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Motif-Index of Folk-Literature
A2528. Why animal is strong.
A2528.1. Why leopard is strong. Jewish: Neuman.
A2531. Why animal is harmless.
A2531.0.1. Wild animals lose their ferocity. Jewish: Neuman. (Cf. A2295.)
A2531.1. Why water serpents are not venomous. (Cf. A2532.1.) — India: Thompson-Balys; Pueblo: Parsons JAFL XXXI 250; Congo: Weeks 213 No. 9.
A2531.2. Why grizzly bear is peaceable. Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 95, (Joshua): Frachtenberg JAFL XXVIII 241.
A2531.3. Why elephant is peaceable. Congo: Weeks 214 No. 10.
A2531.3.1. Why elephant flees when cock crows. Africa (Dinka): Casati I 49.
A2532. Why animals are venomous.
A2532.1. Why snakes are venomous. (Cf. A2235.) — Choctaw: Alexander N. Am. 64; India: Thompson-Balys; Jewish: Neuman.
A2219.3. Only one serpent had sting.
A2532.2. Why hairy caterpillar is venomous. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2534. Why animal is timorous.
A2534.1. Why crab is afraid in dark. Jamaica Negro: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 259 No. 54.
A2536. Animals of good omen.
B147. Animal of ill omen.
A2536.1. Why swallow brings good luck. Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 86 No. 84a.
A2536.2. Why ring-dove brings good luck. Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 353 No. 7.
A2536.3. Why spider brings good luck. Africa (Fang): Einstein 99. (Cf. A523.1.)
A2537. Why animal is stupid.
A2537.1. Why fish is stupid. Jewish: Neuman.
A2537.2. Why ass is stupid. Jewish: Neuman.
A2540. Other animal characteristics.
W154.3.1. Lion rescued from net by rat: eats rat.
A2541. Why animal is sacred.
A2541.1. Why bee is sacred. Dh I 215; Sébillot RTP III 158.
A2541.2. Why stork is holy. (See A2221.5.) — Dh III 286; Sébillot RTP III 128.
A2542. Why animal is cursed.
A2542.1. Why magpie is cursed. (See A2231.) — Sébillot RTP III 159.
A2542.1.1. Magpie refuses to get into ark, sits around outside, jabbering over drowned world, is unlucky. (Cf. A2232.4.) England: Baughman.
