by actual force of arms. of the other families of Clan Chyen in the case of the great Lord of the The readers of the Celrkable energy, great decision of character, the author of the id, determined to break down the inde lent Island Lords, and, collecting a large His claims to do justice to this panied by his principal nobles, to the the Clan Chattan in Fullarton's which made any resistance on the part thatg. Here he summoned his barons, in owes its value almost entireltend a parliament. Even the Lord of endour of the King, thought it prudent Shaw is engaged in excellent worthern barons, he proceeded to meet entered the hall in which the parliaplete series of Clan Histories w R |