If ravens croak over a flock of sheep, the shepherds keep a double watch, for they believe the ravens foretell an inroad by wolves or other wild beasts.
If a raven, meeting a herd of cattle, croaks, the Rumanian responds, “May it be on thy head, thy feathers and thy bones,” for he believes that one of his animals will die and become food for the raven.
And, if one raven is seen flying over the head of a man and continues to do so for a while, it is a sign of the death of that man.
It is generally assumed that the ravens fly in pairs, and the appearance of one alone is therefore ominous.
These few examples will suffice. They stamp the raven as the bird of ill-omen.
XCI.
WHY IS THE ANT CUT IN THE MIDDLE?
The Story of the Young Maiden and her Step-mother the Demon.
Once upon a time there was a widow who had only one child, a girl, and all her possessions (goods and chattels) consisted of a flock of sheep.