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Stith Thompson Motif Index
About this index and how to read it
Stith Thompson's Motif-Index of Folk-Literature classifies recurring narrative elements in folktales, myths, legends, ballads and related traditional narratives. Each entry below gives Thompson's motif reference and the description recorded in the index.
The index is large, so this browser displays 250 entries per page. You can search by motif reference or by words in the description, restrict the results to one of Thompson's main letter categories, and click motif references mentioned inside descriptions to follow cross-references. Individual motif pages also show any ATU tale types whose concordance explicitly cites that Thompson reference.
All
A
Mythological Motifs
B
Animal Motifs
C
Motifs of Tabu
D
Magic
E
The Dead
F
Marvels
G
Ogres
H
Tests
J
The Wise and the Foolish
K
Deceptions
L
Reversals of Fortune
M
Ordaining the Future
N
Chance and Fate
P
Society
Q
Rewards and Punishments
R
Captives and Fugitives
S
Unnatural Cruelty
T
Sex
U
The Nature of Life
V
Religion
W
Traits of Character
X
Humor
Z
Miscellaneous Groups of Motifs
| Thompson reference ▲ | Description |
|---|---|
| A2231.7.1 | Animal cursed for betraying holy fugitive. (Cf. A2221.5.)—Dh II 51ff.; Child V 491 s.v. "partridge"; Ireland: Baughman. |
| A2231.7.1.1 | Beetle cursed for betraying Holy Family on way to Egypt; beetle now has its eyes always on the ground. Ireland, Scotland: *Baughman. |
| A2231.7.2 | Animal cursed for refusing to carry holy fugitive across stream. (Cf. A2371.2.1.)—Dh II 88ff.—Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 286. |
| A2231.7.3 | Tortoise cursed for going under water while ferrying rice-goddess: people will be able to kill it with iron-made spears. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2231.8 | Toad refuses to weep over its dead children: dries up when dead. Cursed by Virgin Mary. (Cf. A2234.4, A2468.2.)—Dh II 247f. |
| A2231.9 | Fish in deluge deride God: are flattened with blow. They mock God for his powerlessness over them. (Cf. A2213, A2305.1, A2354.1.)—Dh I 290. |
| A2231.10 | Crab beats deity's forbidden drum: eyes lift out of body. (Cf. A2332.4.2.)—Fjort: Dennett 123. |
| A2231.11 | Beetle demands return of gold from God: must hum. In his overweening pride he hits fence and ever afterward has hummed. (Cf. A2426.3.1.)—Dh. III 376.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 22 No. 121. |
| A2231.12 | Buffaloes fail to come at god's leavetaking: now are killed by tigers. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2231.13 | Loris refuse to look at sun who comes out when they are dancing: hence never looks at sun. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2232 | Animal characteristics: punishment for immoderate request. Dissatisfied animal finds that when his request is granted he is worse off than before.—*Dh III 176ff. |
| A2232.1 | Camel asks for horns: punishment, short ears. (Cf. A2325.4.)—Dh IV 265f.; *Köhler-Bolte I 579; *Crane Vitry 148f. No. 37; Jewish: Neuman; *Chauvin II 110 No. 76, 118 No. 102 (ass), Sébillot RTP II 492; Wienert FFC LVI 78 (ET 437); 109 (ST 215, 389); Halm Aesop No. 184. |
| A2232.2 | Bees pray for sting: punishment, first sting suicidal. (Cf. A2346.1.)—Dh IV 266; Wienert FFC LVI 77 (ET 434), 110 (ST 216); Halm Aesop No. 287. |
| A2232.3 | Beetle makes immoderate request; ant moderate: inverse awards. Creator hears wishes of animals. Beetle wants strong, noble appearance. Ant is modest. Beetle punished by being made to creep on ground. Ant is given own castle. (Cf. A2441.3.1.) Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 92 No. 97. |
| A2232.4 | Griffin disdains to go on ark; drowned: hence extinct. Dh I 288. |
| A2232.5 | Animals ask for goddess's perfume: punishment, bad odor. (Cf. A2416.1.)—Tshi: Ellis 338. |
| A2232.6 | Birds who aspire to blackbird's coat punished. (Cf. A2412.2.2.)—Ila (Rhodesia); Smith and Dale 351 No. 6. |
| A2232.7 | Peacock given ugly feet so as to prevent too great arrogance. (cf. A2375.2.2.)—Dh I 196. |
| A2232.8 | Dog's embassy to Zeus chased forth; dogs seek ambassador: why dogs sniff each other under leg. (Cf. A2471.1.)—*Dh IV 137ff. |
| A2232.9 | Ants ask God to give them wings: wind blows them away. Cyprus: Hadjioannou 64. |
| A2232.10 | Raven attempts to imitate dove: punished with awkward gait. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2232.11 | Donkeys ask immediate reward from God: eat their own excrements. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2233 | Animal characteristics: punishment for laziness. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS 79. |
| A2233.1 | Animals refuse to help dig well (make road) and are punished. *Type 55; *Dh III 312ff., 323. |
| A2233.1.1 | Animals refuse to help dig well: may not drink from river or spring. (Cf. A2435.1.1.)—Type 55; Dh III 312ff.—Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 148 No. 54; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 90 No. 83; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3096, Legends Nos. 176—182. |
| A2233.1.2 | Snake refuses to help make road: dies on road. (Cf. A2441.4.1.)—Type 55.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 19 No. 108. |
| A2233.1.3 | Shrew refuses to help make road: dies on road. (Cf. A2468.1.)—Dh III 323f.; cf. Type 55.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 15 No. 80; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3098, Legends Nos. 183—191. |
| A2233.1.4 | Sloth refuses to help make road: may not look upon sun. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2233.2 | Dog will not help build house: must remain out of doors. (Cf. A2223.1, A2433.3.2.)—Dh III 203f. |
| A2233.2.1 | Too cold for hare (dog) to build house in winter, not necessary in summer: must go without house. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 72*, Legends No. 214; Finnish: Aarne Index No. 72*; Russian: Andrejev No. 72**. |
| A2233.3 | Owl as watchman goes to sleep: does not see by day. He is placed as watchman of wren who is imprisoned in a mousehole. (Cf. A2332.6.6.)—Type 221; *Dh IV 172ff. |
| A2233.4 | Grasshopper builds no house for winter; ant strikes him blind: therefore born blind. (Cf. A2332.6.3.)—Dh III 21. |
| A2233.4.1 | Bird neglects to build nest: goes without. (Cf. A2431.2.)—Dh. III 202ff. |
| A2234 | Animal characteristics: punishment for disobedience. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2234.1 | Raven does not return to Noah: must suffer thirst and break bill. (Cf. A2231.2.1, A2411.2.1.5, A2435.4.3.)—Variant: he is cursed to be black or to eat carrion. *Köhler-Bolte I 3; Dh I 284; Irish myth: Cross. |
| A2234.1.1 | Raven does not return to ark in obedience to Noah: black color is resulting punishment. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2234.2 | Animals eat deity's forbidden fruit: punished. (Cf. A2371.3.1.) —African (Ekoi): Talbot 377. |
| A2234.3 | Lemur looks where forbidden: has big eyes. (Cf. A2332.3.1.) —Fang: Nassau 235 No. 3. |
| A2234.4 | Hare weeps for mother when forbidden: moon hits him and cleaves lip. (Cf. A2211.2, A2231.8, A2342.1.)—Bushman: Bleek and Lloyd 59. |
| A2235 | Animal characteristics caused by animal's lateness at distribution of qualities. (Cf. A2378.2.5.)—Dh III 182ff.—India: Thompson-Balys; Mpongwe: Nassau No. 11 (hog lacks horns); Gold Coast: Barker and Sinclair 145 No. 28 (leopard cannot catch game that passes him on right side); Congo: Weeks 213 No. 9 (water snake lacks poison): Zulu: Callaway 355 (hydrax lacks tail); Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 368 No. 19 (zebra lacks horns); Marshall Islands: Davenport 222. |
| A2236 | Animal characteristics: punishment for planning man's downfall. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2236.1 | What creature has sweetest blood: gnat's tongue torn out. Assembly to decide who has the sweetest blood so that it may be the food for the serpent. Gnat discovers that man has the sweetest blood. Rather than let him tell this secret, swallow tears out his tongue. Gnat can only buzz. (Cf. A2344.2, A2426.3.2.)—Dh I 281, 332ff.; Circassian: Nicolaides and Carnoy RTP I 80; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 192. |
| A2236.2 | Animal characteristics: punishment for carrying devil into paradise. |
| A2236.2.1 | Snake carries devil into paradise: loses feet. (Cf. A2371.3.1.)—Dh I 207—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2236.2.2 | Peacock has snake carry devil into paradise: cursed with ugly voice and feet. (Cf. A2375.2.2, A2423.1.2.)—Dh I 206. |
| A2236.3 | Animal punished for not warning of devil's temptation in Eden. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A2236.4 | Magpie tells man he is to die next day: no tongue and long tail. God pulls out his tongue and makes his tail long for doing this forbidden thing. (Cf. A2344.2.6, A2378.3.1.)—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 16 No. 89. |
| A2236.5 | Animal punished for not heralding dawn. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A2236.6 | Nit tries to bore through man's head: must remain at edge of hair. (Cf. A2433.5.1.)—Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 151 No. 72; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 94 No. 106. |
| A2236.7 | Jay carries sulphur to devil in hell: must be quiet at noon. North Carolina: Brown Collection I 633. |
| A2236.8 | Cat commanded to pray so as not to slay man: why cat purrs. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3121. Legends Nos. 222ff. |
| A2237 | Animal characteristics punishment for meddling. |
| A2237.1 | Animal reveals mistress's adultery: punished by master. (Cf. A2411.2.1.5, A2422.1.1.).—Greek: Fox 280 (raven becomes black).—Zuсi: Handy JAFL XXXI 464 No. 17 (dog loses power of speech). |
| A2238 | Animal characteristics: punishment for greed. |
| A2238.1 | Rabbit (frog) eats seed-grain from fields: nose closed during sowing season. (Cf. A2335.2.4.)—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 21 No. 119; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 290. |
| A2238.2 | Ring-dove eats man's grain: man may kill him. Similarly francolin and guinea fowl. Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 351 No. 6. |
| A2238.3 | Fish eat other fish: guilty must swim deep. (Cf. A2444.1.) —Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 19 No. 104. |
| A2238.4 | Diver eats nests of small birds: must not nest away from water. (Cf. A2431.3.2.)—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 19 No. 104. |
| A2239 | Animal characteristics from miscellaneous punishments. |
| A2239.1 | Hare punished for perjury: eyes deep in head. (Cf. A2332.4.1.). —Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 13 No. 70. |
| A2239.2 | Fly punished for failing to answer question: is speechless, buzzes and associates with foul things. (Cf. A2426.3.3, A2433.5.2.) Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 384. |
| A2239.3 | Ass betrays deity's secret: hence his ugly bray. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2239.3.1 | Owl reveals deity's secret: power of speech removed. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2239.4 | Woodpecker punished for stinginess. North Carolina: Brown Collection I 633. |
| A2239.5 | Animals punished for assaulting women. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2239.6 | Ass has cross on shoulders from being struck by Balaam. (Cf. A2356.2.7.)—England: Baughman. |
| A2239.7 | Crocodile is punished for trying to attack man he is carrying: has only half tongue. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2239.8 | Animal punished for hardheadedness (frog toothless, mole sightless). Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2239.9 | Why mouse is crushed whenever she crosses a road: elephant's curse. Africa (Sandeh): Casati I 221. |
| A2239.10 | Why elephant hurts himself when running through the grass: mouse's curse. Africa (Sandeh): Casati I 221. |
| A2240 | Animal characteristics: obtaining another's qualities. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2241 | Animal characteristics: borrowing and not returning. Animal borrows a member (or quality) from another and refuses to return it. (Cf. A2242, A2313.3, A2345.1, A2351.3, A2375.2.1, A2421.4, A2435.4.1.)—*Dh III 130 ff.—Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 268ff.; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2241.1 | Stag's horns borrowed from dog. (Cf. A2326.1.1.)—Dh. III 131. |
| A2241.2 | Owl's wings borrowed from rat (or other animal). Dh III 131. |
| A2241.3 | Partridge's voice borrowed from tortoise. Dh III 132. |
| A2241.4 | Cuckoo borrows food from other birds. (Cf. A2435.4.1.)—Dh III 133. |
| A2241.5 | Nightingale borrows blindworm's eye. Each has one eye. Nightingale borrow's blindworm's and will not return it. (Cf. A2332.6.1.)—*Type 234; *Dh III 136ff.; *Köhler-Bolte I 72.—Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 55 No. 110** (frog in place of nightingale).—Japanese: Ikeda; English: Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet III v. 31. |
| A2241.6 | Jay borrows cuckoo's skin. (Cf. A2313.1.)—*Type 235. |
| A2241.7 | Squirrel borrows coney's tail. When coney's tail is not returned, he goes in shame to live among rocks. (Cf. A2378.1.5, A2433.3.5.)—Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 357 No. 10. |
| A2241.8 | Boy borrows python's hands and feet: hence python lacks them. (Cf. A2371.3.1.)—Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 374. |
| A2241.9 | Hornbill borrows tomtit's bill. (Cf. A2343.1.4.)—Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 374 No. 24. |
| A2241.10 | Beaver borrows muskrat's tail and never gives it back. Menomini: Skinner and Satterlee PaAM XIII 405. |
| A2241.11 | Monkey borrows tail from deer and refuses to return it. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2242 | Animal characteristics: obtaining for feast and not returning. (Cf. A2378.1.5, A2378.2.6.)—*Dh III 133ff. |
| A2243 | Animal characteristics: lending and refusing to receive back. Indonesian: De Vries's list No. 117. |
| A2243.1 | Spider hands box to ant and refuses to take it back: hence ants carry huge loads. Gold Coast: Barker and Sinclair 66 No. 9. |
| A2245 | Animal characteristics: stolen from another animal. (Cf. A2313.3, A2375.2.2.)—Dh III 127f.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2245.1 | Thrush steals woodcock's song. (Cf. A2423.1.1, A2423.2.1.) —Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 18 No. 98. |
| A2247 | Animal characteristics: exchange of qualities. (Cf. A2313.2, A2326.1.2. A2326.1.4, A2326.2.1, A2332.6.5, A2345.4, A2378.1.3, A2378.1.4, A2421.2, A2421.3, A2431.3.3, A2431.3.4, A2435.3.1, A2435.3.2.)—Dh III 123—126. —Eskimo (West Hudson Bay): Boas BAM XV 307, (Labrador): Hawks GSCan XIV 159. |
| A2247.1 | Buffalo and cow exchange hides: hence bad fitting hides. (Cf. A2311.6.)—Indonesian: *De Vries's list No. 97. |
| A2247.2 | Snake and turtle exchange head for fangs. Explains snake's fangs and snake-like head of turtle. (Cf. A2320.2, A 2345.5.)—Australian: Dixon 291. |
| A2247.3 | Rhinoceros exchanges his red hide for hippopotamus's black. (Cf. A2411.1.6.2., A2411.1.6.7.)—Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 372 No. 22. |
| A2247.4 | Dove and magpie exchange eggs—dove's seven for magpie's two: why dove has two eggs. (Cf. A2486.3.)—*Type 240. |
| A2247.5 | Toad trades his tail for mole's eyes. Spanish: Boggs: FFC XC 38 No. 287. |
| A2247.6 | Beaver and muskrat exchange tails. Malecite: Speck JAFL XXX 481f. |
| A2250 | Animal characteristics: result of contest. *Dh III 141ff.—Arawak and Carib: Alexander Latin American 274; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| A2250.1 | Cock and ptarmigan in contest: winner to live in town. (Cf. A2433.1.1, A2433.4.2, A2433.4.3.)—Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 54 No. 83*; Esthonian: Aarne FFC XXV 147 No. 49. |
| A2250.1.1 | Man and tiger in contest: winner to live in town. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2250.2 | Lizard wins contest with toad: why snakes and lizards change their skins. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2251 | Animal characteristics from contest in carrying. |
| A2251.1 | Ant carries load as heavy as himself. Defeats bear, raven (or other bird). Various explanations. (Cf. A2435.3.3, A2486.1.)—*Type 280; *Dh III 144. |
| A2252 | Animal characteristics determined by race. *Dh III 142ff. |
| A2252.1 | Race of animals to see where each shall live. (Cf. A2433.1.1.)—*Dh III 145. |
| A2252.2 | Race of ox and horse: ox must labor. Horse wins and ox must serve as draft animal. (Cf. A2515.1.)—*Dh III 144. |
| A2252.3 | Race of culture hero with ostrich: ostrich loses beautiful feathers. (Cf. A2402.2.)—Dh III 145. |
| A2252.4 | Flounder complains in race: crooked mouth. In race between fish he cries out in jealousy because herring is winning. He is punished with crooked mouth. (Cf. A2341.1.)—*Dh IV 192—197; *BP III 284 (Gr. No. 172). |
| A2253 | Animal characteristics from jumping contest. |
| A2253.1 | Dog burned in jumping contest over fire: enmity between dog and hare. Dh III 324. |
| A2254 | Bird characteristics from flying contests. German: Grimm No. 171. |
| A2255 | Animal characteristics result of lawsuit. |
| A2255.1 | Wool on his forehead awarded sheep in lawsuit. He is given the privilege of keeping it when the rest of his body is shorn. (Cf. A2322.5.)—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 12 No. 64. |
| A2255.2 | Lizard loses lawsuit: must bob his head. Lizard and ant accused of theft of king's crow. Ant pours boiling water down lizard's throat. When case is tried, lizard cannot talk but only bobs head up and down. Adjudged guilty and condemned to bob his head eternally. (Cf. A2474.1.)—Gold Coast: Barker and Sinclair 48 No. 5. |
| A2256 | Animal characteristics from contest in watching. |
| A2256.1 | Hare and man contest in watching for leaf to fall off tree. First one to succeed may eat other. Hare loses. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A2257 | Animal characteristics from duel. |
| A2257.1 | Why tiger does not attack wild boar until latter is old: result of duel. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2258 | Animal characteristics: as a result of quarrel. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2260 | Animal characteristics from transformation. |
| A2261 | Animal characteristics from transformation of animal. |
| A2261.1 | Shepherd transformed to bird still calls sheep: explanation of bird cries. Usually told of hoopoe and bittern. (Cf. A1952, A1965.2, A2275.3, A2425, A2426.2.3, A2426.2.4.)—*Dh III 392—396; BP III 285 (Gr. No. 173).—Japanese: Ikeda; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 123 No. 83, 127. |
| A2261.2 | Spider transformed for greediness: now occupies dark corners. (Cf. A2433.5.3.)—Gold Coast: Barker and Sinclair 69 No. 10. |
| A2261.3 | Catfish transformed from woman still carries women's tatoo marks. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2261.3.1 | Catfish transformed from children still carry marks of children's knife holder. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2261.4 | Woodpecker transformed from stingy woman: therefore stingy. North Carolina: Brown Collection I 633. |
| A2261.5 | Weeping man turned into owl; still bewails sorrows. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2261.6 | Snipe messenger for warriors because he was a messenger when a man. Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z—G 13/10). |
| A2262 | Animal characteristics from transformation of implement (or other object). (Cf. A2335.3.1, A2378.3.3, A2378.4.1.)—*Dh III 14ff. |
| A2262.1 | Horse originally had eyes on feet: put out and became eyelike marks. (Cf. A2371.2.7.)—Dh III 45.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 12 No. 61. |
| A2262.2 | Pegs driven into backs of baboons become tails. (Cf. A2378.9.2, A2378.1.1.)—Bushman (South of Zambesi): Theal 56. |
| A2262.3 | Serpent steals from God's coat a stick for his back. (Cf. A2356.1.1.)—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 19 No. 109. |
| A2270 | Animal characteristics from miscellaneous causes. |
| A2271 | Animal characteristics learned from another animal. |
| A2271.1 | Thrush teaches dove to build nest. (Cf. A2431.3.1.)—*Type 236; Dh III 191ff.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 17 No. 93; Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 88 No. 93. |
| A2271.2 | Sparrow taught to sing by lark but not sufficiently: where sparrow got voice. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 266. |
| A2272 | Animal characteristics: imitation of other animal or object. |
| A2272.1 | Animal cries: imitation of sounds. (Cf. A2425.)—*BP II 283, III 365. |
| A2272.1.1 | Nightingale hears boy call oxen: learns her song. (Cf. A2426.2.1.)—Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 147 No. 53. |
| A2272.1.2 | Cricket hears water hiss on hot iron: learns his song. (Cf. A2426.3.4.)—Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 93 No. 99. |
| A2272.1.3 | Garden warbler hears smith beat iron: learns his song. (Cf. A2426.2.2.)—Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 148 No. 55. |
| A2272.2 | Lizard's tail imitated from snake's. Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 20 No. 110, XXXIII 55 No. 110. |
| A2275 | Animal habit a reminiscence of former experience. |
| A2275.1 | Animal cries a lament for person lost when animal was transformed. (Cf. A2260, A2425.)—Dh III 387.—Benga: Nassau 163 No. 21; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A2275.2 | Animal cries a lament over animal's transformation. (Cf. A2425, A2426.2.5.)—*Dh III 376ff. |
| A2275.3 | Animal cries reminiscent of former life as man. (Cf. A2261.1, A2426.2.3, A2426.2.4.)—Dh III 394ff., 398ff.; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A2275.4 | Animal cries recall ancient adventure. The ancient animal cries out in difficulty. The present animal has the same cry. (Cf. A2426.1.1, A2426.4.1.)—India: Thompson-Balys; Ibo (Nigeria): Basden 139; Angola: Chatelain 217 No. 38. |
| A2275.4.1 | Green pigeon cheated out of its chick: is always mourning. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2275.5 | Animal's seeking attitude from ancient loss. The ancient animal loses something. Its descendants are forever seeking for the lost object. This explains the characteristic bearing of certain animals. (Cf. A2471.) |
| A2275.5.1 | Hog loses pancake in mud: still seeks it. (Cf. A2471.2, A2477.1, Z24.1.)—*Dh III 280ff.; (Cf. Type 2025.) |
| A2275.5.2 | Hawk (vulture) loses grandmother: still hovers and seeks her. (Cf. A2471.3.)—Ibo (Nigeria): Basden 274, (Cameroon): Mansfield 233. |
| A2275.5.3 | Bat, diver, and thornbush shipwrecked. Bat brought money, bush put on clothes, and diver brought leather. All shipwrecked. Diver is looking for his leather. Bush looks for his clothers and holds fast to all passers-by. Bat is abroad only at night to escape creditors. (Cf. A2471.4, A2491.1.)—*Dh IV 273f; *BP I 137. (Gr. No. 18).—Wienert FFC LVI 35; Halm Aesop No. 306. |
| A2275.5.4 | Dolphins seek King Solomon's ring. He loses his magic ring in the sea. They are sent by God to get it. This is why they go up and down in the sea. (Cf. A2444.2.)—Dh I 331; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2275.5.5 | Dog loses his patent right; seeks it: why dogs look at one another under the tail. (Cf. A2471.1.) Dh IV 129.—U.S.: Baughman. |
| A2275.6 | Son accidentally kills father, who returns to life as cuckoo and tells people when to sow grain. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2281 | Enmity between animals from original quarrel. (Cf. A2494.1.1, A2494.1.3, A2494.2.3.)—Dh III 331.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 11 Nos 56, 57; Esthonian: Aarne FFC XXV 143 No. 31; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 88 No. 62; Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 86 No. 56; Jewish: Neuman; Japanese: Ikeda; Korean: Zong in-Sob 36 No. 20; Benga: Nassau 99 No. 6. |
| A2281.1 | Cat loses dog's certificate: enmity between cats and dogs. Dog is given a certificate of nobility. Through cat's carelessness it is lost. (Cf. A2275.5, A2494.1.2.) *Type 200.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 11 No. 53; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 143 No. 30; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 88 No. 61; Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 85 No. 53. |
| A2281.1.1 | Cat garbles message from man to tiger: enmity between man and tiger. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A2281.1.2 | Quarrel of dog and cat about which was higher caste. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2281.2 | Squirrel steals dog's needle: enmity between them. (Cf. A2494.4.1.) —Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 11 No. 52. |
| A2281.3 | Why cat and dog fight: dog ate up cat's part in master's reward. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2282 | Present habitat of animals result of ancient quarrel. (Cf. A2433.3.3, A2433.3.4, A2433.3.21, A2433.6.1.)—Benga: Nassau 202 No. 32; Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 372, 381. |
| A2283 | Two animals learn songs together—one successfully, the other unsuccessfully. (Cf. A2425.)—*Dh III 365ff. |
| A2284 | Origin of animal characteristics: animal persuaded into self-injury. |
| A2284.1 | Animal persuaded to amputate limb: therefore lacks it. (Cf. A2371.2.10, A2377.1.)—Australian: Dixon 146 (kangaroo's forepaws), 288 (emu's wings). |
| A2284.2 | Bustard persuaded to kill all but two children: has but two eggs. (Cf. A2486.2.)—Australian: Dixon 289. |
| A2284.3 | Worm, thinking that world is coming to end, blinds self so as not to see calamity. (Cf. A2332.6.4.)—Dh III 21. |
| A2284.4 | Elephant tricked into eating own testicles. Has them inside. (Cf. A2365.1.1.)—Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 361 No. 14. |
| A2284.5 | Coyote persuaded to break leg: therefore has thin right leg. (Cf. A2371.2.6.)—Dh III 46. |
| A2284.6 | Jackal persuades hyena to jump and break foot. Latter has short left hind foot. (Cf. A2375.2.5.)—Hottentot: Bleek 14 No. 14. |
| A2286 | Animal characteristics established by deity. Yunca (Peru): Alexander Lat. Am. Myth 229. |
| A2286.0.1 | God makes serpent ugly. (Cf. A2402.1, A2494.)—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 19 No. 109. |
| A2286.1 | Creation interrupted since God must go to a fire. |
| A2286.1.0.1 | Animal characteristics because creator had not enough time to finish what he began. S. Am. Indian (Caingang): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 474. |
| A2286.1.1 | Creation of hog incomplete since God has to go to a fire: cause of hog's round snout. (Cf. A2335.4.2.)—Dh III 24, 493.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 12 No. 65. |
| A2286.2 | Animal characteristics result of contest between God and devil. |
| A2286.2.1 | Devil's animals devour God's. God makes white fish, devil a pike to eat it up; God a worm, devil a frog to eat it, etc. (Cf. A1751.)—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 20 No. 115; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 149 No. 63. |
| A2286.2.2 | Devil gives horse four eyes; God reduces them to two. Esthonian: Aarne FFC XXV 144 No. 33. |
| A2286.2.3 | Devil's cows one-horned; God makes them two-horned. (Cf. A2326.3.1.)—Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 88 No 63. |
| A2286.2.4 | God changes color (tails) of devil's cows. Devil makes all animals of same color (or all tailless). When God makes them of different colors (or with tails) devil no longer recognizes them. (Cf. A2378.1.)—Esthonian: Aarne FFC XXV 146 No. 47; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3083, Legends Nos. 134—137. |
| A2287 | Jesus causes animal characteristics. (Cf. A2221, A2231.) |
| A2287.1 | Jesus drives evil spirits into hogs: hence short snouts. (Cf. A2335.4.1.)—Dh II 81.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 12 No. 66. |
| A2287.1.1 | Jesus drives evil spirits into hogs: hence "toes" on back of foreleg. (Cf. A2371.2.2.)—Dh II 82. |
| A2291 | Animal characteristics obtained during deluge. Jewish: Neuman; Achawoi: Alexander Lat. Am. 270. |
| A2292 | Animal characteristics: change for convenience. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A2294 | Wild animals lose their ferocity through fear of Behemoth. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2300 | Origin of animal characteristics: body. |
| A2300.1 | Shape of bee's body. Dh I 129. |
| A2301 | Animal's body made larger. (See A2213.3.)—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2301.1 | Mouse's body made larger. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 231. |
| A2301.2 | Spider's body made larger. Sinkyone: Kroeber JAFL XXXII 347. |
| A2301.3 | Coyote's body made larger. (See A2213.3.)—Dh III 3. |
| A2301.4 | Bat's body made larger. (See A2213.3.)—Dh III 4. |
| A2301.5 | Flying-squirrel's body made larger. (See A2213.3.)—Dh III 4. |
| A2302 | Animal's body made smaller. (See A2213.1.)—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2302.1 | Mouse's body made smaller. Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 260 No. 55; Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 231. |
| A2302.2 | Hazel-cock's body made smaller. (See A2231, A2213.1.) Dh III 2.—Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 38 No. 51. |
| A2302.3 | Squirrel's body made smaller. (See A2213.1.)—Dh III 2. |
| A2302.4 | Eagle's body made smaller. (See A2213.1.)—Dh III 6. |
| A2302.5 | Wolf's body made smaller. (See A2213.1.)—Dh III 7. |
| A2302.6 | Lice made smaller. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2305 | Origin of animal's flat body. |
| A2305.1 | Origin of fish's flat body. (See A2231.9.)—Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 89 No. 119a. |
| A2305.1.1 | Origin of steel-head salmon's flat body. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 242. |
| A2305.1.2 | Origin of flounder's flat body. (See A2126.)—*Dh I 248, 290, II 1ff., 269, III 35. |
| A2305.1.3 | Why lobster is flat. (Cf. A2213.2.4.).—Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 13 No. 2. |
| A2305.2 | Why bedbug is flat. Korean: Zong in-Sob 36 No. 20. |
| A2306 | Why animal is slippery. |
| A2306.1 | Why eel is slippery. Marshall Is.: Davenport 226. |
| A2310 | Origin of animal characteristics: body covering. |
| A2311 | Origin of animal's skin. Dh III 7ff. |
| A2311.1 | Origin of dog's skin. (See A2210, A2229.2.)—Dh I 98ff., III 7. |
| A2311.2 | Origin of cat's skin. (See A2210.)—Dh I 157, III 7. |
| A2311.3 | Origin of wolf's skin. (See A2210.)—Dh I 151f., III 7. |
| A2311.4 | Origin of hedgehog's skin. (See A2210, A2220.1.)—Dh III 7.—Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3127, Legends No. 228. |
| A2311.5 | Origin of porcupine's skin. (See A2210.)—Dh III 7ff. |
| A2311.6 | Origin of cow's and buffalo's hides. (See A2247.1.)—Indonesian: De Vries's list No. 97. |
| A2311.7 | Why crocodile has rough skin. (Cf. A2315.2.)—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2311.8 | Why frog has rough skin. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A2311.9 | Why snakes and lizards change skins. (See A2250.2.) |
| A2312 | Origin of animal shell. Tahiti: Henry 339. |
| A2312.1 | Origin of tortoise's shell. (See A2215.3, A2231.1.4, A2213.3, A2211.10.)—Dh III 9.—India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; Yoruba: Ellis 273 No. 6. |
| A2312.1.1 | Origin of cracks in tortoise's shell. Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 373 No. 23. |
| A2312.2 | Origin of snail's shell. Jewish: Neuman; Africa (Fang): Trilles Proverbes 176. |
| A2312.3 | Origin of dents in crab's shell. Tuamotu: Stimson MS (3—G 13/420). |
| A2313 | Origin of bird's feathers. |
| A2313.1 | Origin of cuckoo's feathers. (See A2241.6.)—Dh. III 140.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 17 No. 94 (cf. A2411.2.6.10). |
| A2313.2 | Origin of magpie's feathers. Exchanges with dove. See A2247. |
| A2313.3 | Origin of peacock's feathers. (See A2241, A2245.)—Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3142, Legends No. 256f. |
| A2313.4 | Origin of nkundak's feathers. (See A2223.2.) |
| A2313.5 | Why young ravens have white feathers. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2315 | Origin of fish's scales. |
| A2315.1 | Origin of shell-fish's black scales. Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 39 No. 59. |
| A2315.2 | Origin of alligator's scales. (Cf. A2311.7.)—Dh III 10.—Am. Negro: (Georgia): Harris Nights 26. |
| A2317 | Why certain animals are bare of covering. Dh III 10ff. |
| A2317.1 | Why swine's belly is bare. Dh III 10. |
| A2317.2 | Why fly is bald. Dh III 11. |
| A2317.3 | Why buzzard is bald. Dh III 11.—Ojibwa: Skinner JAFL XXXII 282. |
| A2317.4 | Why crow's head is bald. Dh III 13. |
| A2317.5 | Why raven is bald. Dh III 13.—Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 221. |
| A2317.6 | Why magpie is bald. Dh III 14. |
| A2317.7 | Why vulture is bald. Dh. III 14.—Menomini: Skinner und Satterlee PaAm XIII 78; S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 161. |
| A2317.8 | Why bat is bald. Dh I 95. |
| A2317.9 | Why bird's feet are bare. Dh II 261. |
| A2317.10 | Why baboon has bare place on back. (See A2213.2.3.) |
| A2317.11 | Why john-crow has bald head. Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS 259 No. 47. |
| A2317.12 | Why opossum has bare tail. Am. Negro (Georgia): Harris Remus 129 No. 27; Cherokee: Alexander N. Am. 65. |
| A2317.12.1 | Why kangaroo-rat's tail is not bushy. Salinan: Mason UCal XIV 83. |
| A2317.12.2 | Why jackal has bare tail. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2317.12.3 | Why rat's tail is round and without any hair. (Cf. A2378.9.5.)—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2320 | Origin of animal characteristics: head. |
| A2320.1 | How snake got small head. (See A2213.1.)—Jewish: Neuman. |
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