Note 40 — Chapter II · TALES ILLUSTRATIVE OF FAIRY SUPERSTITION.

Tradition is pretty uniform that Sir Lachlan was killed by the arrow of a little man, and the above is probably only a superstitious version of the real circumstances. The story of powerful warriors, however, struck in the forehead by the arrows of little men, like the stories of Tell and the apple, and Alfred and the cakes, is told of too many persons to be above the suspicion of being a popular myth.

The natives of one of the villages in Tiree are known by the nickname of “Clann Du-shith” and “Sìthbheirean.” The assertion that Du-sìth was the ancient name of Duncan is incorrect, as one of those from whom the village nickname was derived was called Donnchadh mòr mac Dhu-shìth. The little man, who killed Lachunn Mor is also known as an t-ochdarann bodaich, the eighth part measure of a carle.