is said to have been a Duncan Macdonald, who got the lands of Struan for killing wolves. Robert, one of the heads of the family, had the honour to assist in capturing one the murderers of James I., and ever since, the family of Struan has borne a wild man lying chained under the escutcheon of their arms.

Among Scottish surnames, to which a fabulous legend has been attached to account for its origin as a name, is Skene. According to one version of the story, Malcolm Canmore, on his return south from the defeat of the Danes at Mortlake, in Moray, in 1010, was pursued by a wolf through the wood of Culblean to the forest of Stocket, near Aberdeen; the other version says he was hunting in that district and was pursued by a wild boar, when a younger son of Donald of the Isles, or as Sir George Mackenzie says, of Robertson of Struan, seeing the king's danger, came to the rescue. Thrusting his left arm, round which he had wrapped his plaid, into the animal's mouth, he stabbed it to the heart with his dirk. The king gave him in return a grant of land. He took the name of Skene, and adopted as his arms, three dirks with as many wolves' heads above them, and a Highlander in costume holding a knife in his right hand.

Among others the Macdonalds, Macbeans, and Macneils, have a galley or ship in one of the quarters of their shield, with sails furled and oars erect. The Macphersons also have the ship as an armorial figure, although they were probably not such a seafaring clan as the others. They carry the Cat as their crest, which is the emblem of the Catti, whom some consider to be the stock of the Clan Chattan. These Catti were probably driven from Germany by Julius Caesar. They embarked for Britain, were

driven north by stress of weather, and landed in Caithness (Cattis corner). From thence they spread into Sutherlandshire, and gave it the name Catobh, and then became the progenitors of the Keiths and Sutherlands.

The Macpherson motto is Touch not the cat bot a glove. In their arms they carry a dagger, point up, for killing the Cummins.

The motto of Drummond is Gang warily. The tradition is, that at the battle of Bannockburn, Sir Malcolm Drummond recommended Bruce to order caltrops (pieces of iron with four sharp spikes) to be thrown over the ground in front of the advancing English cavalry, a strategem which materially assisted in gaining the day for the Scottish king. Sir Malcolm humorously remarked when tendering his advice, that the caltrops would make the English "gang warily." After the battle, Bruce in gratitude for his services, granted him large estates in Perthshire, gave him permission to use the words as a motto, and added a field strewn with caltrops to the Drummond armorial bearings. The Gaelic name for the chief of Clan Drummond is An Drumanach; the clan badge was originally wild Thyme (Lus an righ), but is now Holly (cuileann).

The name Grant is probably derived from an extensive moor in Strathspey, the country of the Grants Griantach, otherwise Sleabh Grianais, the plain of the sun, the many Druidical remains scattered over it, indicating it to have been a place consecrated to the worship of the sun, the great object of Celtic adoration, and the crest borne by the Grants, burning mount, is referred to as representing the Baal teine or fire, raised in honour of Baal. The badge of the Grants is the pine or the cranberry heath, and their war-cry,

"Stand fast, Craigellachie," the bold projecting rock of that name in Stathspey, being their place of rendevous.

Apart altogether from the question of whether the modern practice of arms is to be recommended, it goes without saying that the study of heraldry is not only an interesting but a useful one.

When we can trace in armorial bearings the descent and alliances of many of our noble families; when the arms are in combination with the proud motto or battle-cry of the race, we have to thank sentiment for giving precision to history, and throwing light on the modes of life and thought of our ancestors.

But now-a-days, ancestors as well as arms are readily found by the professional genealogist for the nouveau riche who wishes to claim kinship with some noble house; nor is it difficult to give an appearance of reality to the farce by adding a respectable gallery of family portraits and tombstones, which not only do not always speak the truth, but often assist in transmitting to posterity a record of fictitious ancestry.

And there are others, loyal clansmen who ought to know better, and clan associations for whom there is no excuse (I shall not mention names), who have the audacity to flaunt on their note-paper the coat-of-arms of their chief. Assuming that they are entitled to use arms at all, it is illegal for even younger members of bis own family to use the arms of the chief without distinctions, and these younger branches of families require to have marks of cadency assigned to them by the Lord Lyon. Sir George Sir George Mackenzie asserts that the right to armorial

ARMORIAL BEARINGS OF THE FORBES'.

ensign does not extend to the mere possessor of wealth, nor is the privilege extinguished by poverty.

When such abuses are permitted in our own land, need we wonder at the experience of the English Diplomatist in New York. He sent his London-built carriage to the coachbuilders for repairs, and in calling a few days after, found every Yankee gig and trap in the place emblazoned with his arms. On indignantly demanding to know the reason of this, he was cooly informed that the pattern seemed to be much admired.

un

May we not with reason ask if the practice of heraldry has not outlived its usefulness; and while we cherish the memories of the past, does it not pain us to witness the indignities they suffer in the practice of the present. Does modern heraldry not help to foster an righteous class distinction, pamper the vain glorious, and bolster up a tottering oligarchy? These are questions for consideration. But if the practice of heraldry does decay, may its death be the herald of that new day when "man to man the world o'er shall brithers be for a' that."

(Concluded.)

CLAN MACKAY SOCIETY.-The Annual Excursion of Glasgow and Edinburgh members was held at Polmont, on Saturday, 23rd ult., and was а great success.

The

'Tis the march of men in khaki o'er the karoo,
It is the pipes of kilted clan on clan;
While the fettered Lion they have bled to rescue
Is leaping now triumphant in their van.

Oh! not in vain is proved the faith of freemen

Who once again have fought to right the wrong, Who nobly cried 'All well' from out their death-den, Who, worn with weakness, to the last stood strong. Once more the Red and White and Blue' is lifted Above that little grave of dark despair,

THE HIGHLAND DRESS.-Visitors to Glasgow should not forget to visit Mr. R. W. Forsyth's establishment, where they will find a large and choice assortment of Highland dress ornaments, crest brooches, clan tartans in every variety, suitable for the kilt, or ladies dress wear, and an immense variety of artistic articles suitable for presents from Scotland.

HISTORY OF THE MACDONALDS.-Vol. II. of the History of the "Clan Donald" is now ready. It is a large volume of over 700 pages, and includes histories of the branch families of Clanranald, Glengarry, Glencoe, Macallister, Keppoch, etc., with a valuable appendix. The work is well illus

And we who waiting, watched while long months drifted,

Kneel at our heroes' feet in Heaven-bent prayer.
And high behind the flaming sword,

We see our Star arise;
'This is the doing of the Lord

And wondrous in our eyes.'

For the Flag-the bonnie Union Flag
Floats at Pretoria !

MAVOR ALLAN.

Copies

trated with fac-similes, arms, views, etc. (21/9 post free) can be had at the "Celtic Monthly" Office, 1 Blythswood Drive, Glasgow.

MESSRS. M'VITIE & PRICE, ST. ANDREW BISCUIT WORKS, EDINBURGH, have just added to their Summer list of novelties three new varieties of biscuits which are likely to become popular. Boston Meal Wafers, is an American whole-meal biscuit, light and pleasantly flavoured; Oxford Fingers, a rich shortbread biscuit; and Kentucky Crackers, which are light and delicate. We have tested samples of these attractive goods, and find them worthy of the great reputation which Messrs. M'Vitie and Price enjoy as biscuit manufacturers.