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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| A2378.4.6 | Why monkey has short tail. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2433.3.19 | Why monkey lives in tree. Mpongwe: Nassau 68 No. 14. |
| A2362.1 | Why monkey's buttocks are red. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A2330.3 | Why monkey's face is black. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2576 | Why monkeys do not fall from trees. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2435.3.6 | Why moose eat willows. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 231. |
| A2326.3.5 | Why mountain-sheep's horns are close together. Kaska: Teit JAFL XXX 430. |
| A2462.3 | Why mouse does not defend self against cat. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2239.9 | Why mouse is crushed whenever she crosses a road: elephant's curse. Africa (Sandeh): Casati I 221. |
| A2561.1 | Why mule is sterile. Sébillot RTP II 492.—Laguna and Zuсi: Parsons JAFL XXXI 259. |
| A2351.7 | Why munia wears his crop on the back of his neck. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2794.1 | Why mushrooms are slimy. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2433.3.10 | Why muskrats live in water. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 243. |
| A2433.5.1 | Why nit lives at edge of hair. (See A2236.6.) |
| X213 | Why no millers in hell. A mad dog in place of a miller in a sack. Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 84 No. 27b. |
| A2791.4 | Why no one can find flower of wild fig. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| X251.1 | Why no weavers in hell. Devils annoyed at their noisy trade. Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 84 No. 27a. |
| A2761.1 | Why oak-leaves are indented. Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 91 No. 132b. |
| A2771.8.1 | Why olive is bitter. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1689.11 | Why one people is superior in power to another. |
| A1528 | Why one presents stranger with first fish caught. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 22. |
| A2317.12 | Why opossum has bare tail. Am. Negro (Georgia): Harris Remus 129 No. 27; Cherokee: Alexander N. Am. 65. |
| A2466.1 | Why opossum plays dead when caught. Dh III 236f.—Am. Negro (Georgia): Harris Remus 11 No. 3. |
| A2341.2.1 | Why opossum's mouth is large. Choctaw: Alexander N. Am. 64. |
| A1391 | Why other members must serve belly. Result of a debate between members of the body.—India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 393. |
| A2491.2 | Why owl avoids daylight. Dh III 270.—Ibo (Nigeria): Thomas 162; (Wakweli): Bender 39, 46. |
| A2435.4.9.2 | Why owl drinks no water. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2435.4.9.1 | Why owl eats no grain. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2427.3 | Why owl hoots at night. (Cf. A2426.2.17.)—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2332.6.6 | Why owl is blind by day. (See A2233.3.)—Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3140. |
| A2433.4.1 | Why owl lives where he does. (See A2229.3. steeple.)—Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 196 (away from other birds). |
| A2474.3 | Why owl shakes head. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2342.2 | Why ox has no hair on his lips. (See A2221.5.1.) |
| A2515.1 | Why ox is draft animal. (See A2252.2.) |
| A2513.5 | Why ox serves man. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2433.6.2 | Why oyster lives in salt water. Mpongwe: Nassau 62 No. 11. |
| A2778.2 | Why palm is tall. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2877 | Why palm oil is red. Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield. |
| A2320.7 | Why palm-rat has swollen head. Africa (Congo): Weeks Jungle 455. |
| A1666.2 | Why Palmyrenes have narrow eyes. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2433.4.4 | Why parrot lives in tree. Congo: Weeks 220 No. 15. |
| A2343.2.1 | Why parrot's beak is black. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2442.1.2 | Why parrots fly high. Africa (Congo): Weeks 221. |
| A2584 | Why particular animals are not found in certain place. |
| A2375.2.1 | Why partridge has pretty feet. Exchanged with peacock. (Also told of jay and flamingo.) (See A2241.)—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2375.2.2 | Why peacock has ugly feet. (See A2232.7, A2236.2.2, A2375.2.1.) |
| A2527.2 | Why peacock is vain. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 8. |
| A1655.1 | Why peasant is always busy: he is eager to produce food for all living beings. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 108. |
| A2412.1.6 | Why peccary has spots. S. Am. Indian (Yagua): Steward-Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 736. |
| A1381.1 | Why people do not fear earthquakes. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 227. |
| A2330.6 | Why pheasant's cheeks are red. Korean: Zong in-Sob 32 No. 15. |
| A2582.1 | Why pigs are plentiful. New Guinea: Ker 13. |
| A2435.3.14.1 | Why pigs feed on excreta. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2473.2 | Why pigs in mud lift their legs. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2762.3 | Why pipal leaves tremble. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2761.3 | Why plant-leaves are flat. (See A2741.3.) |
| A2771.2 | Why plantain bears but one stalk. (See A2722.1.)—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2775.0.1 | Why plants no longer reach sky. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 134 No. 90. |
| A2762.2 | Why poplar-leaves tremble. Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 90 No. 131. |
| A2376.3 | Why porcupine has only four claws. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 226, 246. |
| A2433.3.11 | Why porcupine lives in high places in mountains. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 246. |
| A2434.2.1 | Why porcupines and skunks do not live on Cape Breton Island. Micmac: Speck JAFL XXVIII 69. |
| A2793.4 | Why potatoes are hard. (See A2721.3.2.) |
| A1102 | Why powers of nature work on Sabbath. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2433.4.3 | Why ptarmigan lives in country. (See A2250.1.) |
| A2378.2.1 | Why quail has no tail. Tricks crab into pulling out tail instead of killing her. Says that gripping her neck would not hurt but that pulling tail will be fatal. Dh III 54.—Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 87 No. 90a; Jewish: Neuman, India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2476.1 | Why rabbit continually moves mouth. Zanzibar: Bateman 22 No. 1. |
| A2325.1 | Why rabbit has long ears. Chuh: Kunst JAFL XXVIII 354. |
| A2375.2.4 | Why rabbits have soft pads on feet. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 222. |
| A2330.8 | Why rail (bird) has red forehead. New Hebrides: Codrington 361. |
| A2416.5 | Why ram smells bad. Sébillot RTP II 492. |
| A2433.3.7 | Why rams live at home. Gold Coast: Barker and Sinclair 143 No. 27; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2335.4.6 | Why rat has long snout. Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield 231. |
| A2435.3.10.1 | Why rat may eat rice. Brings original rice-plant from pond. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A2317.12.3 | Why rat's tail is round and without any hair. (Cf. A2378.9.5.)—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2378.9.5 | Why rat's tail looks like a folded leaf. (Cf. A2317.12.3)—New Hebrides: Codrington 360. |
| A2523.2.1 | Why rattlesnake is dangerous. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 69. |
| A2422.6 | Why raven cannot talk. Dh III 232. |
| A2442.2.1 | Why raven claps wings in flying. (See A2218.6.) |
| A2335.2.3 | Why raven has nose marked as if it had been broken off. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 225. |
| A2441.2.1 | Why raven hops. Jewish. Neuman. |
| A2317.5 | Why raven is bald. Dh III 13.—Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 221. |
| A2455.3 | Why raven is thief. Because he has none of ten commandments and carries a black stamp on his breast.—Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 90 No. 84. |
| A2486.1 | Why raven lays eggs in March. (See A2251.1.) |
| A2435.4.3 | Why raven suffers thirst. (See A2234.1.) |
| A2371.2.3 | Why ravens have crooked legs and walk lame. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 226. |
| A2385.2 | Why red dog's excrement contains animal hair. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2510.1 | Why reindeer has so many qualities. Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 86 No. 58e. |
| A2771.4.1 | Why rice has ears only at top. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 130 No. 86. |
| A2793.7 | Why rice is so abundant. Chinese: Graham. |
| A2536.2 | Why ring-dove brings good luck. Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 353 No. 7. |
| A2353.2 | Why robin has red breast. (See A2221.2.2.)—Breton: Sébillot RTP III 157. |
| A976 | Why rocks at river are covered with moss. Jamaica Negro: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 259 No. 49. |
| A1674.2 | Why Russians like thefts and robberies. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 100. |
| A1683.1.1 | Why Russians wear red shirts. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 99. |
| A1683.1 | Why Russians wear their shirts outside their breeches. Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 142 No. 24. |
| A2771.3 | Why sago bears fruit from the stem. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2791.10 | Why sago palm gives abundant sap. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2412.4.2.1 | Why salmon has purple belly. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A2378.9.1.1 | Why salmon has tapering tail. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 146, Boberg. |
| A1196 | Why salt disappeared from forests. S. Am. Indian (Yuracare): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 503. |
| A2524.2 | Why sandpiper (machetis pugnax) fights. Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 54 No. 104**. |
| A1422.1.1 | Why Santals eat entrails of hare. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A1689.4 | Why Saora wave axes and swords and shout while dancing. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2791.8 | Why sap comes from top of palm. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1119.1 | Why sea is blue. New Guinea: Ker 25. |
| A1119.2 | Why sea waters are warm: kept so by Leviathan. Jewish: Neuman. |
| T287 | Why separation of a good woman from a bad man is a benefit. N. A. Indian (Kaska): Teit JAFL XXX 457. |
| A2325.8 | Why serpent has no ears. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2341.3.1 | Why serpent's mouth is closed. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2853 | Why sexes differ in form and temperament. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2422.2 | Why sheep do not speak. Curse of Virgin Mary. (See A2231). —Sébillot RTP II 492. |
| A2371.2.1 | Why sheep has thin legs. (See A2231.7.2.)—Dh II 91. |
| A2555.1 | Why sheep is a good runner. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 231. |
| A2322.5 | Why sheep may keep wool which grows on his forehead. (See A2255.1.) |
| A2221.9 | Why sheep walk with bowed heads: they have remained so after having bowed to God. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2344.3.1 | Why sheep's tongue is black. Kaska: Teit JAFL XXX 430. |
| P453.1 | Why shoemakers are indolent. A shoemaker spits at Christ on way to be crucified. Christ tells him, "A poor slobbering fellow thou shalt be, and all shoemakers after thee, for what thou has done to me." (Cf. A2231.2, P445.1.) England; Baughman. |
| A2468.1 | Why shrew dies on road. (See A2233.1.3.) |
| A2522.2 | Why shrike is disliked. Sébillot RTP III 159. |
| A2522.4 | Why skunk is disliked. Inca: Krickeberg Märchen der Azteken und Inkaperuaner 254. |
| C226.0.1 | Why slayers of tigers must not eat certain plants. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2433.2.1.1 | Why small ants live in houses while driver ants must live in bush. Africa (Congo): Weeks Jungle 260f. |
| A2441.4.1 | Why snake does not go on the road. (See A2233.1.2.) |
| A2371.3.1 | Why snake has no legs. (See A2234.2, A2236.2.1, A2241.8.)—Dh I 116, 207, 216, 219f.—Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2483.1 | Why snake sheds skin. Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 88 No. 110a; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2311.9 | Why snakes and lizards change skins. (See A2250.2.) |
| A2523.2 | Why snakes are proud. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2532.1 | Why snakes are venomous. (Cf. A2235.)—Choctaw: Alexander N. Am. 64; India: Thompson-Balys; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2434.1.3 | Why snowbirds are everywhere. Pueblo: Parsons JAFL XXXI 218. |
| A2871 | Why soil in certain country is poor. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J1369.5 | Why soldier is silent before king: is always so when questioned by stupid person. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2474 | Why some animals continually shake head. |
| A2326.2 | Why some animals have no horns. |
| A2442.1.1 | Why some birds cannot fly high. Dh III 230. |
| A2444.1 | Why some fish swim deep; others shallow. (See A2238.3.) |
| A2795.1 | Why some flowers have no scent. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1375.1 | Why some married people quarrel and accuse each other of infidelity. Kaska: Teit JAFL XXX 456. |
| A1650.3.1 | Why some men are good basket-makers. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1174.2 | Why some nights are dark and some light. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2791.7 | Why some trees have no fruit. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2211.4 | Why some whales die on land: first whale did so. Tuamotu Stimson MS (z—G 13/320). |
| A1372.6 | Why some women are good-looking. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 220. |
| A2793.3 | Why some yams are good, some bad. (See A2741.2.) |
| A2771.7 | Why sorrel grows on certain rock every winter. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A2522.1 | Why sparrow is disliked. Sébillot RTP III 159. |
| A2431.3.7.1 | Why sparrow may build nest near people's houses; reward for hospitality. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2536.3 | Why spider brings good luck. Africa (Fang): Einstein 99. (Cf. A523.1.) |
| A2356.3.4 | Why spider has markings on back. Kaska: Teit JAFL XXX 241. |
| A2355.1.1 | Why spider has small waist. Dh III 36ff. |
| A2356.2.8 | Why spider has thread in back of body. (See A2231.6.) |
| A2542.2 | Why spider is cursed. (See A2231.5.) |
| A2433.5.3.1 | Why spider lives under stones. Africa: Meinhof 209. |
| A2862 | Why spirits are invisible. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2462.1 | Why squirrel barks when attacked. Dh III 237. |
| A2433.3.9 | Why squirrel lives in tree. Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 358 No. 11. |
| A2433.3.9.1 | Why squirrel stays hidden in jungle. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2343.3.1 | Why starling's beak is split. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2335.2.5 | Why steer has no hair on his nose. (See A2221.5.1.) |
| A2494.14.3 | Why stinging flies sit on eyes of cattle. Wakweli: Bender 64. |
| A975 | Why stones became hard. By God's order. (Cf. A968.1.)—Schmidt DF XXXIX 36; von Sydow Folkeminder och Folktankar VI 73; Fb "Adam" IV 3a.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 3 No. 3; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 139 Nr. 2; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 80 Nos. 3, 4.—Oceanic: Beckwith Myth 88. |
| A975.1.1 | Why stones no longer grow: punishment for injuring foot of holy person. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3015. Legends Nos. 19, 25. |
| A975.1 | Why stones no longer grow. Devil sows stones; God sends cold to prevent their growing. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3015, Legends Nos. 16f. |
| A2411.2.5.3.1 | Why stork has black back. Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 233, 236, 238f., 243ff. |
| A2541.2 | Why stork is holy. (See A2221.5.)—Dh III 286; Sébillot RTP III 128. |
| A2452.2 | Why stork must hunt for living. Dh III 284ff. |
| A2367.1.1 | Why sucker has small bones in body. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 242. |
| A1177 | Why sun shines on Saturday (Friday). *Dh II 30.—Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 83 No. 9c; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A733.1 | Why sunlight is so much stronger than moonlight. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2536.1 | Why swallow brings good luck. Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 86 No. 84a. |
| A2431.3.5.1 | Why swallow does not like green trees for her nest. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3145, Legends No. 272. |
| A2378.8.6 | Why swallow has black feathers in tail and only two feathers. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2378.5.1 | Why swallow has forked tail. (See A2214.1.) Dh III 54.—Cf. Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 87 No. 85; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3100, Legends Nos. 28, 192, 262. |
| A2344.2.3 | Why swallow has no tongue. Dh III 29. |
| A2455.2 | Why swallow is thief. Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 87 No. 84b. |
| A2422.9 | Why swallows lost voice. (See A2231.2.2.) |
| A2482.1 | Why swallows migrate. Dh III 258.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 16 No. 86; Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 87 No. 86. |
| A2317.1 | Why swine's belly is bare. Dh III 10. |
| A2378.8.2 | Why tail of West African grey parrot is red. Ibo (Nigeria): Basden 276. |
| A2751.4.3 | Why tamarind bark is black. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2791.5 | Why tamarind fruit is sour. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2769.1 | Why tamarind leaves are small. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2335.3.2 | Why tapir has long nose. S. Am. Indian (Yagua): Steward-Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 736. |
| A2764.1 | Why taro leaves are hollow. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 229. |
| A1689.10 | Why the Agaria are cultivators. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1681.4 | Why the Agaria eat rats. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2756 | Why the bamboo has nodes. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A2791.12 | Why the bija tree is often struck by lightning. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J1304 | Why the black clothes. A man goes forth in black clothes. People are curious as to the reason. "I am wearing mourning for the father of my son." Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin I 211 No. 27. |
| A1319.7 | Why the center of man's eye is black: blackened by spirits to make themselves invisible. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2433.2.4.1 | Why the chimpanzee lives with men. Africa (Duala): Lederbogen Märchen 146ff. |
| A1676.1 | Why the Chittagongs are not as brave as they used to be. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2321.10.1 | Why the cock's comb becomes white when he is angry. Jewish: Neuman. |
| G303.16.14.3.1 | Why the devil fears the rowan-tree. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3346. |
| G303.17.3 | Why the devil has disappeared from the world. |
| A2432.10 | Why the elephant lives without a hut. Wakweli: Bender 82f. |
| A1599.4 | Why the face must be wiped dry after washing. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3070; Legends No. 122. |
| A1689.3 | Why the Gond and Baiga are omnivorous. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2322.6 | Why the gorilla and chimpanzee have hair all over the body. Punishment for not guarding possessions at creation. Bulu: Krug 111f. |
| A2375.2.10 | Why the guinea fowl has red feet. Cheated and could not stand the ordeal of hot oil poured on his feet. Cameroon: Mansfield 226. |
| A1673.1 | Why the Haidas surpass in certain industries. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 213. |
| A2772.3 | Why the heartsease (polygonum persicaria) has red stripes. Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 90 No. 129a. |
| A2479.4 | Why the hedgehog draws himself up: shame at sight of a good man. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| A1689.5 | Why the Kamar offer liquor to gods and spirits. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2721.6 | Why the mogli flower and the lime are cursed by gods. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A759.3 | Why the moon is pale. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1681.3 | Why the Muria eat snakes. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1671.1 | Why the negro works. S. Carolina Negro: Davis JAFL XXVII 244; N. Carolina Negro: Brown Collection I 633; Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield 225. |
| J1733 | Why the pigs shriek. The sheep does not understand why the pig being carried to slaughter shrieks. Wienert FFC LVI 60 (ET 222), 91 (ST 32); Halm Aesop No. 115. |
| A1319.4 | Why the posterior of man is large. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 35. |
| A2791.13 | Why the roots of the banyan hang down. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2755.2.1 | Why the saja tree has no sap. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1115.1 | Why the sea is salt: because of wrecked salt ship.—Fb "hav" I 565b, IV 203a.—Dutch: Volkskunde XVII 23. |
| A1115.3 | Why the sea is salt: heavy rain showers on ashes of wood burnt by primeval fire. S. Am. Indian (Tupi): Ehrenreich 16, (Tupinamba): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 133. |
| A1115.2 | Why the sea is salt: magic salt mill. Stolen by sea-captain, who takes it aboard and orders it to grind. It will stop only for its master; ship sinks and mill keeps grinding salt.—*Type 565; *BP II 438ff.—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 283; cf. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 108. |
| A1115 | Why the sea is salt. New Guinea: Ker 25; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 43. |
| A702.4 | Why the sky is blue. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A625.2.2 | Why the sky receded upward: it was struck by a woman's pestle. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J2211.2 | Why the sow was muddy. A magpie is punished by his master, who throws him into a mud puddle. The magpie sees a muddy sow. He says, "You also must have had a quarrel with your master." Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 669; U.S.: Baughman. |
| A739.5 | Why the sun is red. India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Kamerun): Mansfield 235. |
| A1661.2 | Why the white man has short hair. Cheyenne: Campbell JAFL XXIX 408. |
| A1422.3 | Why the wild boar is hunted by man for food: once a faithless wife killed by her husband. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2335.4.5 | Why the wolf's muzzle is black. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3087, Legends No. 147. |
| A2755.4.1 | Why there are knots on the saja tree. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2434.2.3 | Why there are no snakes in Ireland. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1316.3.2 | Why there are one-eyed women. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 104. |
| A2434.3.2 | Why there are wild turkeys in a certain Pueblo town. Pueblo: Parsons JAFL XXXI 235. |
| A2585 | Why there is enmity between certain animals and man. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2371.2.5 | Why there is meat in front of the caribou's lower legs. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 217. |
| A937 | Why there is no mist on a certain river: fanned away with a pair of eagle's wings. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2433.6.9 | Why thousand-legged worm avoids sun. Africa (Wakweli): Bender 61. |
| A2577 | Why tiger cannot come down a tree head foremost. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2257.1 | Why tiger does not attack wild boar until latter is old: result of duel. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2435.3.9.4 | Why tiger eats buffalo. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2581 | Why tiger lacks some qualities of cats: cat, his teacher, omitted to teach him all he knew. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2433.3.21 | Why tiger lives in jungle. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2499.1 | Why tigers do not kill women who run away after quarreling with their husbands. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2435.3.9.1 | Why tigers eat dogs. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2435.3.9.3 | Why tigers eat human flesh. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2435.3.9.2 | Why tigers eat uncooked food. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2751.2.3 | Why tinsa tree has no bark at bottom of trunk. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2378.8.4 | Why tip of ermine's tail is black. (See A2218.) Dh III 74. |
| A2378.8.3 | Why tip of weasel's tail is black. Plains Ojibwa: Skinner JAFL XXXII 290. |
| A2344.2.4 | Why titmouse has no tongue. Dh III 28. |
| A2468.2 | Why toad dries up when dead. (See A2231.8.)—Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2375.2.9 | Why toad has no thumbs. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2332.5.4 | Why toad has red eyes. Dh III 60.—Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2433.6.7 | Why toad lives in cold place. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2412.5.2 | Why toads have warts on their backs. (Cf. A2356.2.)—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2356.2.9 | Why tortoise has humpy back. (See A2213.2.2.)—Jewish: Neuman. |
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