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Prevuius group

Group No. 45


Letter

B. Animals

Group No.

B700 – B799

Group name

Fanciful traits of animals

Description

B700. Fanciful traits of animals.
 
A2200. Animal characteristics. B15. Animal with unusual limbs or members. F980. Extraordinary occurrences concerning animals. H1186. Task: making pigs dance. T591.1.2. Milk of hornless, single-colored cow drunk by man to make wife fruitful.
 
B710. Fanciful origin of animals.
 
A1700. Creation of animals. B12.1. Basilisk hatched from cock's egg. B16.14.1. Devastating elephant from divine world. B19.3. Horse born of egg. T573.0.1. Short pregnancy in animals.
 
B710.1. Fanciful origin of the jackal. India: Thompson-Balys.
 
B710.2. Clever and swift horse of fanciful origin.
 
B710.2.1. Clever and swift horse fed with worms' milk on the gold mountain Tecklen in India. Icel.: *Boberg.
 
B710.2.2. Clever and swift horse of dromedary-family. Göngu-Hrólfs saga 239.
 
B712. Barnacle goose. Goose born from barnacles. – *Chauvin VII 18 No. 373C; Fb ”and“ IV 12b; Hdwb. d. Abergl. s.v. ”Baumgans“; Jewish: Neuman.
 
B713. Animal born from animal carcass. Jewish: *Neuman.
 
B713.1. Bees born from carcass of ox. Frazer Fasti of Ovid II 157.
 
B713.2. Animal born from putrification. Jewish: Neuman.
 
B714. Worm (monster) from caul born with child. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B715. The cow Audhumla sprang from the dripping rime of the creation of the universe. (Cf. A1245.4. and B19.2.1.) – Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 324.
 
B716. Animal born from human or animal bones. Jewish: Neuman.
 
B717. Animal born from earth. Jewish: Neuman.
 
B720. Fanciful bodily members of animals.
 
B721. Cat‘s luminous eye. – Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. ”oeil“.; Icel.: Boberg.
 
B722. Magic stone in animal’s head. Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys.
 
B722.1. Magic love-working stone in swallow‘s head. – Fb. ”svale“ III 661b.
 
B722.2. Magic stone in dog’s forehead. Fb ”hund“ I 678.
 
B722.3. Luminous jewel in animal‘s head. *Cosquin Contes indiens 254ff.; India: Thompson-Balys.
 
B722.4. Earthworm has light in its tail. India: Thompson-Balys.
 
B723. Tortoise has no liver or teeth. India: Thompson-Balys.
 
B724. Spider has no blood in body. India: Thompson-Balys.
 
B725. Female bears have no breasts to nurse their young; suck paws. Jewish: Neuman.
 
B726. Double snake – male and female. Africa (Baluba): Einstein 182.
 
B730. Fanciful color, smell, etc. of animals.
 
B731. Fanciful color of animal. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B731.0.1. Animals of strange and varied coloring. *Schoepperle Tristan and Isolt II 322 n. 1.
 
B731.1. Green she-goat. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. ”chèvre“.
 
B731.2. Green horse. Howey Horse in Magic and Myth 7.
 
B731.2.1. Horse with crimson mane and green legs. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B731.2.2. Artificially colored horses. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B731.2.3. Striped horse with purple mane and white feet. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B731.3. Multicolored llama. Wool red, blue, and yellow. No need to dye it for weaving. – Chincha (peru): Alexander Lat. Am. 230.
 
B731.4. Cow with changing colors. Changes every four hours: white, red, black. – Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 310 n. 3.
 
B731.4.1. Cow with white ears. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B731.4.2. Cow with red ears. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B731.5. Silver, gold, and diamond birds. Czech: Tille FFC XXXIV 162.
 
B731.6. Hound of every color. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B731.6.0.1. Polychromatic dogs. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B731.6.1. Hound half white, half green. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B731.6.2. Blue dogs and cats. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B731.7. Fancifully colored deer. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B731.7.1. Stag with stripe of every color. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B731.7.2. Fawn with golden lustre. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B731.8. Red (green) swine. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B731.9. Purple wether. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B731.9.1. Ram with green feet and horns. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B731.10. Multicolored worm (serpent). Irish myth: Cross.
 
B731.11. Blue serpent. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B731.12. Silver fish with gold fins. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B731.13. Bird with changing color. Jewish: Neuman.
 
B731.14. Hyena with three hundred sixty-five different colors. Jewish: Neuman.
 
B732. Panther‘s sweet smell protects him from other beasts. Herbert Catalogue of Romances III 37ff. (Odo of Cheriton), Hervieux Fabulistes latins IV No. 60.
 
B733. Animals are spirit-sighted. Scent danger. – Swiss; Jegerlehner Oberwallis 298 No. 9 – Irish myth: Cross. Cf. B120. Wise animals.
 
B733.1. Balaam’s ass perceives angel. Jewish: Neuman.
 
B733.2. Dogs howling indicates death. Argentina: Jijena Sanchez Perro Negro 115; Fb ”hund“ I 676 b; Hdwb. d. Abergl. IV 473.
 
B733.2.1. Cock hears inaudible voice of dying man. Jewish: Neuman.
 
B735. Bird gives milk. Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 102 No. 15, (Kaffir): Theal 33; India: *Thompson-Balys.
 
B736. Animal sheds tears.
 
B736.1. Bird sheds tears. (Cf. D1505.5.1.) – Spanish Boggs FFC XC 59 No. 425D.; Irish myth. Cross.
 
B736.2. Horse sheds tears (of blood). Irish myth: Cross.
 
B736.3. Dog sheds tears. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B736.4. Fox sheds tears. Jewish: Neuman.
 
B736.5. Stag sheds tears. German: Grimm No. 11.
 
B736.6. Calf sheds tears. Jewish: Neuman.
 
B737. Fish with coat of wool. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B738. Animal‘s skin revolves while flesh and bones remain stationary. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B739. Fanciful color, smell etc. of animals – miscellaneous.
 
B739.1. Magic cock has elixir in his body which makes people light. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 222.
 
B740. Fanciful marvelous strength of animals.
 
B741. Lion’s roar causes havoc at 300 miles. At 300 miles all women miscarry, at 200 teeth of all men drop out. – Gaster Exempla 187 No. 7; Jewish: Neuman.
 
B741.1. Cry of giant ox impregnates all fish. Persian: Carnoy 289.
 
B741.2. Neighing of stallion in Assyria impregnates mares in Egypt. – *De Vries FFC LXXIII 375.
 
B741.3. Cow whose bellowing defeats army. *Liebrecht Zur Volkskunde 71; Norse: *Boberg.
 
B741.4. Bellow of bull heard over entire land. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B742. Animal breathes fire. Gaster Oldest Stories 69.
 
B742.1. Lion breathes fire. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. ”lion“.
 
B742.2. Birds spit fire. English: Wells 104 (Alexander and Dindimus); Irish myth: Cross.
 
B742.3. Fire-breathing horses. Hartland Science 243.
 
B742.4. Fire-breathing dogs. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B743. Blowing serpent. Can blow through seven church walls but not through a pair of hose. – Fb ”blæseorm“.
 
B744. Animal travels extraordinary distance. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B745. Indestructibility of leech. India: Thompson-Balys.
 
B746. Bear could formerly lift mountain. India: Thompson-Balys.
 
B747. Animal’s strong teeth.
 
B747.1. Strong teeth of lion. Jewish: Neuman.
 
B747.2. Locusts with jaw teeth strong as lion‘s. Jewish: Neuman.
 
B747.3. Mice gnaw through metal vessels. Jewish: Neuman.
 
B748. Snake shoots rapids of mighty river. S. A. Indian (Pilcomayo River Tribes): Belaieff BBAE CXLIII (1) 379.
 
B750. Fanciful habits of animals.
 
B751. Animal‘s fanciful treatment of their young.
 
B751.1. Snake swallows young to protect them. *Speck JAFL XXXVI 298; England, U.S.: Baughman; North Carolina: Brown Coll. I 637f.
 
B751.2. Pelican kills young and revives them with own blood. Herbert Catalogue of Romances III 37ff. (Odo of Cheriton), Hervieux Fabulistes latins IV No. 57.
 
B751.3. Eagle tests eaglets by having them gaze at sun. Herbert III 38 (Odo of Cheriton), Hervieux Fabulistes latins IV No. 10; Gaster Thespis 30.
 
B751.4. The lion blows first life into its cubs three days after their birth. Zs. für deutsche Philol. XXVI 25.
 
B751.5. Animal neglects its young. Jewish: Neuman (raven, jackal, ostrich).
 
B751.6. Wolf strongly attracted to his own children. Jewish: Neuman.
 
B752. Fanciful behavior of animal at death.
 
B752.1. Swan song. Swan sings as she dies. – Fb ”svane“ III 663b.
 
B752.2. Snake does not die before sunset. – Fb ”orm“ II 759a; U.S.: Baughman.
 
B752.3. Snake kills itself by biting part of body (when in danger or torture). U.S.: Baughman.
 
B754. Sexual habits of animals. Jewish: *Neuman.
 
B754.0.1. Unusual sexual union of animals. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B754.1. Animal changes sex periodically.
 
B754.1.1. Hyena changes sex yearly. Fable: Halm Aesop 405, Wienert FFC LVI 62 (ET 251), 131 (ST 376, 401); Jewish: Neuman.
 
B754.1.2. Hare changes sex periodically. Jewish: Neuman.
 
B754.2. Elephants have sexual desire only after eating mandrakes. English: Wells 182 (The Bestiary).
 
B754.3. Lions do not mate with their fellows, but prefer leopards. (Cf. Q551.3.) – *Krappe Balor 82; Frazer Apollodorus I 401.
 
B754.3.1. Female rattlesnakes mate with black snakes rather than with male rattlesnakes. U.S.: Baughman.
 
B754.4. drowned. – Nouvelles Récréations No. 66.
 
B754.5. Cocks kept from intercourse with hens have tenderest meat. Nouvelles Récréations No. 86.
 
B754.6. Peacock pregnant without intercourse. Male spits up semen and female eats it. This as a curse. (Cf. A2236.5.) – India: *Thompson-Balys; Jewish: Neuman (raven).
 
B754.6.1. Unusual impregnation of animal.
 
B754.6.1.1. Animal impregnated through mouth (ears). Jewish: Neuman.
 
B754.7. Unusual parturition of animal.
 
B754.7.1. Crab’s offspring born through its chest. India: Thompson-Balys.
 
B754.7.2. Eagle catches gazelle‘s young as it is born. Jewish: Neuman.
 
B755. Animal calls the dawn. The sun rises as a result of the animal’s call. – Africa (Benga): Nassau 204 No. 32, (Ekoi): Talbot 384.
 
B756. Gold-digging ants. *Chauvin VII 87 No. 373bis; **F. Schiern Ueber den Ursprung der Sage von den goldgrabenden Ameisen (Copenhagen-Leipzig, 1873).
 
B757. Rats leave sinking ship. Fb ”rotte“ III 83a.
 
B758. Eagle renews youth. Feathers fall off and regrow. – *Wensinck ”Tree and Bird as Cosmological symbols in Western Asia“ Verhandelingen der Koninklijke Akademie von Wetenschappen n.s. XXII no. 1 (1921) 38; Hdwb. d. Aberg. I 180 s.v. ”Adler“. – Herbert Catalogue of Romances III 69 (Odo of Cheriton); Gaster Oldest Stories 80.
 
B761. Turtle holds with jaws till it thunders. Ojibwa: Jones-Michelson PAES VII (2) 347 No. 44; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Friends 167 No. 23.
 
B762. Monkeys attack by throwing coconuts. *Chauvin VII 22 n. 3.
 
B762.1. Animal attacks by throwing pebbles. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B765. Fanciful qualities of snakes. (Cf. B91.3, B751.1, B752.2.) – Jewish: *Neuman.
 
B765.1. Snake takes tail in mouth and rolls like wheel. Fb ”stålorm“.
 
B765.2. Snake lays aside his crown to bathe. Hoffman-Krayer Zs. f. Vksk. XXV 120 n. 2.; India: Thompson-Balys.
 
B765.3. Snake sucks poisonous dew from grass. *Fb ”hugorm“.
 
B765.4. Snake milks cows at night. *Kittredge Witchcraft 484 f. nn. 23, 24. – Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 300 No. 9.
 
B765.4.1. Snake attaches itself to a woman’s breast and draws away her milk while she sleeps. India: Thompson-Balys.
 
B765.5. Snake crawls from sleeper‘s mouth. Fb ”hugorm“. – Fr. v.d. Leyen Das Märchen 39ff.
 
B765.6. Snake eats milk and bread with child. Type 672c.; BP II 463; Fb ”snog“ III 437a.
 
B765.6.1. Snake drinks milk. India: Thompson-Balys.
 
B765.7. Jointed snake can join its segments when it is broken into pieces. Chinese: Werner 393; U.S.: Baughman.
 
B765.7.1. Snakes may be killed, but do not die. India: Thompson-Balys.
 
B765.7.2. Snake grows back together after it has been severed. U.S.: Baughman.
 
B765.8. Snake sucks poison from bite it has itself made. **Wesselski Erlesenes 3ff.
 
B765.9. Poisonous snakes in certain region have no venom. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B765.10. Snake cracks self like coach whip and chases man. North Carolina: Brown Coll. I 637. U.S.: Baughman.
 
B765.11. Snake‘s venom kills tree. North Carolina: Brown Coll. I 637.
 
B765.12. Venomous snakes play with precious stones. Icel.: Boberg.
 
B765.13. Copperhead guides rattlesnake to its prey. U.S.: Baughman.
 
B765.14. Snake has hypnotic stare: person cannot move. U.S.: *Baughman.
 
B765.14.1. Serpent reduces man to a heap of ashes by its fiery gaze. India: Thompson-Balys.
 
B765.15. Snake stands up, whistles. U.S.: Baughman.
 
B765.16. Snake has stinger. U.S.: *Baughman.
 
B765.17. Bullets have no effect on giant serpent; only stroke of lightning effective. Ladino: Conzemius BBAE CVI 169.
 
B765.18. Snake avoids object.
 
B765.18.1. Snake avoids white ash. U.S.: *Baughman.
 
B765.18.2. Snakes will not cross rope made of hair. U.S.: Baughman.
 
B765.18.3. Snakes will not cross a ring made of Irish earth. U.S.: Baughman.
 
B765.19. Detached snake fang kills person or animal. U.S.: *Baughman.
 
B765.20. Snake kills man who has killed snake’s mate. U.S., West Indies: *Baughman.
 
B765.21. Snake revives snakes which have been injured (the doctor snake). U.S.: Baughman.
 
B765.22. King snake: kills and eats any snake that does not accept his authority. U.S.: Baughman.
 
B765.23. Snake with legs. U.S.: Baughman.
 
B765.24. Dragon fly serves as snake‘s servant, feeds snake; it is called snake-feeder. U.S.: Baughman.
 
B765.24.1. Dragon fly acts as doctor to injured snakes. U.S.: Baughman.
 
B765.25. Female snake seven years pregnant. Jewish: Neuman.
 
B765.26. Palm tree grows on serpent’s body. S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 71.
 
B766. Fanciful dangers from animals.
 
B766.1. Cat mutilates corpses. *Kittredge Witchcraft 178 n. 41; U.S.: Baughman; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 638.
 
B766.1.1. Cat must be kept from dying person because it will catch the person‘s soul issuing (from mouth) in form of mouse. (Cf. E731.3.) – England, U.S.: Baughman.
 
B766.2. Cat sucks sleeping child’s breath. *Kittredge Witchcraft 178 n. 40; England: Baughman; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 638.
 
B766.3. Toads suck blood. *Kittredge Witchcraft 183 n. 88.
 
B766.4. Bite of white she-mule causes certain death. Jewish: Neuman.
 
B767. Animals attracted by music. German: Grimm Nos. 8, 114.
 
B767.1. Fish follow sound of music. Jataka II 157.
 
B768. Fancied nourishment of animals.
 
B768.1. Partridge subsists on moonbeams. Penzer II 235 n. 3.
 
B768.2. Salamander subsists on fire. Hertz Gesammelte Abhandlungen 257 n.; Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: *Neuman.
 
B768.3. Swans live on pearls. India: Thompson-Balys.
 
B768.4. Serpent subsists on dust. Jewish: Neuman.
 
B770. Other fanciful traits of animals.
 
B771. Wild animal miraculously tamed.
 
B771.0.1. Wild animal will not harm chaste woman. Italian Novella: Rotunda.
 
B771.1. Animal tamed by maiden‘s beauty. Penzer VII 52 n. 2, VIII 111; Herbert III 234; Oesterley Gesta Romanorum No. 115; Dickson Valentine and Orson 198 n. 86. – India: Thompson-Balys.
 
B771.2. Animal tamed by holiness of saint. Saint‘s legend: Plummer cxlvi; Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman; Icel.: Boberg.
 
B771.2.1. Hungry lions do not harm saint. Loomis White Magic 58.
 
B771.2.2. Animal tamed by saint’s prayer. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B771.2.3. Lions made tame by Moses‘ rod. Jewish: Neuman.
 
B771.3. Wild animal will not attack royal person. Dickson Valentine and Orson 198 n. 86.
 
B771.4. Fish trained to answer person’s call. Africa: Stanley 54.
 
B771.5. Wild animal performs for king. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B772. Shipwrecked man repulsed by animals. As he floats to shore animals push him back into water. – Chauvin V 149 No. 73 n. 2.
 
B773. Animals with human emotions.
 
B773.1. Animal feels agitation at sight of native land. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B773.2. Animal (lion) pines away with grief upon his friend‘s grave. *Loomis White Magic 59.
 
B773.3. Lion (wolf) protects the saint’s body. *Loomis White Magic 58, 60.
 
B775. Stork is man while hibernating in Egypt. Fb ”stork“ III 592a.
 
B776. Venomous animals.
 
B776.0.1. Garlic juice dangerous to poisonous animals. Penzer II 296.
 
B776.1. Venomous sheep destroy enemy. Irish: MacCulloch Celtic 63, Irish myth: Cross.
 
B776.2. Toad considered venomous. (Cf. B776.5.1.) – Kittredge Witchcraft 181 nn. 67 – 71; Jewish: Neuman.
 
B776.3. Venomous hound. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B776.3.1. Venomous dog loosed against saint. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B776.3.2. Mud puppy considered poisonous. U.S.: Baughman.
 
B776.4. Venomous swine.
 
B776.4.1. Pig with venomous bristles. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B776.4.2. Venomous boar. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B776.5. Blood of animal considered venomous. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B776.5.1. Blood of toad venomous. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B776.5.2. Blood of lion venomous. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B776.5.3. Blood of snakes venomous. (cf. B776.7.) – Irish myth: Cross.
 
B776.5.4. Blood of otter venomous. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B776.5.5. Blood of bear venomous. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B776.6. Venomous worm. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B776.7. Venomous serpent. (Cf. B776.5.3.) – Irish myth: Cross; Norse: Herrmann Saxo II 602, MacCulloch Eddic 105, Boberg; India: Thompson-Balys.
 
B777. Breath of bird withers. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B781. Animal ”drinks apart“ mixed liquids. Separates the parts while drinking. – *M. Bloomfield in Penzer VII xviii – xix.
 
B782. Sheep sleeps if anyone ties shoe to its ear. India: Thompson-Balys.
 
B783. Swine maddened by smell of oak forest. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B784. Animal lives in person‘s stomach.
 
B784.0.1. Frog living in person’s stomach rises into throat, croaks every spring. England: Baughman.
 

 
B784.1. How animal gets into person's stomach (or body) (various methods).
 
B784.1.1. Person drinking from brook swallows animal eggs (frog or newt). England, Ireland, U.S.: *Baughman.
 
B784.1.2. Person swallows pebble on beach; snake grows in stomach. U.S.: Baughman.
 
B784.1.3. Person swallows snake semen or egg while eating watercress. England: *Baughman.
 
B784.1.4. Girl swallows frog spawn; an octopus grows inside her with tentacles reaching to every part of her body. Eng.: Baughman.
 
B784.1.5. Swallowed blackbeetle reproduces inside person's body. England: Baughman.
 
B784.1.6. Girl eats plums and maggots in them; maggots multiply inside her body. England: Baughman.
 
B784.1.7. Scaly lizard jumps into person's mouth. U.S.: Baughman.
 
B784.1.8. Salamander gets into veins through cracks in feet when person goes barefoot. U.S.: Baughman.
 
B784.2. Means of ridding person of animal in stomach.
 
B784.2.0.1. No remedy possible. England: Baughman.
 
B784.2.1. Patient fed salt: animal comes out for water. The patient is fed salt or heavily salted food and allowed no water for several days. He then stands with mouth open before a supply of fresh water, often a running brook. The thirsty animal emerges to get fresh water. – Ireland, U.S.: *Baughman; Italian Novella: Rotunda (J1115.2.3).
 
F582. Poison damsel. F950. Marvelous cures. G274.1. Witch snared.
 
B784.2.1.1. Snake (frog) in human body enticed out by milk (water). India: Thompson-Balys.
 
B784.2.1.2. Husband ties a cock near wife's feet: snake-parasite in her stomach comes out to catch the cock and is killed by husband. – India: Thompson-Balys.
 
B784.2.2. Patient sits before tempting meal without eating; animal emerges. Ireland, England, U.S.: *Baughman.
 
B784.2.3. Frog is enticed from patient's mouth by offering it a piece of cheese. England: Baughman.
 
B784.2.4. Physician removes animal from stomach of patient. U.S.: *Baughman.
 
B785. Animal wards off spirits. Irish myth: Cross.
 
B524. Animal overcomes man's adversary.
 
B786. Monkeys always copy men. India: Thompson-Balys.
 
B787. Birds mock ascetic's devotions. India: Thompson-Balys.
 
B788. Bats keep fireflies to light their houses. India: Thompson-Balys.
 
B791. Elephants have power of bringing rain. Buddhist myth: Malala sekera I 41.
 
B792. Why certain animals are thought of as good or bad. Jewish: Neuman.

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