CONTENTS.
PAGE
I.
[Why is the Bee black, and why is it making Honey? How did the Bee outwit the Devil?] 61
I. B.
[How did the Bee outwit the Mole?] 67
II.
[Why is the Bee busy and the Spider sullen?] 69
III.
[Why is the Bee black, and why has it a Narrow Waist?] 71
IV.
[Why does the Little Worm glow?] 73
V.
[Why does the Little Worm glow?] 75
VI.
[Why does the Little Worm glow?] 76
VII.
[Why is the Wolf ferocious?] 79
VIII.
[Why do the Eyes of the Wolf glow and his Hair bristle?] 82
IX.
[Why does the Wolf run after the Devil?] 84
X.
[Why the Goat’s Knees are bare] 86
XI.
XII.
XIII.
[The Hart and the making of the World] 95
XIV.
[Why is the Fly called the Devil’s Horse?] 97
XV.
[The Devil stealing the Sun] 99
XVI.
[Why is it called the Bull-Fly?] 102
XVII.
XVIII.
[Why does the Saw-Fly live in Stables?] 108
XIX.
[Why is the Lady-Bird dainty?] 110
XX.
[Why does the Gad-Fly sting the Cattle?] 114
XXI.
[Why does the Fly of Kolumbatsh poison the Cattle?] 117
XXII.
[Why is there a Worm in the Apple?] 122
XXIII.
[Why are the Locusts voracious?] 124
XXIV.
[Why does the Grasshopper run to and fro?] 127
XXV.
[Another Story of the Grasshopper] 129
XXVI.
[Why does the Nun Beetle cover its Face?] 130
XXVII.
[Why is the Beetle called the Nun?] 134
XXVIII.
[Why is the Wasp the Gipsies’ Bee?] 135
XXVIII. A.
[Another Version of the Wasp Legend] 137
XXIX.
[Why does the Hornet live in Smoky Places?] 138
XXX.
[Why is the Hornet so spiteful?] 139
XXX. A.
[Hornet Charm] 140
XXXI.
[Why has the Woodpecker such a Long Beak and why does it peck at the Trees?] 141
XXXII.
[Why has the Pelican a Big Pouch under its Beak?] 143
XXXIII.
[Why does the Titmouse get into the Pumpkin?] 146
XXXIV.
[Why has the Nightingale a Drab Colour?] 148
XXXV.
[Why has the Nightingale Twelve Tunes and why does the Turtle-Dove coo?] 149
XXXVI.
[Why is the Nightingale the Songster of the King?] 151
XXXVII.
[Why does the Thrush hide in the Tree?] 153
XXXVIII.
[Why has the Partridge a Mottled Colour?] 155
XXIX.
[Why has the Thistle-Finch Ruffled Feathers?] 156
XL.
[Why has the Bullfinch a Red Breast and a Big Mouth?] 158
XLI.
[Why does the Hoopoe feed on Droppings?] 160
XLII.
[Why is the Wagtail called the Gipsies’ Bird?] 161
XLIII.
[Why is the Hoopoe such a Dirty Bird?] 162
XLIV.
[Why does the Cuckoo lead a Restless Life?] 164
XLV.
[Why is the Cuckoo silent in the Winter?] 168
XLVI.
[The Story of the Crow and its Ugly Fledglings] 170
XLVII.
[Why is there enmity between the Crow and the Hawk?] 172
XLVII. A.
[Crow Charms] 175
XLVIII.
[Why does the Heron drink only Rain-Water?] 176
XLIX.
[Why does the Kite cry in Dry Weather?] 178
L.
[Why can the Mole not come out on the High Road?] 179
LI.
[Why has the Tortoise a Round Back?] 180
LII.
[Why have the Fish no Feet?] 182
LIII.
[Why do the Plover fly singly?] 183
LIV.
[Why does the Spider hang on a Thread?] 184
LIV. A.
[Why are the Spider and the Mouse accursed?] 186
LV.
[Why has the Swallow a Forked Tail and a Red Spot on its Breast?] 188
LVI.
[Why does the Frog shrivel up at Death?] 190
LVII.
[Why does the Silkworm spin a Thin Thread?] 192
LVIII.
[Why is it right to kill a Sparrow?] 195
LIX.
[Why should the Oak Tree not boast?] 196
LX.
[Why does the Mosquito live in the Well?] 199
LXI.
[Why does the Mosquito feed on Blood?] 200
LXII.
[Why does the Fly eat the Cherry?] 202
LXIII.
[Why has the Butterfly Rings on its Wings?] 203
LXIV.
[Why does the Cricket chirp?] 205
LXV.
[Why do the Ants feed the Cricket?] 206
LXVI.
[Why do Cats and Dogs fight?] 208
LXVII.
LXVII. A.
LXVIII.
[Why does a Cat sit on the Doorstep in the Sun?] 214
LXIX.
[Why does the Fly settle on the Dead?] 215
LXX.
[Why is the Foot of Man arched?] 216
LXXI.
[Why has a Snake no Tail? and why do Fleas suck Human Blood?] 218
LXXII.
[Charms against Fleas and other House Vermin] 221
LXXIII.
LXXIV.
[Why does the Cuckoo call “Cuckoo”?] 225
LXXV.
[Why does a Wagtail wag its Tail?] 228
LXXVI.
[Why has the Hoopoe a Tuft?] 229
LXXVII.
[Why does the Eagle live on Raw Meat?] 231
LXXVIII.
[Why has the Lark a Tuft?] 236
LXXIX.
[Why is the Tuft of the Lark dishevelled?] 238
LXXX.
[Why do Larks fly towards the Sun?] 240
LXXX. A.
LXXXI.
[The Wooing of the Sister of the Sun] 245
LXXXII.
LXXXIII.
[Where did the Swan come from?] 249
LXXXIV.
[The Swan Maiden, the Bird of Heaven and the Crown of Paradise] 256
LXXXV.
[Why does the Duck feed on Refuse?] 259
LXXXVI.
[Why has the Stork no Tail?] 263
LXXXVII.
[Why has the Swallow a Forked Tail and a Red Spot on its Breast?] 267
LXXXVIII.
[Why does the Swallow live in Hot Places?] 273
LXXXIX.
[Why is the Dove a Homing Bird?] 275
XC.
[Why does the Raven feed on Carcases?] 278
XCI.
[Why is the Ant cut in the Middle?] 281
XCII.
[Why does the Cuckoo call “Cuckoo”?] 284
XCIII.
[Why does the Armenian love the Dirty Hoopoe?] 288
XCIV.
[The Story of the Partridge, the Fox and the Hound] 290
XCV.
[The Story of the Partridge and her Young] 294
XCVI.
[The Story of the Lark and the taming of Women] 296
XCVII.
[The Story of the Turtle Dove and its love for its Mate] 299
XCVIII.
[Why does the Wren hide himself?] 300
XCIX.
[Why is there no King over the Birds?] 302
C.
[The Story of King Log and King Stork] 304
CI.
[The Story of the Stork and Little Tomtit] 305
CII.
[The Story of the Flea and the Gnat] 306
CIII.
[The Story of the Gnat, the Lion, and the Man] 307
CIV.
[The Story of the Gnat and the Buffalo] 310
CV.
[The Story of the Town Mouse and the Field Mouse] 311
CVI.
[The Story of the Hare and the Frogs] 314
CVII.
[Why does the Buffalo walk slowly and tread gently?] 315
CVIII.
[The Story of the Pointer and the Setter] 317
CIX.
[The Story of the Rat and his Journey to God] 318
CX.
[The Story of the Seven-Witted Fox and the One-Witted Owl] 320
CXI.
[The Story of the Fox and his Bagful of Wits and the One-Witted Hedgehog] 322
CXII.
[The Story of the Peasant, the Snake, and King Solomon] 325
CXIII.
[The Story of the Dog and the Snake and the cure of Headache] 327
CXIV.
[The Story of the Horse, the Lion, and the Wolf] 329
CXV.
[The Marriage of Tom and the Vixen] 332
CXVI.
[The Story of Man and his Years] 336
CXVII.
[The Judgment of the Soul of Man, accused and defended by Beast and Birds] 339
CXVIII.
[The Pilgrimage of the Soul after Death] 341
CXIX.
[The Reward of the Good Man] 346
APPENDIX I.
[RUMANIAN INCANTATIONS AGAINST THE ILLNESSES OF ANIMALS].
I.
[Against the Illness of Poultry] 349
II.
[Charm for a Cow against the Evil Eye] 350
III.
[Charm for a Suckling Calf] 350
IV.
[Charm for a Cow against Snake-Bite] 351
V.
VI.
VII.
[Charm against Worms in Beasts] 352
VIII.
[Against Worms] 353
IX.
[Charm against Snake-Bite] 353
X.
[Charm if bitten by a Weasel] 354
APPENDIX II.
[The Rumanian Version of the Story of Ahikar] 355
APPENDIX III.
[ANIMAL STORIES FROM THE HEBREW ALPHABET OF BEN SIRA.]
I.
[Why were Flies created which live only One Day?] 357
II.
[Why did God create Wasps and Spiders which are of no use?] 357
III.
[Why has the Ox no Hair on his Nose?] 359
IV.
[Why does the Cat eat Mice more than any other Creeping Thing?] 359
V.
[Why does the Ass mix his Water with that of other Asses, and smell the Dung?] 360
VI.
[Why does the Dog fight the Cat?] 360
VII.
[Why is it that the Dog recognises his Master and the Cat does not?] 362
VIII.
[Why is there a Seam in the Mouth of the Mouse?] 362
IX.
[Why does the Raven hop in its Walk?] 363
X.
[Why does the Raven mate differently from any other Bird?] 364
XI.
[Index] 369