Though the Scottish Highlander is proverbially tenacious of the memories of his race, and almost invariably well-informed regarding the descent and relationship of his clan, there has hitherto been a notorious lack of collected information regarding the individual histories and traditions of the Highland tribes. Of several of the clans there are admirable monographs in existence, and for the general history of the Gael one may consult books like Skene's Celtic Scotland and Browne's History of the Highlands; but in the way of a collection of histories of the separate clans nothing sufficiently detailed has been available. The present work is designed to supply in convenient shape information regarding each clan which is only to be found in widely scattered quarters elsewhere. On thorny points, like the chiefship of the MacDonalds, the headship of Clan Chattan, and the relationship of the MacArthurs and the Campbells, it is hoped that the facts have been stated without bias. It is hoped also that, while it would be impossible, within even a generous compass, to furnish complete narratives of all that is known of each clan, the net has been cast sufficiently wide to include all events of real importance, and to show their relationship, causes, and effects in a reasoned narrative. With only a very few alterations the list of septs put forward by Mr. Frank Adams in his excellent compendium of the Highland Clans, Septs, and Regiments has been adopted, and it is hoped that the reproduction of the spirited colour prints from McIan's celebrated Clans of the Scottish Highlands, now almost unobtainable, will add a further feature of interest.
GEORGE EYRE-TODD.