In the dog days, toads never open their mouths.
Toads are never found in Ireland, because St. Patrick cleared the island of all vermin.
Unicorn. Unicorns can be caught only by placing a virgin in their haunts.
The horn of a unicorn dipped into a liquor will show if it contains poison.
Viper. Young vipers destroy their mothers when they come to birth.
Weasel. To meet a weasel is unlucky.--Congreve, Love for Love.
You never catch a weasel asleep.
Wolf. If a wolf sees a man before the man sees the wolf, he will be struck dumb.
Men are sometimes changed into wolves.--Pliny, Natural History.
Wren. If any one kills a wren, he will break a bone before the year is out.