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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| B511.1.1 | Snake creeps into man's mouth and heals him. Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 132 No. 78; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 46 No. 78. |
| B752.2 | Snake does not die before sunset.—Fb "orm" II 759a; U.S.: Baughman. |
| B765.6.1 | Snake drinks milk. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B765.6 | Snake eats milk and bread with child. Type 672c.; BP II 463; Fb "snog" III 437a. |
| B514.3 | Snake gives man antidote for poison. Africa (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 163 No. 32. |
| B391.1.2 | Snake grateful because man feeds her young snakes milk. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B391.1.3 | Snake grateful for pouring milk into its hole. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B765.7.2 | Snake grows back together after it has been severed. U.S.: Baughman. |
| B765.14 | Snake has hypnotic stare: person cannot move. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| B765.16 | Snake has stinger. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| B511.1.2 | Snake heals mutilated maiden with magic herbs. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| B752.3 | Snake kills itself by biting part of body (when in danger or torture). U.S.: Baughman. |
| B765.20 | Snake kills man who has killed snake's mate. U.S., West Indies: *Baughman. |
| B225.1.1 | Snake kingdom under the sea.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B765.2 | Snake lays aside his crown to bathe. Hoffman-Krayer Zs. f. Vksk. XXV 120 n. 2.; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B765.4 | Snake milks cows at night. *Kittredge Witchcraft 484 f. nn. 23, 24.—Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 300 No. 9. |
| B613.1 | Snake paramour. (Cf. B604.1.) Armenian: Ananikian 74; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda, Anesaki 332.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 344 n. 239.—S. A. Indian (Warrau, Carib): Alexander Lat. Am. 272; (Amazonia) ibid. 286; (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 65f.—Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 142 No. 20. |
| B765.21 | Snake revives snakes which have been injured (the doctor snake). U.S.: Baughman. |
| B748 | Snake shoots rapids of mighty river. S. A. Indian (Pilcomayo River Tribes): Belaieff BBAE CXLIII (1) 379. |
| B765.15 | Snake stands up, whistles. U.S.: Baughman. |
| B765.8 | Snake sucks poison from bite it has itself made. **Wesselski Erlesenes 3ff. |
| B765.3 | Snake sucks poisonous dew from grass. *Fb "hugorm". |
| B751.1 | Snake swallows young to protect them. *Speck JAFL XXXVI 298; England, U.S.: Baughman; North Carolina: Brown Coll. I 637f. |
| B765.1 | Snake takes tail in mouth and rolls like wheel. Fb "stеlorm". |
| B103.4.2.2 | Snake vomits jewels. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B765.23 | Snake with legs. U.S.: Baughman. |
| B613.1.1 | Snake woman as paramour. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B765.11 | Snake's venom kills tree. North Carolina: Brown Coll. I 637. |
| B253.1 | Snakes have mass. Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 310 No. 34. |
| B11.2.7 | Snakes issue from dragon's shoulders. Persian: Carnoy 320. |
| B765.7.1 | Snakes may be killed, but do not die. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B765.18.3 | Snakes will not cross a ring made of Irish earth. U.S.: Baughman. |
| B765.18.2 | Snakes will not cross rope made of hair. U.S.: Baughman. |
| B635.4 | Son of dog ("cu," person). Irish myth: Cross. |
| B635.4.1 | Son of three dogs ("con," persons). Irish myth: Cross. |
| B631.0.1 | Son warns animal mother. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B268.4 | Sorcerer's army of magic animals. Icel.: Þiðriks saga II 271, *Boberg. |
| B211.7 | Speaking amphibia. |
| B210 | Speaking animals. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B211.4.1 | Speaking ant. French-Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule (B211.23). |
| B211.1.3.1 | Speaking ass. Type 534*.—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "âne"; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B211.2.3 | Speaking bear. German: Grimm Nos. 60, 114, 161; French-Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule (B211.22). |
| B211.2 | Speaking beast—wild. |
| B211.1 | Speaking beasts—domestic. |
| B211.4.2 | Speaking bee. German: Grimm No. 107. |
| B211.3 | Speaking bird. Type 516; *Cox 527—9; Penzer I 48; Dickson Valentine and Orson 51 n. 60; Tobler Epiphanie der Seele 53; *Fb "fugl"; Krappe Hispanic Review I (1933) 67ff.; Irish myth: Cross; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "oiseau".—Arabian: Burton III 126n, 129ff., SV 300; Bloomfield On Talking Birds in Hindu Fiction (Festschrift für Ernst Windisch) 349ff.; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; Missouri-French: Carrière; Jewish: Neuman; Africa: Bouveignes 109, (Upoto): Einstein 137, (Duala): Lederbogen V 139.—Cf. Type 720 (BP I 412). |
| B211.1.5.2 | Speaking buffalo. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B211.1.5.3 | Speaking bullock. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B211.1.5.5 | Speaking calf. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B211.1.6 | Speaking camel. Loomis White Magic 61; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B211.1.8 | Speaking cat. *Type 545; BP I 329, III 487 (Gr. No. 214).—Danish: Fb "kat" II 108b; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "chats"; Missouri-French: Carrière; India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Mitford 253, Ikeda; German: Grimm No. 4. |
| B211.3.2.1 | Speaking chicken. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B211.3.2 | Speaking cock. Fb "kok" II 248b.; Missouri-French: Carrière; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B211.1.5 | Speaking cow. French-Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule (B211.19); Lithuanian: Balys Index Nos. *543, 481; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B211.3.9 | Speaking crow. French-Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule (B211.10.1); India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B211.1.7 | Speaking dog. Irish myth: Cross; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "chien"; Missouri-French: Carrière; India: Thompson-Balys; Africa: Stanley 105. |
| B211.3.5 | Speaking dove. Greek: Grote I 355; India: Thompson-Balys; Jewish: Neuman; S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 181; Africa (Ba Ronga): Einstein 25. |
| B211.5 | Speaking fish. *Type 303. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "poisson"; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Missouri-French: Carrière; Africa (Duala): Lederbogen VI 92. |
| B211.2.5 | Speaking fox. German: Grimm Nos. 8, 57, 60, 191; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B211.7.1 | Speaking frog. Cf. Type 440; BP I 1 (Gr. No. 1); Fb "frø"; S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 171; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B211.1.2 | Speaking goat. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "chèvre"; India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Angola): Chatelain 55 No. 2. |
| B211.3.3 | Speaking goose. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B211.2.6 | Speaking hare (rabbit). Irish myth: Cross; German: Grimm Nos. 8, 60, 66. |
| B211.1.4 | Speaking hog. Irish myth: Cross; Missouri-French: Carrière; India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Benga): Nassau 81 No. 1. |
| B133.3 | Speaking horse-head. The helpful magic horse (B181) is killed (B330). The head is preserved and placed on the wall. It speaks and reveals the treachery practiced against the heroine.—*Type 533; **W. Ljungman Tvе Folkminnesundersökningar (Göteborg 1925) 41ff; *BP II 273 (Gr. No. 89) 274 n. 1.—Hindu: Keith 122. |
| B211.1.3 | Speaking horse. *Types 531, 532; BP II 274f., III 18; Penzer II 57; Fb "hest" I 598b; *Loomis White Magic 61; Missouri French: Carrière; Greek: Malten Jahrb. d. Kaiserl. deutschen archäologischen Inst. XXIX (1914) 203f.—Russian: v. Löwis of Menar Russische Märchen 313 No. 53, Rambaud La Russie épique 79; Lithuanian: Leskien-Brugmann Nos. 5, 9; Modern Greek: Hahn Griechische und alban. Märchen Nos. 6, 37; Bulgarian: Strauss Bulgarische Volksdichtungen 212, 309; Turkish: Giese Türkische Märchen 37; Hungarian: Ipolyi Zs. f. deutsche Mythologie II 270; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B211.4 | Speaking insects. |
| B211.2.2.2 | Speaking jaguar. S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 155. |
| B211.2.2 | Speaking lion. *Loomis White Magic 59; German: Grimm No. 60, 67, 88; French-Canadian: Gautier, Sister Marie Ursule (B211.20); Moreno: Esdras (B211.15). |
| B211.2.10 | Speaking monkey. India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 42. |
| B211.2.8 | Speaking mouse. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B211.1.3.2 | Speaking mule. Africa (Kordofan): Frobenius Atlantis IV 53ff. No. 6. |
| B211.1.5.1 | Speaking ox. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 812. |
| B211.1.1.1 | Speaking ram. Irish myth: Cross; Greek: Grote I 117; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "belier". |
| B211.2.9 | Speaking rat. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B211.3.6 | Speaking raven. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B211.6 | Speaking reptile. |
| B211.2.7 | Speaking sea-beast. Irish myth: Cross (B211.17). |
| B211.2.7.1 | Speaking seal. Irish myth: Cross (B211.17.1). |
| B211.1.1 | Speaking sheep. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "mouton"; Missouri-French: Carrière. |
| B211.6.1 | Speaking snake (serpent). Loomis White Magic 63; Tobler Epiphanie der Seele 55. Cf. Satan in the Garden of Eden.—Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Missouri-French: Carrière (B211.14). |
| B211.3.7 | Speaking sparrow. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B211.2.1 | Speaking stag. Irish myth: Cross; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "cerf" |
| B211.2.2.1 | Speaking tiger. French-Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule (B211.21); India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham, Eberhard FFC CXX 41; S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 155, 166. |
| B211.7.2 | Speaking toad. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "crapaud"; Missouri-French: Carrière (B211.13). |
| B211.3.1 | Speaking turkey. Zuсi: Cushing Zuсi Folk Tales 54ff. |
| B211.3.8 | Speaking vulture. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B211.2.4 | Speaking wolf. Irish myth: Cross (B211.25); German: Grimm Nos. 8, 26, 37, 60; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B211.1.5.4 | Speaking yak. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B51 | Sphinx. Has face of woman, body and tail of lion, wings of bird.—**Laistner Rätsel der Sphinx; *Frazer Apollodorus I 349 n. 1; **J. Ilberg Die Sphinx in der griechischen Kunst und Saga (Leipzig, 1896); Köhler-Bolte I 115. |
| B724 | Spider has no blood in body. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B253.4 | Spider performs penance. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B523.1 | Spider-web over hole saves fugitive. (Cf. A2221.5.)—Type 967*; *Dh II 66f.—*Wesselski Theorie 42.—Jewish: Neuman, Bin Gorion; Born Judas III 115ff., Grünbaum Neue Beiträge zur Semitischen Sagenkunde 195; Lappish: Qvigstad Lappiske Eventyr I No. 32, II No. 68.—India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; Africa (Fang): Trilles 139. |
| B563.3 | Squirrel points out road. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B375.4 | Squirrel released: grateful and helpful. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B256.2 | St. Anthony's pigs. Pigs dedicated to saint held sacred.—Italian. Novella: Rotunda. |
| B232.1 | St. Valentine's Day for bird assembly. Sartori Sitte u. Brauch III 88; M. Höfler Das Jahr im oberbayerischen Volksleben (München 1899) 11; G. L. Gomme (ed) Mother Bunch's Closet Newly Broke Open (Leipzig 1839) II (1) 357f.; E. Schröder Korrespondenzblatt des Vereins f. niederdeutsche Sprachforschung XXXVI (1917—1918) 77; *Seelman (cf. B215 above); Sächs "Das Regiment der anderthalbhundert Vögel" (Stuttgart Verein CV) 278ff. |
| B736.5 | Stag sheds tears. German: Grimm No. 11. |
| B101.4.2 | Stag with gold and silver on horns and neck, and a silver bell. Göngu-Hrуlfs saga 273. |
| B101.4.1 | Stag with golden antlers and silver feet. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B731.7.1 | Stag with stripe of every color. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B841.4 | Stags live one thousand years. Tupper and Ogle Map 4. |
| B292.4 | Stags plow for man. Also draw chariot, bear burdens, and allow saints to use their horns as a book rest—Saints' legend (Irish): Plummer cxliii—cxliv; Irish myth: Cross; English: Baughman. |
| B256.9 | Stags plow for saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B543.3 | Stolen child rescued by animal nurse. (Cf. B535.)—Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys; *Krappe Balor 80ff. |
| B217.7 | Stone deity (image of) confers upon man powers of understanding animal language. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B535.0.7.1 | Stork as nurse for child. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B775 | Stork is man while hibernating in Egypt. Fb "stork" III 592a. |
| B731.2.3 | Striped horse with purple mane and white feet. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B747.1 | Strong teeth of lion. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B524.4 | Supernatural bird prevents mother from killing babe. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B162.1 | Supernatural knowledge from eating magic fish. (Cf. B175.)—*Nutt FLR IV 1ff.—Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: *Boberg; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| B291.1.11 | Swallow as messenger. Chinese: Eberhard 58. |
| B784.1.5 | Swallowed blackbeetle reproduces inside person's body. England: Baughman. |
| B242.1.9 | Swan as king of birds. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 8. |
| B582.2.3 | Swan as matchmaker. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B143.0.1 | Swan as prophetic bird. Fb "Svane" III 663; Handwb. d. Abergl. VII 1403.—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 262. |
| B752.1 | Swan song. Swan sings as she dies.—Fb "svane" III 663b. |
| B558.2 | Swans harnessed to chariot. Chauvin V 230 No. 130.—Greek: Sappho "Ode to Aphrodite" (Team of sparrows).—Hindu: Keith 108, Penzer VIII 151f. |
| B768.3 | Swans live on pearls. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B184.1.1.3 | Swiftest horse on earth. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B783 | Swine maddened by smell of oak forest. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B290.1 | Swine march like soldiers. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| B299.5 | Sympathetic animals. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B11.2.8 | Tail of dragon. Smith Dragon 137; Fb "drage" (if one throws fire over dragon's long tail, the tail falls and is full of treasure). |
| B210.2 | Talking animal or object refuses to talk on demand. Discoverer is unable to prove his claims: is beaten.—U.S. Negro: Baughman. |
| B11.4.5 | Talking dragon. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B261.1.1 | Tame elephant not accepted by wild brethren. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B611.8 | Tapir paramour. S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 60. |
| B15.1.2.9 | Ten-headed serpent. Hindu: Keith 154. |
| B635.1 | The Bear's Son. Human son of woman who marries a bear acquires bear characteristics. (Cf. B601.1.)—*Type 301; *BP II 300ff.; Cosquin I 6; MacCulloch Childhood 270; Panzer Beowulf I 246; *Wesselski Märchen 249 No. 57; *Fb "bjørn" IV 42b; *Dickson Valentine and Orson 118 nn. 49, 50, 172 n. 30. |
| B31.2 | The Bird Gam. Throws sand in a stream and makes a lake. Appears at turn of century. Also carries men. Leaps into the sea and sleeps.—Fb "Fugl Gam", "Gam" IV 173b.—Kristensen Danske Sagn II (1893) 131ff., (1928) 94.—Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B31.1.0.1 | The bird Ziz, Hebrew counterpart of roc. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B281.9.1 | The cat as vixen's husband. Frightens the other wild animals invited by the vixen. (Cf. K2324.)—Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *103A. |
| B282.23 | The courtship of the stork and the crane. Go a-courting one another across the marshes but never come to an understanding, as each time either one or the other changes his mind. (Cf. T91.)—Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *223; Russian Andrejev No. *244 I. |
| B715 | The cow Audhumla sprang from the dripping rime of the creation of the universe. (Cf. A1245.4. and B19.2.1.)—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 324. |
| B19.2.1 | The cow Audhumla. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 324. |
| B253.5 | The deer with a cross carried between their horns. *Loomis White Magic 61. |
| B11.12.5 | The dragon-king. Chinese: Eberhard 25 No. 13,65, 87 No. 7,158, 245 No. 190. |
| B19.7 | The goat Heidrun. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 313—14. |
| B751.4 | The lion blows first life into its cubs three days after their birth. Zs. für deutsche Philol. XXVI 25. |
| B848.1 | The musician in the wolf-trap: meets wolf already trapped, and saves himself by playing music. (Cf. K551.3.1.)—Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *168; Estonian: Aarne in FFC XXV No. 2002. |
| B292.6.1 | Thief lives alone with 20 cats that help him keep intruders away. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B266.1 | Thirsty cattle fight over well. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B381 | Thorn removed from lion's paw (Androcles and the Lion). In gratitude the lion later rewards the man.—*Type 156; *BP III 1 n. 2; Cf. Type 74*; Jacobs Aesop 205 No. 23; Wienert FFC LVI 70 (ET 345), 127 (ST 357); *Krappe Bulletin Hispanique XXXIX 29; **Brodeur (A.G.) "The Grateful Lion" PMLA XXXIX 485; Herbert Catalogue of Romances III 210; Penzer V 162 n. 1, IX 47 n. 1; Alphabet No. 451; Oesterley Gesta Romanorum No. 278.—*Loomis White Magic 58—61.—Spanish Exempla: Keller.—India: *Thompson-Balys.—Chinese: Graham.—N. A. Indian (Wyandot): Barbeau GSCan XI 106 No. 29. |
| B381.2 | Thorn removed from monkey's tail. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B15.1.2.10.3 | Thousand-headed serpent. Hindu: Penzer VI 61 n. 1, VI 176. |
| B72.1 | Three sea-cows: one red, one white, one black. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B15.1.2.2 | Three-headed animal. |
| B15.1.2.2.1 | Three-headed bird. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B11.2.3.2 | Three-headed dragon. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges; Africa (Fulah): Frobenius Atlantis VI 182ff. No. 4. |
| B15.1.2.2.2 | Three-headed serpent. Persian: Carnoy 311; Hindu: Keith 36, 154. |
| B15.3.1.1 | Three-horned deer. Irish: MacCulloch Celtic 129, Cross. |
| B15.6.1 | Three-legged quadrupeds. Fb. "trebenet"; Zingerle Sagen aus Tirol 590; Tobler Epiphanie der Seele 20; *Hdwb. d. Abergl. II 420. Mannhardt Germanische Mythen 409; Wehrhan Freimauerei 53 (hare).—Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 324 No. 152. |
| B15.7.6 | Three-tailed turtle. Korean: Zong-in-Sob 169 No. 73. |
| B240.13 | Tiger as king of animals. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B191.3 | Tiger as magician. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B535.0.8 | Tiger as nurse for child. S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 161, (Amuesa): ibid. 129. |
| B621.3 | Tiger as suitor. Chinese: Graham; India: Thompson-Balys; S. A. Indian: (Jivarу): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 148. |
| B292.11 | Tiger carries load of wood for saint. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B387 | Tiger grateful for woman assisting tigress as midwife. Chinese: Graham, Eberhard FFC CXX 29. |
| B563.4.1.1 | Tiger guides lost man home; hence men do not eat tigers. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B525.1 | Tiger hides woman from all other tigers. S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 155, 161, (Carib): ibid. 146. |
| B292.4.2 | Tiger plows for man. India: *Thompson-Balys |
| B256.7 | Tiger sweeps temple for saint. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B299.8.1 | Tigers build bridge. S. A. Indian (Amuesha): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 150. |
| B631.6 | Tigress bears men-children. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B386 | Tigress grateful for opening of abscess. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B297.1.2 | Toad and chameleon play drum and xylophone. Africa (Luba): De Clerq Zs. f. Kolonialsprachen IV 193. |
| B776.2 | Toad considered venomous. (Cf. B776.5.1.)—Kittredge Witchcraft 181 nn. 67—71; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B766.3 | Toads suck blood. *Kittredge Witchcraft 183 n. 88. |
| B332 | Too watchful dog killed. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B16.0.2 | Tormenting beast in man's stomach. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B294.7 | Tortoise and dog partners as thieves. Africa (Cameroon): Meinhof 3. |
| B240.5 | Tortoise as king of animals. Africa (Mbundu): Bell JAFL XXXV 135ff. No. 15. |
| B622.3 | Tortoise as wooer. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B723 | Tortoise has no liver or teeth. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B182.1.0.1 | Toy (lap) dogs. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B17.1.2.3 | Transformed man as hostile dog. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B11.1.3.0.1 | Transformed princess as dragon. Irish myth: Cross; German: Grimm No. 88. |
| B297.2 | Transformed women enchanted by music. |
| B542.2.1 | Transportation to fairyland on griffin's back. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B335.1.1 | Treacherous wife forces husband to kill helpful dog. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B109 | Treasure animals—miscellaneous. |
| B100 | Treasure animals. *Clouston Tales I 123 ff.; India: Thompson-Balys; Penzer I 20 n., VIII 59 n. 3; Cox 510 n. 54. |
| B100.1 | Treasure found in slain helpful animal. *Cox Cinderella passim. —Lithuanian: Leskien 448 No. 25; Breton: Luzel III 134; Portuguese: Pedroso 76 No. 18. |
| B113.3 | Treasure from bird's feathers. German: Grimm Nos. 60, 64. |
| B119.2 | Treasure produced by goat's entrails. German: Grimm No. 130. |
| B103.0.8 | Treasure received from tiger. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B103.1 | Treasure-dropping animals. |
| B103.0.5 | Treasure-giving goat. Fb "buk" IV 77a; Boberg. |
| B101.2 | Treasure-hog. Alternate bristles of gold and silver; at each step a side of pork falls from him.—Fb "galt". |
| B103.2 | Treasure-laying animals. |
| B103.2.1 | Treasure-laying bird. Bird lays money or golden eggs or an egg at every step.—Köhler-Bolte I 409; Cox 510 n. 54; Fb "höne" I 570b.—Icel.: *Boberg; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "oiseau"; India: *Thompson-Balys, Panchatantra III 14, (Ryder tr.) 359. |
| B103 | Treasure-producing animals. |
| B192.3 | Treasure-producing bird killed to please a paramour. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B113.2 | Treasure-producing bird-head. (Cf. D1011.0.1.)—*Aarne MSFO XXV 176. |
| B113.1 | Treasure-producing bird-heart. (Cf. D1015.1.1.) Brings riches when eaten.—**Aarne MSFO XXV 176; *Type 567; Penzer I 19 n 2; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B114 | Treasure-producing part of sheep. |
| B119 | Treasure-producing parts of animals—miscellaneous. |
| B110 | Treasure-producing parts of animals. |
| B113 | Treasure-producing parts of bird. **Aarne MSFO XXV 176 (extensive list of parts). |
| B112 | Treasure-producing serpent's crown. (Cf. B108.1, B115.1, B176).—Type 672; BP II 463f.—Icel.: *Boberg; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 132 no. 79; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 46 No. 79; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 73 No. 233. |
| B114.1 | Treasure-producing sheepskin. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B103.0.1 | Treasure-producing turkey. N. Am. Indian (Zuсi): Cushing Zuсi Folk-Tales 54ff. |
| B340 | Treatment of helpful animals—miscellaneous. |
| B132 | Truth-speaking cow. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B133 | Truth-speaking horse. Type 531; BP III (Gr. No. 126). |
| B130 | Truth-telling animals. |
| B133.0.1 | Truth-telling ass (mule). Jewish: Neuman. |
| B135 | Truth-telling cat. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B136 | Truth-telling deer. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B339.1 | Truth-telling dog killed so as to hide murder. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B134.1.1 | Truth-telling dog tells of incest. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B134 | Truth-telling dog. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B131.0.1 | Truth-telling owl. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B551.5 | Turtle (tortoise) carries person across river (ocean). Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 997; Tonga: Gifford 53. |
| B761 | Turtle holds with jaws till it thunders. Ojibwa: Jones-Michelson PAES VII (2) 347 No. 44; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Friends 167 No. 23. |
| B245.2 | Turtle king. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B375.8 | Turtle released: grateful. Korean: Zong in-Sob 169 No. 73. |
| B11.2.3.5 | Twelve-headed dragon. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| B15.1.2.10.1 | Twelve-headed serpent. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B15.6.3.2 | Twelve-legged bird. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B260.1 | Two groups of animals make peace treaty. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 213 No. 1 (18); Shuswap: Teit JE II 658f. |
| B15.1.2.1 | Two-headed animal. U.S.: Baughman; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B15.1.2.1.4 | Two-headed dog. Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus I 211 n. 3 (Orthus). |
| B11.2.3.6 | Two-headed dragon. England: Baughman. |
| B15.1.2.1.1 | Two-headed serpent. One head in front and one at rear.—Penzer V 135 n. 2. |
| B15.1.2.1.2 | Two-headed tiger. S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 142—158 passim. |
| B13 | Unicorn. (cf. B15.7.2.)—*Type 1640; *BP I 164; **Odell Shepard The Lore of the Unicorn (London, 1929); **Robert Brown Jr. The Unicorn, a Mythological Investigation (London, 1881); Howey Horse in Magic and Myth 232f.; Hdwb. d. Abergl. s.v. "Einhorn"; Bolte Reise der Söhne Giaffers 212; Icel.: *Boberg; Jewish: Neuman; Chinese: Ferguson 98. |
| B335.3 | Unsuccessful attempt by enemy to kill helpful animal. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B557 | Unusual animal as riding-horse. *BP II 483 (Gr. 108) (cock); Tobler Epiphanie der Seele 72f. (goat, goose, snake); *Fb "buk" IV 77a (goat); Penzer II 143.—Missouri-French: Carrière; Icel.: Boberg; English: Wells 114 (lion, unicorn, leopard); Jewish: Bin Gorion Born Judas III 148; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Werner 392 (tiger). |
| B558 | Unusual draft-animal. |
| B754.6.1 | Unusual impregnation of animal. |
| B670 | Unusual mating between animals. |
| B531.2 | Unusual milking animal. |
| B754.7 | Unusual parturition of animal. |
| B754.0.1 | Unusual sexual union of animals. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B291.0.2 | Unwelcome bird (insect) proves to be messenger. *Jochelson JE VI 373 No. 16. |
| B600.1.1 | Various animals tried out as wives: none accepted. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B600.1 | Various animals tried out as wives. Only one accepted.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 348 n. 254b. |
| B241.1 | Various beasts as king of beasts. |
| B242.1 | Various birds as king of birds. |
| B243.1 | Various fishes as king of fishes. |
| B46 | Vasa Mortis. Bird with four heads, middle like a whale, feathers and feet of a griffin.—Old English: Solomon and Saturnus (Grein-Wülcker) III (2) 58—82, lines 262ff. |
| B95.1 | Vegetable lamb born from melons (as from eggs).—Laufer JAFL XXVIII 124. |
| B95 | Vegetable lamb. Generated from ground. Umbilical cord is in the ground and the lambs will die if it is forcibly severed. They are frightened into severing it themselves and then live. Vertebrae of the neck planted to produce new ones.—*Laufer JAFL XXVIII 115ff. |
| B776 | Venomous animals. |
| B776.4.2 | Venomous boar. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B776.3.1 | Venomous dog loosed against saint. Irish myth: Cross. |