Snakes

Scope and Contents

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.

Scope and Contents

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).

Scope and Contents

Story and notes about snakes collected from Donald Currie, crofter, Ìle/Islay, describing when and how the snake sheds its skin; how a man saw a snake jump twelve feet in the air after he had threatened it; that all the belly scales are used in travelling and that they will chase children but not adults. Text has been scored through as if transcribed elsewhere.

Scope and Contents Story entitled 'La-fheil bride' [Latha Fheille Bhrìde or St Bridget's Day] telling how on hearing that it was St Bridget's Day, Mrs Major MacLeod, the daughter of Flora MacDonald, 'started up got a stocking put something in it probably a piece of peat and proceded to pound it down with a mallet' repeating a rhyme beginning 'La-fheil-Bride thig niean Imhir as an toll'. This was a custom believed to stop snakes from stinging the person who did this for the whole year. St Bridget's Day was when...

Scope and Contents Vocabulary note written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Clach Nathrach' describing it as an 'accumulation of liquid matter form the mouth of the serpent' and where and how it is formed. He recalls having seeing a clach nathrach when at school in Uig, Lewis which was found by 'the herd boy of Croulista...on the south side of Suanaval hill' [Suaineabhal, Eilean Leòdhais/Isle of Lewis]. MacRury notes the clach nathrach as being valued for its healing properties...