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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 |
|---|---|
| B631.5 | Cow bears man child. Africa (Lamba): Doke MAFLS XX 14 No. 11. |
| B631.6 | Tigress bears men-children. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B631.7 | Human offspring of marriage of person and jaguar. S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 62, (Eastern Brazil): Lowie BBAE CXLIII I 434. |
| B631.8 | Human offspring of marriage of person and lion. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 1170. |
| B631.9 | Human offspring of marriage of person and snake. S. A. Indian (Tapirape): Wagley-Galvao BBAE 143 III 253. |
| B632 | Animal offspring from marriage to animal. *Fb "kvinde" II 339b, "menneske" II 577b; *MacCulloch Childhood 263ff.; Cox 487.—Icelandic: Boberg; India: *Thompson-Balys.—Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 413, 465, Holm 56, 82, Rasmussen I 363, III 200, (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 167, 226, (Central Eskimo): Boas RBAE VI 637, (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 80.—N. A. Indian (Seneca): Curtin Hewitt RBAE XXXII No. 9; cf. Thompson Tales 347 n. 247, 248.—Africa (Zulu): Callaway 79, 349. |
| B633 | Human and animal offspring from marriage to animal. *Wesselski Märchen 247 No. 57. |
| B634 | Monstrous offspring from animal marriage. Irish myth: Cross; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 1169, 1354. |
| B634.1 | Monstrous offspring of sea-horse and woman. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B635 | Human foster-child with animal qualities. |
| 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. |
| B635.1.1 | Eaten meat of bear-lover causes unborn son to have bear characteristics. (Cf. B611.1.)—Hrolfs saga Kraka 53. |
| B635.1.2 | Bear's foster child not used to sun and light. Eskimo (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 53. |
| B635.1.3 | Bear says he is boy's father; asks food. Eskimo (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 47. |
| B635.2 | Wolf boy (girl) running around with wolf and cubs recovered by parents after six years: recognized by scar. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B635.3 | Child of mortal and deer has deer's hair on temple. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B635.3.1 | Culture hero licked by deer mother. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B635.4 | Son of dog ("cu," person). Irish myth: Cross. |
| B635.4.1 | Son of three dogs ("con," persons). Irish myth: Cross. |
| B636 | Offspring of human and animal intercourse. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B640 | Marriage to person in animal form. |
| B640.1 | Marriage to beast by day and man by night. (Cf. D621.)—*Type 425. See references for D621.—*Tegethoff Amor-Psyche 17; Missouri-French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B641 | Marriage to person in beast form. (Cf. B601, B651.) |
| B641.1 | Marriage to person in dog form. (Cf. B635.4, D141.)—Irish myth: Cross, MacCulloch Celtic 168; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Werner 421.—Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen II 244; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 347 n. 247; S. A. Indian (Chaco): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 369. |
| B641.2 | Marriage to woman in deer form. (Cf. D114.1.) Irish myth: Cross, MacCulloch Celtic 168; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B641.2.1 | Marriage to man in deer form. Africa (Swazi): Bourhill and Drake Fairy Tales from South Africa 212ff. No. 18. |
| B641.3 | Marriage to god in bull form. (Cf. B611.4, D133.2)—*Frazer Fasti IV 74 nn. 2, 3 (Europa). |
| B641.4 | Marriage to person in ass form. (Cf. D132.1.)—*Type 430. |
| B641.5 | Marriage to person in hedgehog form. *Type 441; BP II 234, 482. |
| B641.6 | Marriage to person in horse form. Africa (Hausa): Mischlich Neue Märchen aus Africa 186ff. |
| B641.7 | Marriage to person in monkey form. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B641.8 | Marriage to person in opossum form. S. A. Indian (Tupinamba): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3). 132. |
| B642 | Marriage to person in bird form. (Cf. B602, D150.).—Type 432; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B643 | Marriage to person in insect form. |
| B643.3 | Marriage to person in caterpillar form. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B644 | Marriage to person in fish form. India: Thompson-Balys; Eskimo (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 52. |
| B645 | Marriage to person in amphibian form. |
| B645.1 | Marriage of person to transformed toad. Korean: Zong in-Sob 176 No. 76. |
| B645.1.1 | Marriage to person in toad form. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B645.1.2 | Marriage to person in frog form. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B645.2 | Marriage to person in crocodile form. (Cf. D194.)—Africa (Kaffir): Theal 38; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B646 | Marriage to person in reptile form. (Cf. B604, B652.) |
| B646.1 | Marriage to person in snake form. (Cf. D191.) Type 433.—India: *Thompson-Balys.—Africa (Zulu): Callaway 57, 321, (Kaffir): Theal 48, (Basuto): Jacottet 126 No. 18, 146 No. 20. |
| B646.1.1 | Marriage to person in form of five-headed snake. Africa (Hausa): Stigand Black Tales for White Children 83ff. No. 13. |
| B647 | Marriage to person in animal form—miscellaneous. |
| B647.1 | Marriage to person in crustacean form. |
| B647.1.1 | Marriage to person in crab form. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B648 | Man becomes deer and marries deer. N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 348 n. 252. |
| B650 | Marriage to animal in human form. Burmese: Scott Indo-Chinese 272. |
| B650.1 | Animal transformed to man wants to marry woman. Indonesian: De Vries' list No. 156. |
| B651 | Marriage to beast in human form. (Cf. B601, B641.) |
| B651.1 | Marriage to fox in human form. *N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 342 n. 233 ("The Fox Woman").—Chinese: Krappe CFQ III (1944) 124, 129ff., 136f., 141, Eberhard FFC CXX 49, 214.—Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 144, 427, Rasmussen I 150, III 76, (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 222—224, (Labrador): Hawkes GSCan XIV 156, (Ungava) Turner RBAE XI 264; Koryak: Jochelsen JE VI 364; S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 144ff. |
| B651.2 | Marriage to buffalo in human form. N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 339 n. 222 ("The Piqued Buffalo Wife"). |
| B651.3 | Marriage to lion in human form. Africa (Angola): Chatelain 145 No. 15. |
| B651.4 | Marriage to dog in human form. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 258; Chinese: Werner 421. |
| B651.5 | Marriage to deer in human form. India: Thompson-Balys; S. A. Indian (Maropa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 448. |
| B651.6 | Marriage to wolf in human form. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 258.—Eskimo (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 38. |
| B651.7 | Marriage to bear in human form. Eskimo (Smith Sound): Kroeber JAFL XII 176, (Greenland): Holm 82, (Central Eskimo): Boas RBAE VI 638f., (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 76. |
| B651.8 | Marriage to seal in human form. Helge Holmström Svanjung-frumotivet 1919, 84ff.; Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 258. |
| B651.9 | Marriage to tiger in human form. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B651.10 | Marriage to squirrel in human form. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B651.11 | Marriage to leopard in human form. Africa (Wakweli): Bender 52. |
| B652 | Marriage to bird in human form. |
| B652.1 | Marriage to swan-maiden. See all references for D361.1. |
| B652.2 | Man marries crane in human form. Japanese: Ikeda, Anesaki 324. |
| B652.3 | Marriage to dove-maiden. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 260. |
| B652.4 | Marriage to woodpecker in human form. S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 146. |
| B653 | Marriage to insect in human form. |
| B653.1 | Marriage to bee in human form. Indonesian: Dixon 219. |
| B654 | Marriage to fish in human form. Irish myth: Cross (B612.0.1); India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 47f., 142; Africa (Congo): Weeks 216. |
| B655 | Marriage to amphibia in human form. |
| B656 | Marriage to reptile in human form. (Cf. B604, B642.) |
| B656.1 | Marriage to python in human form. Africa (Kaffir): Kidd 249. |
| B656.2 | Marriage to serpent in human form. Hindu: Penzer VI 73 n. 2; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indo-Chinese: Scott 276; S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 66; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 76, 201.—Krappe CFQ III (1944) 138ff. |
| B659 | Marriage to other animals in human form. |
| B670 | Unusual mating between animals. |
| B671 | Goose mates with crow. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 884. |
| B672 | Mythical tiger has family of jaguars. S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 155. |
| B690 | Marriage of person to animal—miscellaneous. |
| B691 | Relatives kill animal-husband but wife throws herself into pyre. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B700 | Fanciful traits of animals. |
| B710 | Fanciful origin of animals. |
| B710.1 | Fanciful origin of the jackal. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B710.2 | Clever and swift horse of fanciful origin. |
| B710.2.1 | Clever and swift horse fed with worms' milk on the gold mountain Tecklen in India. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B710.2.2 | Clever and swift horse of dromedary-family. Göngu-Hrуlfs saga 239. |
| B712 | Barnacle goose. Goose born from barnacles.—*Chauvin VII 18 No. 373C; Fb "and" IV 12b; Hdwb. d. Abergl. s.v. "Baumgans"; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B713 | Animal born from animal carcass. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| B713.1 | Bees born from carcass of ox. Frazer Fasti of Ovid II 157. |
| B713.2 | Animal born from putrification. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B714 | Worm (monster) from caul born with child. Irish myth: Cross. |
| 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. |
| B716 | Animal born from human or animal bones. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B717 | Animal born from earth. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B720 | Fanciful bodily members of animals. |
| B721 | Cat's luminous eye.—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "oeil".; Icel.: Boberg. |
| B722 | Magic stone in animal's head. Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B722.1 | Magic love-working stone in swallow's head.—Fb. "svale" III 661b. |
| B722.2 | Magic stone in dog's forehead. Fb "hund" I 678. |
| B722.3 | Luminous jewel in animal's head. *Cosquin Contes indiens 254ff.; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B722.4 | Earthworm has light in its tail. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B723 | Tortoise has no liver or teeth. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B724 | Spider has no blood in body. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B725 | Female bears have no breasts to nurse their young; suck paws. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B726 | Double snake—male and female. Africa (Baluba): Einstein 182. |
| B730 | Fanciful color, smell, etc. of animals. |
| B731 | Fanciful color of animal. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B731.0.1 | Animals of strange and varied coloring. *Schoepperle Tristan and Isolt II 322 n. 1. |
| B731.1 | Green she-goat. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "chèvre". |
| B731.2 | Green horse. Howey Horse in Magic and Myth 7. |
| B731.2.1 | Horse with crimson mane and green legs. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B731.2.2 | Artificially colored horses. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B731.2.3 | Striped horse with purple mane and white feet. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B731.3 | Multicolored llama. Wool red, blue, and yellow. No need to dye it for weaving.—Chincha (peru): Alexander Lat. Am. 230. |
| B731.4 | Cow with changing colors. Changes every four hours: white, red, black.—Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 310 n. 3. |
| B731.4.1 | Cow with white ears. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B731.4.2 | Cow with red ears. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B731.5 | Silver, gold, and diamond birds. Czech: Tille FFC XXXIV 162. |
| B731.6 | Hound of every color. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B731.6.0.1 | Polychromatic dogs. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B731.6.1 | Hound half white, half green. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B731.6.2 | Blue dogs and cats. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B731.7 | Fancifully colored deer. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B731.7.1 | Stag with stripe of every color. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B731.7.2 | Fawn with golden lustre. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B731.8 | Red (green) swine. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B731.9 | Purple wether. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B731.9.1 | Ram with green feet and horns. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B731.10 | Multicolored worm (serpent). Irish myth: Cross. |
| B731.11 | Blue serpent. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B731.12 | Silver fish with gold fins. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B731.13 | Bird with changing color. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B731.14 | Hyena with three hundred sixty-five different colors. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B732 | Panther's sweet smell protects him from other beasts. Herbert Catalogue of Romances III 37ff. (Odo of Cheriton), Hervieux Fabulistes latins IV No. 60. |
| B733 | Animals are spirit-sighted. Scent danger.—Swiss; Jegerlehner Oberwallis 298 No. 9—Irish myth: Cross. Cf. B120. Wise animals. |
| B733.1 | Balaam's ass perceives angel. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B733.2 | Dogs howling indicates death. Argentina: Jijena Sanchez Perro Negro 115; Fb "hund" I 676 b; Hdwb. d. Abergl. IV 473. |
| B733.2.1 | Cock hears inaudible voice of dying man. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B735 | Bird gives milk. Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 102 No. 15, (Kaffir): Theal 33; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B736 | Animal sheds tears. |
| B736.1 | Bird sheds tears. (Cf. D1505.5.1.)—Spanish Boggs FFC XC 59 No. 425D.; Irish myth. Cross. |
| B736.2 | Horse sheds tears (of blood). Irish myth: Cross. |
| B736.3 | Dog sheds tears. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B736.4 | Fox sheds tears. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B736.5 | Stag sheds tears. German: Grimm No. 11. |
| B736.6 | Calf sheds tears. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B737 | Fish with coat of wool. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B738 | Animal's skin revolves while flesh and bones remain stationary. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B739 | Fanciful color, smell etc. of animals—miscellaneous. |
| B739.1 | Magic cock has elixir in his body which makes people light. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 222. |
| B740 | Fanciful marvelous strength of animals. |
| B741 | Lion's roar causes havoc at 300 miles. At 300 miles all women miscarry, at 200 teeth of all men drop out.—Gaster Exempla 187 No. 7; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B741.1 | Cry of giant ox impregnates all fish. Persian: Carnoy 289. |
| B741.2 | Neighing of stallion in Assyria impregnates mares in Egypt.—*De Vries FFC LXXIII 375. |
| B741.3 | Cow whose bellowing defeats army. *Liebrecht Zur Volkskunde 71; Norse: *Boberg. |
| B741.4 | Bellow of bull heard over entire land. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B742 | Animal breathes fire. Gaster Oldest Stories 69. |
| B742.1 | Lion breathes fire. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "lion". |
| B742.2 | Birds spit fire. English: Wells 104 (Alexander and Dindimus); Irish myth: Cross. |
| B742.3 | Fire-breathing horses. Hartland Science 243. |
| B742.4 | Fire-breathing dogs. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B743 | Blowing serpent. Can blow through seven church walls but not through a pair of hose.—Fb "blæseorm". |
| B744 | Animal travels extraordinary distance. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B745 | Indestructibility of leech. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B746 | Bear could formerly lift mountain. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B747 | Animal's strong teeth. |
| B747.1 | Strong teeth of lion. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B747.2 | Locusts with jaw teeth strong as lion's. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B747.3 | Mice gnaw through metal vessels. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B748 | Snake shoots rapids of mighty river. S. A. Indian (Pilcomayo River Tribes): Belaieff BBAE CXLIII (1) 379. |
| B750 | Fanciful habits of animals. |
| B751 | Animal's fanciful treatment of their young. |
| B751.1 | Snake swallows young to protect them. *Speck JAFL XXXVI 298; England, U.S.: Baughman; North Carolina: Brown Coll. I 637f. |
| B751.2 | Pelican kills young and revives them with own blood. Herbert Catalogue of Romances III 37ff. (Odo of Cheriton), Hervieux Fabulistes latins IV No. 57. |
| B751.3 | Eagle tests eaglets by having them gaze at sun. Herbert III 38 (Odo of Cheriton), Hervieux Fabulistes latins IV No. 10; Gaster Thespis 30. |
| B751.4 | The lion blows first life into its cubs three days after their birth. Zs. für deutsche Philol. XXVI 25. |
| B751.5 | Animal neglects its young. Jewish: Neuman (raven, jackal, ostrich). |
| B751.6 | Wolf strongly attracted to his own children. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B752 | Fanciful behavior of animal at death. |
| B752.1 | Swan song. Swan sings as she dies.—Fb "svane" III 663b. |
| B752.2 | Snake does not die before sunset.—Fb "orm" II 759a; U.S.: Baughman. |
| B752.3 | Snake kills itself by biting part of body (when in danger or torture). U.S.: Baughman. |
| B754 | Sexual habits of animals. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| B754.0.1 | Unusual sexual union of animals. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B754.1 | Animal changes sex periodically. |
| B754.1.1 | Hyena changes sex yearly. Fable: Halm Aesop 405, Wienert FFC LVI 62 (ET 251), 131 (ST 376, 401); Jewish: Neuman. |
| B754.1.2 | Hare changes sex periodically. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B754.2 | Elephants have sexual desire only after eating mandrakes. English: Wells 182 (The Bestiary). |
| B754.3 | Lions do not mate with their fellows, but prefer leopards. (Cf. Q551.3.)—*Krappe Balor 82; Frazer Apollodorus I 401. |
| B754.3.1 | Female rattlesnakes mate with black snakes rather than with male rattlesnakes. U.S.: Baughman. |
| B754.4 | Male rabbit bears young. Female rabbit escaped Noah on ark and drowned.—Nouvelles Récréations No. 66. |
| B754.5 | Cocks kept from intercourse with hens have tenderest meat. Nouvelles Récréations No. 86. |
| B754.6 | Peacock pregnant without intercourse. Male spits up semen and female eats it. This as a curse. (Cf. A2236.5.)—India: *Thompson-Balys; Jewish: Neuman (raven). |
| B754.6.1 | Unusual impregnation of animal. |
| B754.6.1.1 | Animal impregnated through mouth (ears). Jewish: Neuman. |
| B754.7 | Unusual parturition of animal. |
| B754.7.1 | Crab's offspring born through its chest. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B754.7.2 | Eagle catches gazelle's young as it is born. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B755 | Animal calls the dawn. The sun rises as a result of the animal's call.—Africa (Benga): Nassau 204 No. 32, (Ekoi): Talbot 384. |
| B756 | Gold-digging ants. *Chauvin VII 87 No. 373bis; **F. Schiern Ueber den Ursprung der Sage von den goldgrabenden Ameisen (Copenhagen-Leipzig, 1873). |
| B757 | Rats leave sinking ship. Fb "rotte" III 83a. |
| B758 | Eagle renews youth. Feathers fall off and regrow.—*Wensinck "Tree and Bird as Cosmological symbols in Western Asia" Verhandelingen der Koninklijke Akademie von Wetenschappen n.s. XXII no. 1 (1921) 38; Hdwb. d. Aberg. I 180 s.v. "Adler".—Herbert Catalogue of Romances III 69 (Odo of Cheriton); Gaster Oldest Stories 80. |
| 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. |
| B762 | Monkeys attack by throwing coconuts. *Chauvin VII 22 n. 3. |
| B762.1 | Animal attacks by throwing pebbles. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B765 | Fanciful qualities of snakes. (Cf. B91.3, B751.1, B752.2.)—Jewish: *Neuman. |
| B765.1 | Snake takes tail in mouth and rolls like wheel. Fb "stеlorm". |
| B765.2 | Snake lays aside his crown to bathe. Hoffman-Krayer Zs. f. Vksk. XXV 120 n. 2.; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B765.3 | Snake sucks poisonous dew from grass. *Fb "hugorm". |
| B765.4 | Snake milks cows at night. *Kittredge Witchcraft 484 f. nn. 23, 24.—Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 300 No. 9. |
| B765.4.1 | Snake attaches itself to a woman's breast and draws away her milk while she sleeps. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B765.5 | Snake crawls from sleeper's mouth. Fb "hugorm".—Fr. v.d. Leyen Das Märchen 39ff. |
| B765.6 | Snake eats milk and bread with child. Type 672c.; BP II 463; Fb "snog" III 437a. |
| B765.6.1 | Snake drinks milk. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B765.7 | Jointed snake can join its segments when it is broken into pieces. Chinese: Werner 393; U.S.: Baughman. |
| B765.7.1 | Snakes may be killed, but do not die. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B765.7.2 | Snake grows back together after it has been severed. U.S.: Baughman. |
| B765.8 | Snake sucks poison from bite it has itself made. **Wesselski Erlesenes 3ff. |
| B765.9 | Poisonous snakes in certain region have no venom. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B765.10 | Snake cracks self like coach whip and chases man. North Carolina: Brown Coll. I 637. U.S.: Baughman. |
| B765.11 | Snake's venom kills tree. North Carolina: Brown Coll. I 637. |
| B765.12 | Venomous snakes play with precious stones. Icel.: Boberg. |
| B765.13 | Copperhead guides rattlesnake to its prey. U.S.: Baughman. |
| B765.14 | Snake has hypnotic stare: person cannot move. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| B765.14.1 | Serpent reduces man to a heap of ashes by its fiery gaze. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B765.15 | Snake stands up, whistles. U.S.: Baughman. |
| B765.16 | Snake has stinger. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| B765.17 | Bullets have no effect on giant serpent; only stroke of lightning effective. Ladino: Conzemius BBAE CVI 169. |
| B765.18 | Snake avoids object. |
| B765.18.1 | Snake avoids white ash. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| B765.18.2 | Snakes will not cross rope made of hair. U.S.: Baughman. |
| B765.18.3 | Snakes will not cross a ring made of Irish earth. U.S.: Baughman. |
| B765.19 | Detached snake fang kills person or animal. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| B765.20 | Snake kills man who has killed snake's mate. U.S., West Indies: *Baughman. |
| B765.21 | Snake revives snakes which have been injured (the doctor snake). U.S.: Baughman. |
| B765.22 | King snake: kills and eats any snake that does not accept his authority. U.S.: Baughman. |
| B765.23 | Snake with legs. U.S.: Baughman. |
| B765.24 | Dragon fly serves as snake's servant, feeds snake; it is called snake-feeder. U.S.: Baughman. |
| B765.24.1 | Dragon fly acts as doctor to injured snakes. U.S.: Baughman. |
| B765.25 | Female snake seven years pregnant. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B765.26 | Palm tree grows on serpent's body. S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 71. |
| B766 | Fanciful dangers from animals. |
| B766.1 | Cat mutilates corpses. *Kittredge Witchcraft 178 n. 41; U.S.: Baughman; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 638. |
| B766.1.1 | Cat must be kept from dying person because it will catch the person's soul issuing (from mouth) in form of mouse. (Cf. E731.3.)—England, U.S.: Baughman. |
| B766.2 | Cat sucks sleeping child's breath. *Kittredge Witchcraft 178 n. 40; England: Baughman; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 638. |
| B766.3 | Toads suck blood. *Kittredge Witchcraft 183 n. 88. |
| B766.4 | Bite of white she-mule causes certain death. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B767 | Animals attracted by music. German: Grimm Nos. 8, 114. |
| B767.1 | Fish follow sound of music. Jataka II 157. |
| B768 | Fancied nourishment of animals. |
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