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Fragmentary notes on Tolstadh Bho Thuath [Eilean Leòdhais/Isle of Lewis], landownership and serpents. The writing is difficult to make out but seems to refer to people leaving Tolstadh Bho Thuath and the land being given to a Sas[senach] [Englishman] and managed by a shepherd. There is also mention of a tradition which believes that serpents go into the ground in autumn and appear again in the spring.

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List of sayings under the heading 'Serpents' written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula containing six sayings related to snakes. The text has been scored through in pencil as if transcribed elsewhere.

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Note probably collected from Christina Campbell née Macintyre, Lios Mòr/Lismore Earra, Ghàidheal/Argyllshire describing a serpent in Lismore [Lios Mòr] s three feet long with black and yellow stripes of equal breadth [seen] at Aoine-dubh and at Tirphuir [Tirefour].

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Note about the serpent stone 'clach nathrach' which is used in Carloway, Isle of Lewis [Càrlabhagh, Eilean Leòdhais] for healing cows. The stone has a hole in it and an ill cow is given water to drink from it as a cure. The note states that each townland kept a stone.

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Notes about fish and snakes collected from John MacAulay from Gearrloch [Geàrrloch/Gairloch, Ros is Cromba/Ross and Cromarty] but living in Edinburgh [Dùn Èideann] including that the skate has no roe, snakes have eggs like hens and the dogfish has no ribs, only a spine. Text has been scored through as if transcribed elsewhere.

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Proverb about snakes which reads 'La Fheil Bri [Fheill Brìde] thig nibhir as an toll, Cha bhoin mi fhein do nibhir' [On St Bride's day the snake will come out of the hole, I won't touch her and she won't touch me]. Text has been scored through as if transcribed elsewhere.

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Proverb beginning 'La feill Bride nam brig/bric/ban (trout), Thig an ridean as an toll' and accompanying vocabulary note which reads '"Ridean" = righinn = queen = serpent'. Text has been scored through in pencil.

Scope and Contents Story about a snake which tells how Donald [Currie], the grandfather of 'Fear Bhollsa na h-Uamh Moire' [Uamh Mhòr, Bolsa, Ìle/ Islay] knew that something was wrong with his cows' milk when he saw a serpent coiled on a hillock at the sheiling. The snake was the biggest he'd seen being about nine feet in length. Donald found two bullets in his gun and shot it dead. The story states that seven score [140] snakes were killed [on the island] the previous year [1876] and nine score [180] the year...

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Story about serpents telling how one at Craigag [Cragaig, Ulbha/Ulva] stung and killed a 'fine man' describing the snake's appearance and how if a dog is stung it is dipped in the sea and given milk.

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Story collected on Ìle/Islay about the sighting of a large serpent by a Duncan Macarthur while crossing Caol rithin [possibly Caol Reatha/Kylerhea, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach/Isle of Skye]. The serpent is described as having a head 'as large as any bull dogs' and being eight feet long and of 'terrible app[earance]'. It is noted that the sighting was thirty years ago (c1855).