[728] J. Grimm, Deutsche Mythologie,*[4] i. 506, referring to Miss Austin as his authority.

[729] As to the custom of sacrificing one of a plague-stricken herd or flock for the purpose of saving the rest, see below, pp. 300 sqq.

[730] John Jamieson, Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language, New Edition, revised by J. Longmuir and D. Donaldson, iii. (Paisley, 1880) pp. 349 sq., referring to “Agr.  Surv.  Caithn., pp. 200, 201.”

[731] R.C.  Maclagan, “Sacred Fire,” Folk-lore, ix. (1898) pp. 280 sq. As to the fire-drill see The Magic Art and the Evolution of Kings, ii. 207 sqq.

[732] W. Grant Stewart, The Popular Superstitions and Festive Amusements of the Highlanders of Scotland (Edinburgh, 1823), pp. 214-216; Walter K. Kelly, Curiosities of Indo-European Tradition and Folk-lore (London, 1863), pp. 53 sq.

[733] Alexander Carmichael, Carmina Gadelica (Edinburgh, 1900), ii. 340 sq.

[734] See above, pp. 154, 156, 157, 159 sq.

[735] Census of India, 1911, vol. xiv. Punjab, Part i. Report, by Pandit Harikishan Kaul (Lahore, 1912), p. 302.  So in the north-east of Scotland “those who were born with their feet first possessed great power to heal all kinds of sprains, lumbago, and rheumatism, either by rubbing the affected part, or by trampling on it.  The chief virtue lay in the feet.  Those who came into the world in this fashion often exercised their power to their own profit.”  See Rev. Walter Gregor, Notes on the Folk-lore of the North-East of Scotland (London, 1881), pp. 45 sq.

[736] Rev. Walter Gregor, Notes on the Folk-lore of the North-East of Scotland (London, 1881), p. 186.  The fumigation of the byres with juniper is a charm against witchcraft.  See J.G.  Campbell, Witchcraft and Second Sight in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland (Glasgow, 1902), p. ii.  The “quarter-ill” is a disease of cattle, which affects the animals only in one limb or quarter.  “A very gross superstition is observed by some people in Angus, as an antidote against this ill.  A piece is cut out of the thigh of one of the cattle that has died of it.  This they hang up within the chimney, in order to preserve the rest of the cattle from being infected.  It is believed that as long as it hangs there, it will prevent the disease from approaching the place.  It is therefore carefully preserved; and in case of the family removing, transported to the new farm, as one of their valuable effects.  It is handed down from one generation to another” (J.  Jamieson, Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language, revised by J. Longmuir and D. Donaldson, iii. 575, s.v. “Quarter-ill").  See further Rev. W. Gregor, op. cit. pp. 186 sq.:  “The forelegs of one of the animals that had died were cut off a little above