An gaidheal - National Library of Scotland

—I'jjI!ThejII——222 THE GAEL.September, 187tiling new to come from one of theClan - Cameron. It looks like animitation of Dr. ^Vlaclauclilan whohas ado]ited a .«!omewliat similarspelUng, probably from the mode ofpronouncing the name in some of themore northern counties. Our riversseem mostly named after somenymphs or myths of the femininegender, and onr glens as a rule receivetheir names from the riversthat flow through them. Whatevei-1)0 the derivation of " Nibheis " wehave here, besides the Beinn, GleannjVibheis,Sròn-Nibheis, Bun-Nibheis,Drochmd-Nihheis, &c. There is asc/ialachd told about the nymph,Nihlieis ; and NihheÌH, and Geolachused to be common names for thefemale of deer-hounds.I am no jjarty man; and, as Ihave already stated, have no apologyto offer for these remarks but lovefor ni}' native tongue—that languageof the maternal lips that blessed us,and are now silent in the grave.—am, àc, D. C. M.Bohuntin, Bridge of Roy,Kingussie, 19th August, 1S7'-!.TO .JOHN F. CAMPBELL, ESQ.. OFISLAY.On llic puhlicathm of his "Popular Tnicsof the West Highlands."O thou whose joy it is to strayThe bowers of Fairyland amongRenewing o'er our hearts the swayOf Fairy tale and song.'I'his book of tliine will long endearThy name to all who love the landWhere thou has gleaned with zeal so rare.Those legends quaintly grand.So these stray waifs of ancient loreTurn, touched by thee, to treasures,rare,—Rich gems of which for evei-moreThe world will well take care.Well do I mind that long-past dayI met thee first and sought thy smile,I, a poor minstrel—thou, the gayYoung heir of Islay's isle.No seer am I— yet in the boyBefore me, right well could I traceman that yet would prove a joy,A pride to Diarmid's race.One who, with every grace endowedBefitting rank und lineage high,Would win, withal, a place as jiroudIn Mind's nobility.What though a stranger lords it nowO'er that fair isle so dear to thee;Still lord o'er all its hearts art thou,The land alone hath he.Foitune liath wronged thee much—vetstillA heritage more rich remainsThan any subject to her Avill'iliy place in Thought's domains.Long in a field, now all thine own,Be thine to work with loving care ;Rare gems of wisdom, random-strewn,Will yet reward thee there.Gems that, when thou in death dost rest,More green shall keep thy memoiyThan if arose alcove tby breastA Cairn, Ben-Cruachan liigh !EV.4.N McCoLL.SOLAN GEESE CATCHING ATST KILDA,The solan goose, after the hardtoil of the day at fishing withoutintermission, rising high in the air toget a full sight of the fish that hemarks out for his prey before hepounces upon it, and each time devouringit before he rises above thesurface, becomes so fatigued at nighttliat he sleeps quite sound in companywith some hundreds, who markout some particular Sjiot in the faceAs shells that on some lonely strandThe sea casts careless, may confinePearls, which when touched by skilfulof the rocks, tohand.which they repair atWith peerless lustre shine.night, and think themselves secureunder the protection of a sentinel,who stands awake to watch theirlives, and gives the alarm, by bir,