The Supernatural Birth in Practical Superstitions
The supernatural means of conception in the stories actually believed to be still effectual—Practices to obtain children—Vedic ceremonies—The eating of fruit, cereals, and leaves—The mandrake—Animal substances eaten—Salt—Drinking of water—Sacred wells—Drinking of blood—Eating of portions of human bodies—Bathing—Exposure to the rays of the sun—Striking of childless women—Amulets—Phallic symbols and their use—Simulation as a magical practice—Fertilisation by wind—Imperfect recognition by savages of paternity.
Death and Birth as Transformation
Birth often merely a new manifestation of a pre-existing person—The Egyptian tale of The Two Brothers—European and other variants—Transformation in märchen—The Singing Bone—The Scottish ballad of Binnorie—Santal variants—New birth of dead man from eating a portion of his body—Metamorphosis of dead man into a tree in märchen, saga, and superstition—Origin of maize and of manioc—Attis—Metamorphosis into animal forms—Savage doctrine of Transformation—Buddhist popular belief—Alleged Celtic dogma of Transmigration—Taliessin—Tuan mac Cairill—Etain—Son a new birth of the father or other ancestor—Superstitions current in India, Africa, the South Seas, Europe, America—The naming of children—Transformation the creed of savages.
The Vignette on the title-page is from the well-known 5th century bowl from Caere, figured by Gerhard, Berl. Winckelmann Progr. 1854.