18 NOVEMBER 1899, Page 14

McIan's Costumes of the Clans of Scotland. (David Bryce and

Son, Glasgow.)—This is a new, one-volume, but "complete and unaltered," edition of a dictionary of the Highland clans which was originally published in two quarto volumes. It con- sists of seventy-four illustrations of so many clan costumes, with a descriptive letterpress by Mr. James Logan. The pictures are distinctly florid, but Mr. Logan keeps his enthusiasm well within bounds, and on the whole may be said to confine himself to businesslike historical and statistical statements, although in his introduction he eulogises the kilt as a suitable and con- venient dress for soldiers. A pathetic interest underlies these pages, which of necessity tell of the historical decline and fall of the clans. Thus MacDonald, Lord of the Isles, had at one time a following of ten thousand men ; this had fallen to one thousand in 1715, and seven hundred in 1745. This book will be found invaluable for purposes of consultation.