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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 |
|---|---|
| A2791.3 | How banyan got its milk. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2791.4 | Why no one can find flower of wild fig. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2791.5 | Why tamarind fruit is sour. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2791.7 | Why some trees have no fruit. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2791.8 | Why sap comes from top of palm. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2791.9 | Why fruit of sago palm looks like an eye. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2791.10 | Why sago palm gives abundant sap. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2791.11 | Why fruit of date palm looks like breasts of old woman. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2791.12 | Why the bija tree is often struck by lightning. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2791.13 | Why the roots of the banyan hang down. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2792 | Sundry characteristics of shrubs. |
| A2792.1 | Why bush holds on to passer-by. (See A2275.5.3, A2741.4.) |
| A2793 | Sundry characteristics of grains and vegetables. |
| A2793.1 | Why bean has black stripe. (See A2741.1.) |
| A2793.1.1 | Why beans bear everywhere. Chinese: Graham. |
| A2793.2 | Why grain of wheat is divided. Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII. 90 No. 126b. |
| A2793.2.1 | Why wheat must be planted in one year and harvested in the next. Chinese: Graham. |
| A2793.3 | Why some yams are good, some bad. (See A2741.2.) |
| A2793.4 | Why potatoes are hard. (See A2721.3.2.) |
| A2793.5 | Why grain grows only at top of stalk (punishment for men's sinfulness). Grimm No. 194; BP III 417ff.; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3220, Legends Nos. 305—313; Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| A2793.5.1 | Why corn does not yield in the middle. Chinese: Graham. |
| A2793.6 | Origin of shapes of grain. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3221, Legends Nos. 315—322. |
| A2793.7 | Why rice is so abundant. Chinese: Graham. |
| A2793.8 | Why millet is red on top. Chinese: Graham. |
| A2793.9 | Why buckwheat produces twice a year. Chinese: Graham. |
| A2794 | Sundry characteristics of vegetables. |
| A2794.1 | Why mushrooms are slimy. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2794.2 | Why yams are small but plentiful in certain place. New Hebrides: Codrington No. II 3. |
| A2795 | Sundry characteristics of flowers. |
| A2795.1 | Why some flowers have no scent. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2811 | Origin of silk. Chauvin VII 59 No. 77 n. 1. |
| A2812 | Origin of musk. Chauvin VII 59 No. 77 n. 1. |
| A2813 | Origin of honey. Chauvin VII 59 No. 77 n. 1.; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Icel.: Boberg. |
| A2814 | Origin of spices. Chauvin VII 59 No. 77 n. 1. |
| A2815 | Origin of floating webs in summer. *Dh II 254. |
| A2816 | Origin of smoke. Esthonian: Aarne FFC XXV 152 No. 81. |
| A2817 | Origin of the will-o'-the-wisp (jack-o'-lantern). Type 330.—Africa (Fang): Trilles 138. |
| A2817.1 | Smith outwits devil, is admitted to neither heaven nor hell. The devil gives him a light to find his way back in the dark; he is known as the will-o'-the-wisp or jack-o'-lantern. England, Ireland, Scotland, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| A2817.2 | Will-o'-the-wisp is girl cursed by her mother for gathering plants for dyestuffs on Sunday. Will-o'-the-wisp is seen where girl disappeared. Scotland: Baughman. |
| A2823 | Origin of churning stick. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2824 | Origin of drum. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2825 | Origin of canes: from whip thrust into ground. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2826 | Origin of shells. Eskimo (East Greenland): Rasmussen I 114. |
| A2827 | Origin of pearls. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2828 | Origin of particular kinds of basket. Tonga: Gifford 140. |
| A2831 | Origin of demons. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2834 | Origin of fish drug. S. Am. Indian: Wagley-Galvao BBAE CXLIII (3) 253. |
| A2847 | Origin of scum on stagnant water. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2849 | Miscellaneous origins. |
| A2849.1 | Miscellaneous Jewish origins. Jewish: **Neuman. |
| A2851 | The four characteristics of wine. Devil helps Noah plant vineyard and kills various animals over it. These illustrate the four qualities of wine. peacock: brilliant colors; ape: jokes; lion: boldness; hog: drunkenness.—*Dh I 298ff.; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 244; *Köhler-Bolte I 577; Basset III 31; *Krappe Bull. Hispanique XXXIX 48; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3242; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2853 | Why sexes differ in form and temperament. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2854 | Why men like tobacco, but spit when smoking. Adam in paradise spat upon the tobacco plant. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3242, Legends No. 338f. |
| A2855 | Trees classified as "pleasant trees, herb trees, shrub trees." Irish myth: Cross. |
| A2861 | Why men become old. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2862 | Why spirits are invisible. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2871 | Why soil in certain country is poor. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2872 | Why coral is soft. Africa (Tonga): Gifford 136. |
| A2875 | Why babies have soft spots in head. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 507. |
| A2877 | Why palm oil is red. Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield. |
| B0 | Mythical animals. |
| B1 | Animal elders. Mythical ancestors of the present animals.—Irish myth: Cross.—N. A. Indian: *Alexander N. Am. 292 No. 40, ibid. 69 (Cherokee), 81 (Pawnee), 156 (Navaho). |
| B1.1 | Angels of animals. Each kind of animal has its angel in heaven. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B2 | Animal totems. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B2.1 | Dog as totem animal. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B5 | Fantastic beasts, birds, etc., in art. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B7 | Animals in the heavens. |
| B7.1 | Animals rule celestial spheres. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B7.2 | Mythical animals surround God's throne. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B7.3 | Mythical bird running before the sun bears inscription of golden letters. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B10 | Mythical beasts and hybrids. |
| B11 | Dragon. **Smith Dragon; *Fb Drager, lindorme, slanger i folkets tro (Særtryk af Naturen og Mennesket, 1894, pp. 164—196); *Nyrop Dania II 341ff.; *Rуheim Drachen und Drachenkämpfer; *Hdwb. d. Abergl. II 364 ff.; Meyer Germanische Mythologie (1891) 95ff.; **Du Bose The Dragon, Image and Demon (London, 1886); Norlind Skattsägner 44f., 77f., Solheim Register 17; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn II (1893) 133ff., 176ff., (1928) 119ff.—*Type 300; *BP I 547.—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 216; Celtic: *Henderson Celtic Dragon Myth (Edinburgh, 1911), *Cross; Lettish: Auning Ueber den lettischen Drachenmythus; Armenian: Ananikian 76ff; Jewish: Neuman; Chinese: Ferguson 101; India: Thompson-Balys; Korean: Zong in-Sob 169, No. 73. |
| B11.1 | Origin of dragon. |
| B11.1.1 | Dragon from cock's egg. (Cf. B12.1.)—*Fb "drage"; Hdwb. d. Abergl. II 600—603. |
| B11.1.2 | Dragon from transformed horse. White horse plunges into water and is changed into a dragon. Chinese: Werner 368. |
| B11.1.3 | Dragon from transformed man lying on his treasures (Fáfnir). (Cf. B11.6.2.)—Hdwb. d. Abergl. II 367; Eisen Esthnische Mythologie 74ff.; Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B11.1.3.0.1 | Transformed princess as dragon. Irish myth: Cross; German: Grimm No. 88. |
| B11.1.3.1 | Dragon from worm. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B11.1.3.1.1 | Dragon develops from small worm placed on gold. It grows together with the gold. De Vries Studien over Faerosche Balladen 122ff.; Hdwb. d. Abergl. II 384f.; Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B11.1.4 | Devil in form of dragon. German: Grimm No. 125. |
| B11.2 | Form of dragon. *Smith Dragon, passim.; Chinese: Werner 208ff. |
| B11.2.0.1 | She-dragon. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B11.2.1 | Dragon as compound animal. (cf. B14.)—Smith Dragon 81 (serpent or crocodile, with scales of a fish for covering, and feet and wings and sometimes also the head, of an eagle, falcon, or hawk, and the forelimbs and sometimes the head of a lion).—Chinese: Werner 208 (ears of an ox, feet of a tiger, claws of an eagle, horns of a deer, head of a camel, eyes of a devil, neck of a snake, abdomen of a cock, scales of a carp); Egyptian: Smith op. cit. 79 (lioness, falcon, human being). |
| B11.2.1.1 | Dragon as modified serpent. Smith Dragon 92, 101f., 107ff. (American Indian, Japanese, East Indian).—Icel.: *Boberg; Japanese: Ikeda; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 65. |
| B11.2.1.2 | Dragon as modified lizard. Smith Dragon 109. |
| B11.2.1.3 | Dragon as modified fish. Smith Dragon 108f.; Irish myth: Cross; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 65. |
| B11.2.1.4 | Dragon as modified shell-fish. Smith Dragon 165ff. |
| B11.2.1.5 | Dragon as modified toad. Smith Dragon 109. |
| B11.2.1.6 | Dragon as modified elephant. Smith Dragon 109. |
| B11.2.1.7 | Dragon as modified horse. Smith Dragon 97f. Japanese: Ikeda. |
| B11.2.1.9 | Dragon as modified ram. Smith Dragon 134 (Egyptian, Soudanese, West African, Hindu, Chinese, Japanese, American Indian). The evidence of this identification is merely the spiral horn. |
| B11.2.1.10 | Dragon as modified deer. Smith Dragon 131. |
| B11.2.1.11 | Dragon as modified eagle. Smith Dragon 92f., 108. |
| B11.2.1.12 | Dragon as other modified animal. Smith Dragon 108 (falcon), 165ff. (octopus, whale). |
| B11.2.2 | Color of dragon. Smith Dragon 108 (blue), 137 (red).—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "dragons" (regiment of green dragons).—Icel.: Bуsa saga 62 (golden). |
| B11.2.2.1 | Dragon with golden feathers. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B11.2.3 | Many-headed dragon. (Cf. B15.1.2.)—Danish: Fb "hoved" 65b; Jones PMLA XXIII 569.—Greek: Fox 87 (hundred); Persian: Carnoy 265 (three); Japanese: Anesaki 228 (eight), 333 (nine). |
| B11.2.3.1 | Seven-headed dragon. *Type 300; Smith Dragon 211f.—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "bête". Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 42 No. 302*A: Gaster Thespis 80f, 186.—India: Thompson-Balys; Araucanian: Alexander Lat. Am. 327. |
| B11.2.3.2 | Three-headed dragon. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges; Africa (Fulah): Frobenius Atlantis VI 182ff. No. 4. |
| B11.2.3.3 | Six-headed dragon. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| B11.2.3.4 | Nine-headed dragon. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| B11.2.3.5 | Twelve-headed dragon. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| B11.2.3.6 | Two-headed dragon. England: Baughman. |
| B11.2.4 | Feet of dragon. |
| B11.2.4.1 | Feet of dragon—number. Irish myth: Cross; Japanese: Smith Dragon 101f.; Chinese: Werner 368. |
| B11.2.4.2 | Feet of dragon—nature. Cloven hoofs: Smith Dragon 137.—Claws: Chinese: Werner 368. |
| B11.2.5 | Horns of dragon. Smith Dragon 137.—Chinese: Werner 368, Eberhard FFC CXX 73, 85. |
| B11.2.6 | Wings of dragon. Smith Dragon 137.—Chinese: Werner 368. |
| B11.2.7 | Snakes issue from dragon's shoulders. Persian: Carnoy 320. |
| 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). |
| B11.2.8.1 | Dragon encircles city with its tail. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B11.2.9 | Heart of dragon. Fb "hjærte" 631b. |
| B11.2.10 | Scales of dragon. Chinese: Werner 368. |
| B11.2.11 | Fire-breathing dragon. *Type 300; Hdwb. d. Abergl. II 391; Fb. "drage", "gloende" (glowing eyes and tongue), "ild" (fire from mouth). Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B11.2.11.1 | Dragon spews venom. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B11.2.11.2 | Breath of dragon kills man. Scotland, England: *Baughman Chinese: Werner 236.—N. A. Indian (Iroquois): BBAE XXX pt. 2, 720 s.v. "Teharonhiawagon". |
| B11.2.12 | Dragon of enormous size. Jewish: Bin Gorion Born Judas II 170, 349, Neuman; Irish myth: Cross; African (Fang): Einstein 47. |
| B11.2.13 | Blood of dragon. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B11.2.13.1 | Blood of dragon venomous. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B11.2.14 | Dragon with jewel in head. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B11.3 | Habitat of dragon. |
| B11.3.1 | Dragon's home in bottom of sea. Smith Dragon 82.—Chinese: Werner 210 (only in autumn and winter); Icel.: Boberg. |
| B11.3.1.1 | Dragon lives in lake. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B11.3.1.2 | Dragon's home beneath waterfall. (Cf. F426.) Icel.: Boberg. |
| B11.3.2 | Dragon's home at top of mountain. His breath forms clouds to hide the mountain.—Smith Dragon 82.—Scotland: Baughman. |
| B11.3.3 | Dragon's visit to sky. Chinese: Werner 210 (only in spring and summer). (Cf. B11.4.1.) |
| B11.3.4 | Dragons live beneath castle. Mediaeval Romance: Wells Manual of Writings 39 (Nennius's Historia Britonum) 42f. (Arthour and Merlin). |
| B11.3.5 | Dragon lives under the ground. By his movements a building or village will be dislodged. (Cf. A1070.)—Zingerle Zs. f. deutsche Mythologie und Sittengeschichte II 347; Hdwb. d. Abergl. II 890.—Irish myth: Cross. |
| B11.3.6 | Dragons live in hell. Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 319, 352. |
| B11.3.7 | Dragon lives beneath tree. Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn II (1893) 179ff., (1928) 122ff.—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 319. |
| B11.3.8 | Dragon lives in isolated island. German: Grimm No. 129. |
| B11.4 | Dragon's habits. |
| B11.4.1 | Flying dragon. (cf. B11.2.1.11.)—BP III 423; *Fb "drage" (flies over the mountain).—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 319, 345; *Boberg; Greek myth: *Frazer Apollodorus I 38 n. 2 (air-going chariot and dragons); Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B11.4.2 | Dragon as giver of omens. Smith Dragon 97. |
| B11.4.3 | Sleepless dragon. Greek Myth (Jason): *Frazer Apollodorus I 95 n. 2. |
| B11.4.4 | Dragon travels on sea or land. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B11.4.5 | Talking dragon. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B11.5 | Powers of dragon. |
| B11.5.1 | Dragon's power of self-transformation. Chinese: Werner 223. |
| B11.5.2 | Dragon's power of magic invisibility. Chinese: Werner 209. |
| B11.5.3 | Dragon's miraculous vision. Can see a fly miles away.—Africa (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 97 No. 18. |
| B11.5.4 | Dragon's miraculous speed. Gold Coast: Barker and Sinclair 97 No. 18. |
| B11.5.5 | Self-returning dragon's head. (cf. B11.2.3, B11.11.2.)—*Type 300; BP I 547; Eng.: Baughman; Greek: Fox 81 (hydra).—Onondaga: Beauchamp JAFL II 261. |
| B11.6 | Deeds of dragons. |
| B11.6.1 | Dragon helps hero out of gratitude. Dickson Valentine and Orson 121 n. 64. |
| B11.6.1.2 | Grateful dragon saves hero and rescues him from prison. Chinese: Eberhard 180. |
| B11.6.2 | Dragon guards treasure. *Norlind Skattsägner 77f.; Gould Scandinavian Studies and Notes IX (1917) 170 No. 4; Penzer III 133; Smith Dragon 157—165; Finnish-Swedish; Wessman 76, 78 Nos. 632, 657; Icel.: Boberg; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn II (1893) 133ff., (1928) 119ff., III (1895) 454ff., (1931) 311ff.; Greek: *Grote I 219; U.S.: Baughman; Wienert FFC LVI 37; Phaedrus IV 21; Chinese: Werner 209. |
| B11.6.2.1 | Dragon must give up treasure when steel is thrown on him. Fb "stеl". III 647a; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 76 No. 632. |
| B11.6.2.2 | Serpents play with precious green stone. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B11.6.2.3 | Dragon's pearl stolen. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 233 No. 181. |
| B11.6.3 | Dragon feeds on treasure. Oberwallis: Jegerlehner 321 No. 75; Chinese: Werner 210. |
| B11.6.4 | Dragon guards holy land. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B11.6.5 | Dragon guards hermit's food, frightens off robbers. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| B11.6.6 | Dragon guards bridge to otherworld. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B11.6.7 | Dragon eats an ox at every meal. Icel.: Boberg. |
| B11.6.8 | Dragon flies to its nest with human being. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B11.6.8.1 | Dragon flies away with lion. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B11.6.9 | Dragon gnaws the roots of tree. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 332. |
| B11.6.10 | Sandalwood tree is guarded by dragon with venomous breath. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B11.7 | Dragon as rain-spirit. Smith Dragon 1, 78, 82, 90.—Chinese: Werner 208. |
| B11.7.1 | Dragon controls water-supply. Hindu: Keith, Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| B11.7.1.1 | Dragon causes deluge. China: Eberhard FFC CXX 233 No. 181. |
| B11.7.2 | Dragon guards lake. Penzer VII 235 N. 2; Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B11.8 | Dragon as power of good. Smith Dragon 82, 97.—Chinese: Werner 208ff., Graham. Icel.: Boberg. |
| B11.9 | Dragon as power of evil. So considered everywhere except in the East, where are also found beneficent dragons.—Smith Dragon 82.—Irish myth; Chinese: Werner 208 (introduced by the Buddhists). |
| B11.10 | Sacrifice of human being to dragon. *Type 300; Penzer VII 236, 240; Dickson Valentine and Orson 226f.; Gaster Thespis 176; Hartland Legend of Perseus passim; Fb "drage", "pige".—Irish myth: Cross; Greek: Fox 34; Persian: Carnoy 320; India: *Thompson-Balys; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "exposition"; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXXIX 17; Missouri French: Carrière; Africa (Zulu): Callaway 41; Japanese: Anesaki 249. |
| B11.10.0.1 | Sacrifice of animals to dragon. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B11.10.1 | Dragon keeps maiden tied with golden chain. Köhler-Bolte I 128. |
| B11.10.2 | Dragon eats people for his rent. Chinese: Graham. |
| B11.10.3 | Dragon devours children. India: Thompson-Balys; Eng., U.S.: Baughman. |
| B11.11 | Fight with dragon. *Type 300; *BP I 547; *Smith Dragon 79ff., 104; *Rуheim Drachen und Drachenkämpfer; *Norlind Skattsägner 67f., *Liebrecht Zur Volkskunde 70; **von Sydow Sigurds Strid med Fеvne; *Schoepperle Tristan and Isolt I 204 nn. 1, 2; Clouston Pop. Tales and Fictions I 155ff.; *Spence 80; *E. Siecke Drachenkämpfe; Fb "Jörgen" II 67a (St. George and the Dragon).—Germanic: Hdwb. d. Abergl. II 371; Heusler Altnordische Dichtung und Prosa von Jung Sigurd (Sitzungsberichte der Berliner Akad. v. Wissenschaften, 1919, 162—195); **H. Sandkühler Der Drachenkampf des heiligen Georg in englischer Legende u. Dichtung vom 14. bis 16. Jahrhundert (Diss. München 1914); *Loomis White Magic 65, 119; Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus 27 no. 4 (Apollo and Python), I 153 n. 1 (Bellerophon and Chimera); Celtic: MacCulloch Celtic 130ff.; Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: *Boberg; Jewish: Neuman, Gaster Thespis 140 ff., 326ff.; Egyptian: Müller 127; Persian: Carnoy 266, 270, 273, 322, *325, 329f.; Hindu: Keith 33 (Indra); India: *Thompson-Balys; Armenian: Ananikian 77; Japanese: Anesaki 228; Chinese: Werner 224, 361, Eberhard FFC CXX 105, 138; Arabian: Burton I 172.—English: Wells Manual of Writings 16 (Guy of Warwick), 115 (Sir Eglamour), 117 (Torrent of Portyngale); Missouri French: Carrière; Africa (Fang): Einstein 44, 47.—Cf. *Olrik Ragnarök 57ff. (fight with giant serpent). |
| B11.11.1 | Dragon fight: respite granted and dragon returns with renewed strength. French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXXIX 21; Missouri French: Carrière. |
| B11.11.2 | Hero's dogs (horse) prevent dragon's heads from rejoining body. (Cf. B11.2.3.)—*Type 300; *BP I 547. |
| B11.11.3 | Dragon combats attack with showers of fiery spines. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B11.11.4 | Dragon fight in order to free princess. Icel.: *Boberg. (See also R111.1. and most of the references to B11.11.). |
| B11.11.5 | Dragon fight in order to free man. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B11.11.6 | Dragon fight in order to free lion. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B11.11.7 | Woman as dragon-slayer. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B11.11.8 | Dragon doubles his demand after men's rebellion. Africa (Fang): Einstein 42. |
| B11.12 | Other traits of dragon. |
| B11.12.1 | Dragon cannot be killed with weapons. Wesselski Mönchslatein 171 No. 136; Irish myth: Cross; Eng.: Baughman; Gaster Oldest Stories 69. |
| B11.12.1.1 | Dragon which cannot be killed with weapons is kicked in vulnerable spot. England: Baughman. |
| B11.12.1.2 | Dragon dips wounded part in holy well, is healed immediately. England: Baughman. |
| B11.12.2 | Dragon's shriek makes land barren. Irish myth: Cross; MacCulloch Celtic 130. |
| B11.12.3 | Fiery dragon. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B11.12.4 | Dragon is fond of milk. |
| B11.12.4.1 | Dragon is fed great quantities of milk to keep him pacified. England: *Baughman. |
| B11.12.5 | The dragon-king. Chinese: Eberhard 25 No. 13,65, 87 No. 7,158, 245 No. 190. |
| B11.12.6 | Dragon can hear a child cry even at great distance. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B11.12.7 | Human-dragon marriage. Chinese: Eberhard 49, 64f., 103, 135, No. 92. |
| B12 | Basilisk. A mythical lizard or serpent whose hissing drives away all other serpents.—*Polívka Zs. f. Vksk. XXVII 46ff.; *Fb "basilisk"; *A Guichot y Sierra El Basilisco (Folklore Espaсol III 9—83); *Norlind Skattsägner 46 n. 1; Hdwb. d. Abergl. s.v. "Basilisk"; Köhler-Bolte I 133.—English: Wells Manual of Writings 105 (Prose Alexander); Jewish: Neuman. |
| B12.1 | Basilisk hatched from cock's egg. Usually, a seven-year-old cock. Egg must lie in manure. (Cf. B11.1.1.)—*Polívka Zs. f. Vksk. XXVIII 46ff.; *Fb. "basilisk" I 53a, IV 29a; De Vries Het Sprookje 19—97; Taylor PMLA XXXVI 35ff.; Hdwb. d. Abergl. s.v. "Basilisk". |
| B12.2 | Basilisk's fatal glance. Renders powerless or kills.—*Fb "basilisk" I 53a, IV 29a, "øje" III 1167b; Penzer VIII 75 n.l. |
| B12.3 | Basilisk killed by seeing own image. *Fb "basilisk" I 53a, "spejl" III 48a; Ward Catalogue of Romances III 194; Oesterley Gesta Romanorum No. 139; Hdwb. d. Abergl. I 935. |
| 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. |
| B14 | Other hybrid animals. |
| B14.1 | Chimera. Combination of lion, dragon, and goat. Breathes fire.—*Frazer Apollodorus I 151 n. 2, 153 n. 1; Fox 39.—Egyptian: Müller 169. |
| B14.2 | Animal with body of horse, legs of hound. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B14.3 | Hybrid monster: calf-sheep. S. A. Indian (Araucanian): Cooper BBAE CXLIII II 753. |
| B15 | Animals with unusual limbs or members. |
| B15.1 | Animal unusual as to his head. |
| B15.1.1 | Headless animals. *Fb "hovedløs" IV 223a. |
| B15.1.1.1 | Headless dog. North Carolina: Brown Coll. I 636. |
| B15.1.2 | Many-headed animal. (Cf. B15.7.2.)—Irish myth: Cross; N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 357 n. 287f.—Africa (Angola): Chatelain 93 No. 5. |
| B15.1.2.1 | Two-headed animal. U.S.: Baughman; Jewish: Neuman. |
| 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. |
| B15.1.2.1.3 | Jaguar with two heads. S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 155. |
| B15.1.2.1.4 | Two-headed dog. Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus I 211 n. 3 (Orthus). |
| B15.1.2.2 | Three-headed animal. |
| B15.1.2.2.1 | Three-headed bird. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B15.1.2.2.2 | Three-headed serpent. Persian: Carnoy 311; Hindu: Keith 36, 154. |
| B15.1.2.3 | Four-headed animal. |
| B15.1.2.3.1 | Four-headed monster. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B15.1.2.4 | Five-headed animal. |
| B15.1.2.5 | Six-headed animal. |
| B15.1.2.6 | Seven-headed animal. |
| B15.1.2.6.1 | Seven-headed serpent. Gaster Thespis 80f.; Hindu: Keith 154; Zanzibar: Bateman 134. |
| B15.1.2.7 | Eight-headed animal. |
| B15.1.2.8 | Nine-headed animal. |
| B15.1.2.8.1 | Hydra: nine-headed monster. Middle head immortal. —*Frazer Apollodorus I 187 n. 3. |
| B15.1.2.8.2 | Nine-headed serpent. Fb. "hugormekonge". |
| B15.1.2.9 | Ten-headed serpent. Hindu: Keith 154. |
| B15.1.2.10 | Other many-headed animals. |
| B15.1.2.10.1 | Twelve-headed serpent. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B15.1.2.10.2 | Hundred-headed serpent (monster). Irish myth: Cross. |
| B15.1.2.10.3 | Thousand-headed serpent. Hindu: Penzer VI 61 n. 1, VI 176. |
| B15.1.3 | Animal with head of bone. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B15.2 | Many-mouthed animal. (cf. B15.7.2.). |
| B15.2.1 | Six-mouthed serpent. Persian: Keith Ind. Myth. 36. |
| B15.3 | Animal unusual as to his horns. |
| B15.3.0.1 | Hornless cow. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B15.3.0.1.1 | Hornless bull. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B15.3.0.2 | One-horned ox. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B15.3.1 | Many-horned animal. |
| B15.3.1.1 | Three-horned deer. Irish: MacCulloch Celtic 129, Cross. |
| B15.3.1.2 | Nine-horned sheep. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B15.3.1.3 | Ox with three horns. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B15.3.1.3.1 | Ox with four horns. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B15.3.2 | Animal with a gold (silver) horn. |
| B15.3.2.1 | Deer with a gold and a silver horn. *Fb "hjort" I 625 a. |
| B15.3.2.2 | Goat with a gold and a silver horn. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| B15.3.2.3 | Ox with golden horns. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| B15.3.2.3.1 | Cow with silver horns. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| B15.3.3 | Deer with giant antler. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B15.3.4 | Animal usually harmless has horns. |
| B15.3.4.1 | Hare with horns. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B15.3.4.2 | Horned armadillo lives underground. S. A Indian (Chaco): Belaieff BBAE CXLIII (1) 379. |
| B15.3.5 | Animal with horn on his head pointing to the sky. Chinese: Graham. |
| B15.4 | Animals with unusual eyes. (Cf. B15.7.2.) Irish myth: Cross. |
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