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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.

5,810 motifs

Page 18 of 24 · 250 per page
Thompson reference ▲ Description
A2320.1.1 Why weaver bird's head is small. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2320.2 How turtle got snake-like head. (See A2247.2.)
A2320.3 How lizard got red head. (See A2211.8.)—Jewish: Neuman.
A2320.3.1 Origin of mudhen's red head. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 230.
A2320.4 Why crab has no head. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2320.5 Why bird's head is so large. India: *Thompson-Balys.
A2320.6 Why crocodile has marks of water pot on head. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2320.7 Why palm-rat has swollen head. Africa (Congo): Weeks Jungle 455.
A2321 Origin of bird crests. Dh III 18f.—Tahltan- Teit JAFL XXXII 208f.
A2321.1 Origin of goose's crest. Dh III 18.
A2321.2 Origin of hoopoe's crest. Dh III 18.
A2321.3 Origin of woodpecker's crest. Dh III 18.
A2321.4 Origin of crested-lark's crest. Dh III 19.
A2321.5 Origin of kingfisher's crest. Dh III 19.
A2321.6 Origin of nkundak's crest. (See A2223.2.)
A2321.7 Origin of buzzard's crest. Cherokee: Alexander N. Am. 65.
A2321.8 Origin of red lump on rail's head. (See A2215.4.)
A2321.9 Origin of willow-grouse's crest. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 209.
A2321.10 Origin of cock's red crest. Lithuanian: Balys Index 3160; India: Thompson-Balys.
A2321.10.1 Why the cock's comb becomes white when he is angry. Jewish: Neuman.
A2321.11 Origin of woodpecker's crest. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2322 Origin of hair and mane. Dh III 34f.
A2322.1 How buffalo got hair under chin. Dh III 34.
A2322.3 How zebra got its mane. Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 368 No. 19.
A2322.4 How goat got his beard. Dh I 2, 181.
A2322.4.1 How goat got his mane. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2322.5 Why sheep may keep wool which grows on his forehead. (See A2255.1.)
A2322.6 Why the gorilla and chimpanzee have hair all over the body. Punishment for not guarding possessions at creation. Bulu: Krug 111f.
A2325 Origin of animals' ears.
A2325.1 Why rabbit has long ears. Chuh: Kunst JAFL XXVIII 354.
A2325.2 Why hare's ears are black. (See A2212.1.)
A2325.3 Why ass has long ears. Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 86 No. 58b.; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3125, Legends No. 226.
A2325.4 Why camel has short ears. (See A2232.1.)
A2325.5 Why zebra has long ears. Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 368 No. 19.
A2325.6 Why cat has jagged ears. Irish myth: Cross.
A2325.7 Why camel has no ears. (Cf. A2232.1.)—Jewish: Neuman.
A2325.8 Why serpent has no ears. Jewish: Neuman.
A2326 Origin and nature of animal's horns. Dh III 30ff.—India: Thompson-Balys.
A2326.1 How animals got horns. Africa (Fang): Tessman 16f.
A2326.1.1 How stag got antlers. From camel. See A2241.1.
A2326.1.1.1 Why deer has antlers: as reward for not cheating. Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys.
A2326.1.2 How caribou got antlers. Exchanged his teeth for walrus's horns. (See A2247.) Eskimo (Labrador): Hawks GSCan XIV 159.
A2326.1.3 How sheep got horns. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3126; Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 215.
A2326.1.4 How ox got horns. Exchanged for horse's teeth. (See A2247.)
A2326.1.5 How goats got horns. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 215.
A2326.1.6 How horned-viper got horns. Dh III 34.
A2326.2 Why some animals have no horns.
A2326.2.1 Why cats have no horns. See A2247; Dh III 125; Sébillot RTP II 491.
A2326.2.2 Why dog has no horns: they were stolen by deer (goat). India: Thompson-Balys.
A2326.2.3 Originally cock had horns. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 13.
A2326.3 Nature of animal's horns.
A2326.3.1 Why cows have two horns. (See A2286.2.3.)
A2326.3.2 How stag got long antlers. Dh III 30.
A2326.3.3 Why antelope's antlers reach backward. Dh III 30.
A2326.3.4 Why buffalo's horns are bent. Dh III 30.
A2326.3.5 Why mountain-sheep's horns are close together. Kaska: Teit JAFL XXX 430.
A2330 Origin of animal characteristics: face.
A2330.1 How wildcat got his mashed face. (See A2213.2.1.)
A2330.2 How lynx got his squint. (See A2211.1.)
A2330.3 Why monkey's face is black. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2330.4 Origin of marks on tiger's face. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2330.5 Why flea's face is red. Korean: Zong in-Sob 36 No. 20.
A2330.6 Why pheasant's cheeks are red. Korean: Zong in-Sob 32 No. 15.
A2330.7 Why dove's head is marked as it is. Korean: Zong in-Sob 32 No. 15.
A2330.8 Why rail (bird) has red forehead. New Hebrides: Codrington 361.
A2332 Origin and nature of animals' eyes.
A2332.1 Origin of animals' eyes.
A2332.1.1 How mouse got his eyes. Dh III 19.
A2332.1.2 How fly got his eyes. Dh III 19.
A2332.1.3 How herring got his eyes. Dh III 44.
A2332.1.4 How fox got his eyes. Stole from birch tree. (See A2245.)—Dh III 129.
A2332.1.5 Where owl got his eyes. Eskimo (Alaska): Jenness 32.
A2332.2 Number of animal's eyes.
A2332.2.1 Why horse has only two eyes. (See A2286.2.2.)
A2332.3 Size of animals' eyes.
A2332.3.1 Why lemur has big eyes. (See A2234.3.)
A2332.3.2 Why zabi's eyes are narrow: because he laughs so hard. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2332.3.3 Why caribou has small eyes. Eskimo (Labrador): Hawks GSCan XIV 161.
A2332.4 Shape and position of animal's eyes. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 281.
A2332.4.1 Why hare has deep-set eyes. (See A2239.1.)
A2332.4.2 Why crab lifts eye out of body or has eye behind. (See A2231.10, A2231.1.3.)
A2332.4.3 Why frog's eyes bulge out. Africa (Congo): Weeks Jungle 459.
A2332.5 Color of animal's eyes. Dh III 60f.
A2332.5.1 Why coyote has yellowish eyes. Zuсi: Handy JAFL XXXI 461.
A2332.5.2 Why cuckoo has red eyes. Sébillot RTP III 262.
A2332.5.3 Why water-hen has red eyes. Plains Cree: Skinner JAFL XXIX 349.
A2332.5.4 Why toad has red eyes. Dh III 60.—Jewish: Neuman.
A2332.5.5 Why turkey has red eyes. Dh III 61.
A2332.5.6 Why wooddove has green eyes. Dh III 61.
A2332.5.7 Why wild duck has red eyes. Dances for trickster. *Dh III 61.
A2332.5.8 Why herring's eyes are red. Fb "sild".
A2332.6 "Blindness" in animals. Animals really or supposedly blind. Dh III 19ff.
A2332.6.1 Why blindworm has no eyes. (See A2241.5.)
A2332.6.2 Why giant lizard is blind. Chose poison instead of eyes. Dh III 21.—Jewish: Neuman.
A2332.6.3 Why grasshopper is born blind. (See A2233.4.)
A2332.6.4 Why worm is blind. (See A2284.3.)—Japanese: Ikeda.
A2332.6.5 Why mole is blind.—(See A2239.8, A2247, A2378.1.4.) —Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 38 No. 287; Jewish: Neuman.
A2332.6.6 Why owl is blind by day. (See A2233.3.)—Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3140.
A2332.6.7 Why elephant sees half-blindly. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2332.6.8 Why leech is blind. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2332.6.9 Why bee is blind. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2335 Origin and nature of animal's nasal organ (nose, snout, proboscis, etc.).
A2335.1 Origin of animal's nose.
A2335.2 Nature of animal's nose. (See A2213.4.3.)
A2335.2.1 Why deer has white mark on nose. From white ashes. Dh III 79.
A2335.2.2 Why lynx has short, blunt nose. Kaska: Teit JAFL XXX 455.
A2335.2.3 Why raven has nose marked as if it had been broken off. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 225.
A2335.2.4 Why hare's nose is closed during sowing season. (See A2238.1.)
A2335.2.5 Why steer has no hair on his nose. (See A2221.5.1.)
A2335.3 Origin and nature of animal's proboscis.
A2335.3.1 Origin of anteater's proboscis. Transformed digging-stick. (See A2262.)
A2335.3.2 Why tapir has long nose. S. Am. Indian (Yagua): Steward-Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 736.
A2335.4 Origin and nature of animal's snout (muzzle).
A2335.4.1 Why hog has short snout. (See A2287.1.)—Africa (Fang): Trilles 179.
A2335.4.2 Why hog has round snout. Creation of hog incomplete since God had to go to fire. (See A2286.1.1.)
A2335.4.3 Why dog has black muzzle. (See A2229.1.) India: Thompson-Balys.
A2335.4.4 Why coyote has long muzzle. (See A2213.4.1.)
A2335.4.5 Why the wolf's muzzle is black. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3087, Legends No. 147.
A2335.4.6 Why rat has long snout. Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield 231.
A2341 Origin and nature of animal's mouth. Dh III 22—27.
A2341.1 Why flounder's mouth is crooked. (See A2252.4, A2231.1.2.) —Irish: Beal XXI 327.
A2341.2 Why animal's mouth is large.
A2341.2.1 Why opossum's mouth is large. Choctaw: Alexander N. Am. 64.
A2341.2.2 Why zebra's mouth is large. Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 368 No. 19.
A2341.3 Why animal's mouth is closed.
A2341.3.1 Why serpent's mouth is closed. Jewish: Neuman.
A2342 Origin and nature of animal's lips.
A2342.1 Why hare's lip is split. (See A2234.4, A2216.3, A2211.2.)—Dh III 22f.; BP III 75 n. 1; Fb "hare" IV 201a; Types 47, 70.—Micmac: Speck JAFL XXVIII 65; Chitimacha: Swanton JAFL XXX 476.
A2342.2 Why ox has no hair on his lips. (See A2221.5.1.)
A2343 Origin and nature of bird's beak. Dh III 26.
A2343.1 Origin of bird's long beak.
A2343.1.1 Where kingfisher got his long beak. Dh III 27; Korean: Zong in-Sob 35 No. 19.
A2343.1.2 Where snipe got his long beak. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 219.
A2343.1.3 Why loon has big beak. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 209.
A2343.1.4 Where hornbill got his big beak. (See A2241.9.)—Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield 234.
A2343.2 Why bird's beak is colored.
A2343.2.1 Why parrot's beak is black. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2343.2.2 Why toucan's beak is black. S. Am. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 178.
A2343.3 Origin of other features of birds' beak.
A2343.3.1 Why starling's beak is split. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2343.3.2 Why woodpecker has sharp beak. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2344 Origin and nature of animal's tongue. Dh III 27ff.
A2344.1 Why animal has short tongue.
A2344.1.1 Why crocodile has short tongue. Dh III 28.—Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys.
A2344.1.1.1 Why crocodile has half a tongue. (Cf. A2239.7.)—India: Thompson-Balys.
A2344.1.1.2 Why crocodile has no tongue. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2344.1.2 Why alligator has short tongue. Dh III 28.
A2344.2 Why animal has no tongue.
A2344.2.1 Why gnat has no tongue. (See A2236.1.)
A2344.2.2 Why eel has no tongue. Dh III 27.
A2344.2.3 Why swallow has no tongue. Dh III 29.
A2344.2.4 Why titmouse has no tongue. Dh III 28.
A2344.2.5 Why cormorant has no tongue. (Cf. A2422.8.)—Dh III 28.—N. A. Indian: *Boas RBAE XXXI 678.
A2344.2.6 Why magpie has no tongue. (See A2236.4.)
A2344.3 Cause of color of animal's tongue.
A2344.3.1 Why sheep's tongue is black. Kaska: Teit JAFL XXX 430.
A2345 Origin and nature of animal's teeth.
A2345.1 Where horse got his upper teeth. Borrowed them from buffalo. (See A2241.)
A2345.2 Where coyote got his long teeth. Dh III 33f.
A2345.3 Where reindeer got his small teeth. Dh. III 34.
A2345.4 Where walrus got his tusks. Traded antlers with caribou for tusks. (See A2247.)
A2345.5 Where snake got his fangs. (See A2247.2.)—Jewish: Neuman.
A2345.6 How elephant got its tusks. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2345.7 Why animal lacks teeth.
A2345.7.1 Why cow has no upper teeth. Chinese: Graham.
A2345.7.2 Why frog has no teeth. (Cf. A2239.8.)—Jewish: Neuman.
A2345.7.3 Why caribou has no teeth. Eskimo (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 168, 306, (Central Eskimo): Boas RBAE VI 587, (Alaska): Jenness 80, (West Hudson Bay): Boas BAM XV 536, 554, (Labrador): Hawks GSCan XIV 160, (Bering Strait): Nelson RBAE XVIII 449, 460.
A2345.8 Why hen has no teeth. Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield 233.
A2345.9 Why gorilla and chimpanzee have large teeth in mouth: punishment for neglecting possessions. Bulu: Krug 111f.
A2346 Origin and nature of insect's sting.
A2346.1 Why bees die after they sting. (See A2232.2.)—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "abeilles"; Lithuanian: Balys Index 3204, Legends Nos. 296—300.
A2346.2 Why bee's sting is no longer fatal to man. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2350 Origin of animal characteristics: trunk.
A2351 Origin and nature of animal's neck.
A2351.1 Why camel's neck bends upwards. Dh III 35.
A2351.2 Why eagle-owl's head turns on its neck. Type 230.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 18 No. 100.
A2351.3 Where Jahrvogel (rhytidoceros) got its necklace. Borrowed form dove. (See A2241.)—Dh III 133.
A2351.4 Origin of animal's long neck.
A2351.4.1 Origin of stork's long neck. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2351.4.2 Why magpie has long neck. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2351.4.3 Origin of antelope's long neck. Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield
A2351.5 Why tortoise's neck is outstretched toward the sky: is looking for his wife, the star. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2351.6 Where horse got arched neck: arches neck to kick tiger from rear; remains so. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2351.7 Why munia wears his crop on the back of his neck. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2353 Origin and nature of animal's breast.
A2353.1 Why apia (bird) is flat-chested. Told wife that he was going away to dine. Was too late for his meal.—Ibo (Nigeria): Basden 278.
A2353.2 Why robin has red breast. (See A2221.2.2.)—Breton: Sébillot RTP III 157.
A2353.3 Elephant loses its breasts. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2353.4 Why bears do not have breasts for nursing. Jewish: Neuman.
A2354 Origin and nature of animal's belly.
A2354.1 Why flounder is flat-bellied. (See A2231.9.)
A2355 Origin and nature of animal's waist.
A2355.1 Why animal has small waist. Dh III 36ff.
A2355.1.1 Why spider has small waist. Dh III 36ff.
A2355.1.2 Why ant has small waist. (See A2214.2.)—India: *Thompson-Balys; Korea: Zong in-Sob No. 16, 35 No. 19.
A2356 Origin and nature of animal's back. Dh III 42ff.
A2356.1 Origin of animal's back.
A2356.1.1 Origin of snake's back. From a stick. (See A2262.3.)
A2356.2 Origin of shape of animal's back.
A2356.2.1 Why frog has hunchback. Dh III 42ff.—Jewish: Neuman.
A2356.2.2 Why wolf has straight back. (See A2211.3.)—Dh III 43.
A2356.2.3 Why cat has arched back. Dh I 166, III 44.
A2356.2.4 Why certain fish have bowed backs. Dh III 44.
A2356.2.5 Why water-hen has broad back. Plains Cree: Skinner JAFL XXIX 349.
A2356.2.6 Why bear has hump on back. Ojibwa: Jones JAFL XXIX 368.
A2356.2.7 Why ass has cross on back (shoulders). (See A2221.1, A2239.6.)—England: Baughman.
A2356.2.8 Why spider has thread in back of body. (See A2231.6.)
A2356.2.9 Why tortoise has humpy back. (See A2213.2.2.)—Jewish: Neuman.
A2356.2.10 Why helldiver has flat stern. Culture hero kicked him. Menomini: Skinner and Satterlee PaAM XIII 269.
A2356.2.11 Why alligator has rough back. Am. Negro: (Georgia) Harris Nights 141 No. 26.
A2356.2.12 Why cow's body has hollow on one side. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2356.2.13 Why camel has humped back. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2356.3 Origin of color of animal's back.
A2356.3.1 Why eagle's back is brown. Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 38 No. 48.
A2356.3.2 Why jackal has black back. (See A2218.2.)
A2356.3.3 Why wolverine has peculiar marks on back. Kaska: Teit JAFL XXX 458.
A2356.3.4 Why spider has markings on back. Kaska: Teit JAFL XXX 241.
A2362 Origin and nature of animal's buttocks.
A2362.1 Why monkey's buttocks are red. India: *Thompson-Balys.
A2363 Origin and nature of animal's teats.
A2363.1 Why cow has so few teats. Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 12 No. 63, (Cf. No. 48).
A2364 Origin and nature of animal's loins.
A2364.1 Why wolverine has red hair on loins. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 248.
A2365 Origin and nature of animal's genitals. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2365.1 Nature of animal's testicles.
A2365.1.1 Why elephant has testicles inside. Persuaded to eat them. (See A2284.4.)
A2365.2 Nature of animal's penis.
A2365.2.0.1 Why goat's and cat's members are as they are. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2365.2.1 Why animal's penis is large (long).
A2365.2.1.1 Why horse's penis is long. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2365.2.1.2 Why elephant's penis is large. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2365.2.1.3 Why donkey's penis is large. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2367 Animal characteristics: inside of body.
A2367.1 Animal characteristics: bones.
A2367.1.1 Why sucker has small bones in body. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 242.
A2367.2 Animal characteristics: internal markings.
A2367.2.1 Why grizzly bears have three stripes on inside of stomach. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 208.
A2367.3 Animal characteristics: blood.
A2367.3.1 Origin of serpent's blood and venom. Jewish: Neuman.
A2370 Animal characteristics: extremities.
A2371 Origin and nature of animal's legs. Dh III 45.
A2371.1 Origin of animal's legs.
A2371.2 Shape of animal's legs.
A2371.2.1 Why sheep has thin legs. (See A2231.7.2.)—Dh II 91.
A2371.2.2 Why hog has "toes" on back of foreleg. Mark of devil's teeth. (See A2287.1.1.)
A2371.2.3 Why ravens have crooked legs and walk lame. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 226.
A2371.2.4 Why bears have short, crooked legs. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 217.
A2371.2.5 Why there is meat in front of the caribou's lower legs. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 217.
A2371.2.6 Why coyote's right leg is thin. (See A2284.5.)
A2371.2.7 Why horse has eye-like marks on forelegs. (See A2262.1.) —Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 162.