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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 |
|---|---|
| B535.1 | Goat feeds other animals from its body. Permits them to feed from it internally.—Africa (Benga): Nassau 202 No. 32. |
| B535.2 | Animal nurses fight with real parent for children. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B536 | Helpful animal cares for wounded (sick) master. |
| B536.1 | Helpful bird cares for blinded master. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B537 | Animals adopt mysterious housekeeper. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B538 | Animals provide shelter. |
| B538.1 | Bird gives shelter with wings. (Cf. B450.)—Irish myth: Cross; Günter Christliche Legende des Abendlandes 125; Singer Zs. f. deutsch. Altertum XXXV 184f.; Dunlop-Wilson History of Fiction I 428; Saintyves Saints Successeurs 134; Dh I 321ff.; Hand. d. Abergl. I 187.—Jewish: Neuman; Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 104 No. 15. |
| B538.2 | Wolf-tail blankets. Wolves shelter man with their tails.—N. A. Indian (Ojibwa): Jones-Michelson PAES VII (1) 77, Carson JAFL XXX 491 No. 1. |
| B540 | Animal rescuer or retriever. Rescue person or retrieve lost object. —Japanese: Anesaki 320. |
| B540.1 | Birds throw some of their feathers to the hero in danger and he flies off. Lithuanian: Balys Index Nos. *3270, *404. |
| B540.2 | Helpful horse rescues children. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B541 | Animal rescues man from sea. Type 506; BP III 494ff.; Liljeblad Tobiasgeschichte 94; Missouri-French: Carrière. |
| B541.1 | Escape from sea on fish's back. (See also B551.)—*Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 868; *Chauvin V 4 No. 2. |
| B541.1.1 | Fish swallows man to rescue him from sea. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B541.2 | Fox rescues man from sea. Type 506; BP III 494ff.;—N. A. Indian: Thompson CColl II 405ff. (Passamaquoddy, Shuswap). |
| B541.3 | Bird rescues man from sea. (Cf. B542, B450.)—*Liljeblad Tobiasgeschichte 94.—N. A. Indian (Ojibwa): Thompson CColl II 408. |
| B541.4 | Dog rescues drowning man. Type 540*. |
| B541.4.1 | Boat towed by dog. Eskimo (Bering Strait): Nelson RBAE XVIII 505, (Greenland): Rink 196. |
| B541.5 | Fish rescues ship. (Cf. B470.)—*Charpentier Kleine Beiträge 34 n. 1. |
| B542 | Animal carries man through air to safety. |
| B542.1 | Bird flies with man to safety. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B542.1.1 | Eagle carries man to safety. *Type 301; BP II 300 (Gr. No. 91). See all references under B322.1.—Irish myth: Cross; Missouri-French: Carrière; Finnish: Kalevala rune 7; Japanese: Hartland Science 194, Ikeda.—Africa (Kaffir): Theal 47, 127, (Vai): Ellis 242 No. 49. |
| B542.1.2 | Bat rescues man from height. Bat lets him down in a spider-web basket.—N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 318 n. 151b, Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 95. |
| B542.1.3 | Measuring worm rescues from a height. Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 76. |
| B542.2 | Escape on flying horse. (Cf. B41.2.)—*Chauvin V 227f. No. 130; Missouri-French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B542.2.1 | Transportation to fairyland on griffin's back. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B543 | Animal finds stolen person. Scotch: Campbell I 1ff. (dog, hawk, otter). —India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 232 No. 34. |
| B543.0.1 | Animal helps on quest for vanished wife. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B543.1 | Bottlefly finds stolen woman in sky. Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 79. |
| B543.2 | Animal finds stolen goods. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B543.3 | Stolen child rescued by animal nurse. (Cf. B535.)—Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys; *Krappe Balor 80ff. |
| B543.3.1 | Elephant rescues stolen girl. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B544 | Animal rescues captive. *Fb "höj" I 741 b (fox); Missouri-French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 17 No. 8.—Africa (Zulu): Callaway 147, 241 (dog, frog), (Cameroon): Meinhof 88, 102. |
| B544.1 | Animals help imprisoned master. India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 180. |
| B545 | Animal rescues from trap (net). *Type 75. See references to B363.—Penzer V 79 n. 2 (mouse); Japanese: Ikeda. |
| B545.1 | Deer in net freed by friendly animals, a crow, a mouse and a tortoise. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| B545.2 | Rat (mouse) gnaws net. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B546 | Animal searches for dead man. Breton: Sébillot s.v. "mort" (dog). |
| B547 | Animal rescues man from dangerous place. |
| B547.1 | Animal rescues man from well. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B547.2 | Raven rescues man from pit. French-Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule (B542.3). |
| B547.2.1 | Man falls in hole with horse; buzzards gather; he lassoes a number of buzzards, ties them together, frightens them; all fly at once, carry him from hole. (Tall tale.) Cf. Type 1882.—U.S.: Baughman. |
| B547.3 | Centaur rescues man from beast-infested jungle. Greek: Grote I 109. |
| B547.4 | Frog rescues man from kingdom of the snakes. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B548 | Animal retrieves lost object. |
| B548.1 | Animals recover lost wishing ring. Grateful cat, dog, and snake compel mouse to steal it from thief.—*Type 560; **Aarne MSFO XXV 3—82; *BP II 455ff.; Dh IV 147ff.—Missouri-French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys. —Indonesian: De Vries' list No. 186; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 24ff. No. 13, 68. |
| B548.1.1 | Martens recover lost magic ring from kite. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B548.1.2 | Otters recover lost magic ring from fish. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B548.2 | Fish brings lost object from bottom of sea. |
| B548.2.1 | Fish recovers ring from sea. *Type 554; *BP II 19ff.; *Fb "gjedde" I 440a, "ring" III 61a; Wünsche (A.) Die Sage vom Ring des Polykrates in der Weltliteratur (Beilage zur Allgemeinen Zeitung, 1893, Nos. 179, 180, 185, 188); Chauvin V 17; Köhler-Bolte II 209; Clouston Tales I 398ff.; Saintyves Essais de folklore biblique 402.—Irish myth: Cross; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Greek: Fox 101; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 69 No. 515; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys. Cf. L412.1. Woman casts ring into sea. |
| B548.2.2 | Fish recovers key from sea. *Type 554; *BP II 19ff.; *Fb "haj" I 534, "fisk" I 296, "ring" III 61a.—Irish myth: Cross, Beal XXI 308; Missouri-French: Carrière. |
| B548.2.2.1 | Frog recovers keys from sea. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| B548.2.2.2 | Duck recovers lost key from sea. German: Grimm No. 62. |
| B548.2.3 | Fish recovers lost fish-hook from sea. Hatt Asiatic Influences 90f.; *Dixon 157 n. 6 (Indonesian, Japanese, N. Pac. Coast Am. Indian, Micmac); Japanese: Ikeda. |
| B548.2.4 | Fish recovers pen from sea. *Type 531. |
| B548.2.5 | Fish recovers lost urn from sea. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B548.3 | Otter retrieves lost magic object from bottom of lake. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B548.4 | Ducks recover lost object from water. Madagascar (Marofotsy): Renel Contes de Madagascar I 65ff. No. 9. |
| B548.5 | Frog recovers Sacred Host from water. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| B548.6 | Jewel recovered from sea by helpful parrot. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B549 | Animal rescuer—miscellaneous. |
| B549.1 | Girl saved by lion from ravishment. (Cf. B443.)—Alphabet No. 775; *Loomis White Magic 58; U.S.: Baughman. |
| B549.2 | Dragon makes bridge across stream for holy man. (Cf. B11.)—Jewish: Bin Gorion Born Judas II 170, 349. |
| B549.3 | Abandoned child rescued by dog. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| B549.4 | Animal rescues from cave. Chinese: Eberhart FFC CXX 180. |
| B549.5 | Hero saved from ravaging snake by crab companion. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B550 | Animals carry men.—India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B551 | Animal carries man across water. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B551.1 | Fish carries man across water. See also B541.1; also all references in R246.—Gunter Die Christliche Legende des Abendlandes 17, 56, 80 (dolphin). —Chinese: Werner 366.—*Dixon 72 n. 56 (Hawaii, Tahiti, Celebes). |
| B551.1.0.1 | Fish carries man to upper world. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 42 No. 302* A. |
| B551.2 | Aquatic bird carries man across water. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B551.2.1 | Parrots carry couple across the sea. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B551.3 | Crocodile carries man across river (ocean). India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 365. |
| B551.4 | Water snake carries boy across river. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B551.5 | Turtle (tortoise) carries person across river (ocean). Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 997; Tonga: Gifford 53. |
| B552 | Man carried by bird. See all references in B542.1. and B542.1.1. —Chauvin V 230 No. 130, VII 12; *Reinhard PMLA XXXVIII 433 nn. 24, 26.—Greek: Frazer Apollodorus II 37 n. 4 (Ganymede); Jewish: Neuman*, Bin Gorion Born Judas I 228; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "nid"; Irish myth: Cross, Saints' legend (Irish): Plummer cxlvi.—Missouri-French: Carrière.—German New Guinea: Dixon 141f. India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 38f.; Africa: Stanley 83, (Boloki): Weeks 202f., (Upoto): Einstein 138, (Pangwe): Tessman 370, (Fang): ibid. 160. |
| B552.1 | Alexander carried by two birds with meat held in front of them. Jewish: Neuman; Gaster Exempla 186 No. 5. |
| B552.2 | Man carried by peacock. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B552.3 | Indra carried by cock. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B555 | Animals serve as bridge across stream. Jewish: Neuman (snake); Persian: Carnoy 289 (ox); Burmese: Scott Indo-Chinese 274 (snake); Chinese: Werner 190 (magpie); Korean: Zong in-Sob 6 No. 2. (fish and tortoise).—India: Thompson-Balys; S. A. Indian (Ceuici): Alexander Lat. Am 304 (herons). |
| B556 | Sea-beast allows voyager to land upon his back. Irish myth: Cross. |
| 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). |
| B557.1 | Man carried on goat's horns. (Goat is transformed man.)—German: Grimm No. 163. |
| B557.2 | Saint carried by wild oxen. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B557.3 | Man carried by deer. Irish myth: Cross; *Loomis White Magic 61; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B557.4 | Crocodile as means of transportation for a saint. *Loomis White Magic 64. |
| B557.5 | Person carried by lion. Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B557.6 | Magic dog carries owner in his ear. Eskimo (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 64. |
| B557.7 | Person carried by cat. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B557.8 | Person carried by cobra. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B557.9 | Person carried by locust. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B557.10 | Person carried by tiger. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B557.11 | Person (animal) carried by elephant. |
| B557.11.1 | Hero rides on animated wax elephant. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B557.11.2 | Hero rides on winged elephant.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B557.11.3 | Hare rides on winged elephant. Africa (Cameroon): Meinhof 12. |
| B557.12 | Person carried by peacock.—India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B557.13 | Jackal rides on fox. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B557.14 | Person carried by frog. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B557.15 | Wolf carries man. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| B558 | Unusual draft-animal. |
| B558.1 | Boat drawn by swans (geese). **Boekenoogen Ridder metter Swane 166ff.—Krappe Balor 44; *Fb "svane" III 664—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 262.—N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 358 n. 287 n. |
| 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. |
| B558.3 | Hen hitched to wagon. *Fb "höne" I 750b. |
| B558.4 | Deer hitched to wagon. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B558.5 | Mice hitched to wagon. Fb. "mus". |
| B558.6 | Wild animals yoked by saint to his plough. *Loomis White Magic 60. |
| B558.7 | Winged serpents pull chariot through sky. Greek: Grote I 112 (Medea). |
| B559 | Animals carry men—miscellaneous. |
| B559.1 | Man carried by toad. Chinese: Graham. |
| B560 | Animals advise men. Type 400 and references on the whole section in this work concerned with Helpful Animals (B300—599), since advice is very frequently part of the help.—*BP I 134; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 28. |
| B560.1 | Grateful dragon king gives hero advice. Korean: Zong in-Sob 170, No. 73. |
| B561 | Animals tell hero their secrets. Do so voluntarily.—*BP II 482. |
| B562 | Animals' advice leads man to wealth. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B562.1 | Animal shows man treasure. Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: Boberg; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 78 No. 651.—India: *Thompson-Balys; *Norlind Skattsägner 37ff., 41ff.; Chauvin II 109 No. 73, *117 No. 97.—Chinese: Graham, Werner 380; Japanese: Ikeda; Africa (Swahili): Steere 13ff. |
| B562.1.0.1 | Helpful animal discovers jewel. Africa (Swahili): Steere 13ff., Meinhof Afrikanische Märchen 9ff. No. 1, Bateman 99ff. No. 7. |
| B562.1.1 | Hogs root up gold (treasure) for saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B562.1.2 | Horse kicks up jewel. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B562.1.3 | Birds show man treasure. Doves saved by monk from death show him where to dig for treasure.—Spanish Exempla: Keller; Bødker Exempler 305 No. 77. |
| B562.2 | Animal advises about investment. Chinese: Werner 381 (fox). |
| B563 | Animals direct man on journey. Type 400; Schoepperle Tristan and Isolt I 190f.; Dickson Valentine and Orson 54 n. 67; *Günter Christliche Legende des Abendlandes 235 s.v. "Führung"; *DeCock Studien en Essays 200ff.; *Fb "Ravn" III 23a.—India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Benga): Nassau No. 33, (Basuto): Jacottet 140 No. 20, 202 No. 30, (Ekoi): Talbot 209. |
| B563.1 | Lion leads lost king from forest. (Cf. B431.2.)—Dickson Valentine and Orson 123 n. 75. |
| B563.1.1 | Horses carry lost riders to safety. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B563.1.2 | Chimpanzee leads lost hunter home. Africa (Duala): Lederbogen 146. |
| B563.2 | Birds point out road to hero. (Cf. B151.0.3.).—E. Norden P. Vergilius Maro æneis Buch VI p. 170; Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 216 (ravens); Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B563.3 | Squirrel points out road. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B563.4 | Animal leads cleric to holy place. Irish myth: Cross (B549.7). |
| B563.4.1 | Animal leads lost man home. Irish myth: Cross (B549.7). |
| B563.4.1.1 | Tiger guides lost man home; hence men do not eat tigers. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B563.4.1.2 | Jackal leads lost men out of wilderness. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| B563.5 | Wild leopards guide Jesus and the Holy Family through wilderness in flight to Egypt. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| B563.6 | Birds as scouts. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 466. |
| B563.7 | Bird conducts navigators to landing place. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 92. |
| B565 | Parrot gives advice to queen playing chess, and she always wins. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B569 | Animals advise men—miscellaneous. |
| B569.1 | Owl advises old man of projected visit by gods (in disguise). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B569.2 | Owl advises old man where to plant his crops after listening in to council of gods concerning rainfall distribution for the year.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B569.3 | Mosquito gives hero advice as to which choice to make. Korean: Zong in-Sob 18 No. 8. |
| B570 | Animals serve men. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B571 | Animals perform tasks for man. *Type 554; BP I 134, II *21ff.; Köhler-Bolte I 397; *Fb "fugl" I 381a; Köhler Zs. f. Vksk. VI 71 (to Gonzenbach No. 32).—Arabian: Burton S VI 9—11.—Indonesian, Malay: Dixon 216, 217, *218 n. 23.—India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 28, 80 No. 46.—Carib: Alexander Lat. Am. 264; Chincha: ibid. 231; Quiché: ibid. 174; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Missouri-French: Carrière. |
| B571.1 | Animals help man overcome monster with external soul. Discover where he keeps his soul.—BP I 134; Type 302.—Missouri-French: Carrière. |
| B571.2 | Animal who arrives late performs tasks for man. (Cf. L147.1.) —Cosquin I 49f.; Missouri-French: Carrière. |
| B571.3 | Animals fight together with their master. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B571.4 | Bear husks millet for man. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B572 | Animals as carpenter (builder). Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 188, II 819. |
| B572.1 | Animals build palace (house) for man. India: Thompson-Balys; Samoa: Beckwith Myth 536 (rats). |
| B572.2 | Birds build canoe for master. Maori: Clark 98. |
| B574 | Animals as domestic servants. India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 798 (elephant). |
| B575 | Animal as constant attendant of man. *Pauli (ed Bolte) No. 649; Type 74*; Fb ("orne" II 760, "ravn") III 23a (boar, raven); *Zingerle Sagen aus Tirol 588 (ravens).—Irish myth: Cross; Scotch: Campbell II 279—289; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 15; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 298 No. 13; English: Wells 20 (William of Palerne), 118f. (Octovian); Jewish: Neuman (steer); Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 921 (owl), Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 37 (birds); Maori: Clark 54 (birds); Africa (Angola): Chatelain 53 No. 2. |
| B575.1 | Wild animals kept as dogs. Icel.: *Boberg; N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 308 n. 113d; Eskimo (E. Greenland): Rasmussen I 318, 363, Rink 248 (fox), (Central Eskimo): Boas RBAE VI 599 (walrus). |
| B575.2 | Bird rests on person's shoulders. Type 709.—Scottish: Campbell-McKay No. 2 (and note 2). |
| B576 | Animal as guard. Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Tonga: Gifford 77 (shark), 84; Fiji: Beckwith Myth 131 (hawk, prawn). |
| B576.1 | Animal as guard of person or house. Rösch FFC LXXVII 107 (Type 516); *Fb "bjørn" IV 42a, "løve" II 518; Chauvin VI 6 No. 182; *Loomis White Magic 63; Dickson Valentine and Orson 198; Irish myth: Cross; Missouri French: Carrière; English: Wells 60 (Syre Gawene and the Carle of Carelyle).—Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 704 (elephant); Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 24 (bird), 129 (shark), 84, 349 (dog).—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 308 n. 113c.—Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 273 No. 86; Africa (Hottentot): Bleek 55 No 28. |
| B576.1.1 | Guardian animals evaded. N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 367 n. 113a. |
| B576.1.2 | Robbers frightened by grateful dog. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B576.2 | Animals guard treasure. *Fb "höne" I 750b, "hund", I 675 b (hen, dog)—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "animaux"; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 294 No. 9, 325 No. 4.—*Norlind Skattsägner 53; *Winter Deutsche Schatzsagen 54, 61; Danish: Kristensen Da. Sagn III (1895) 455ff.; (1931) 311ff.—England-U.S.: *Baughman (dog, cat, sow, goat, snake, bird, crow, raven, cock, drake, swan and night-bird). India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham (tiger). |
| B576.3 | Animal as herdsman. |
| B576.3.1 | Fish guards cow for master. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B576.4 | Animal guards master's dead body. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B576.5 | Animal as guard of shop. Azov JPASB II 403. |
| B578 | Dogs track down law-breakers. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| B579 | Animals serve man otherwise. |
| B579.1 | Animal accompanies man on journey. Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| B579.2 | Helpful cow strikes at flies, while boy eats. Chinese: Graham. |
| B579.3 | Animal corrects examination paper for his rescuer. Chinese: Graham. |
| B579.4 | Animals help repair leaky pot. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B579.5 | Serpent acts as a rope to collect wood for man. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B579.6 | Faithful dog is offered as security for a debt. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B579.7 | Animal earns money for master. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 166. |
| B580 | Animal helps men to wealth and greatness. *Type 671; BP I 322; *Ward Catalogue of Romances III 208, Oesterley Gesta Romanorum No. 141, *Warnke Quellen des Esope der Marie de France 221ff.—India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 189; Papua: Ker XLI 147. |
| B581 | Animal brings wealth to man. *Type 545; BP I 325, *331; Fb "hjort" I 625a, "kat" IV 225b.—Breton: Hartland Science 174; Missouri-French: Carrière; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Jewish: Neuman: India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda, Mitford 270 ff. |
| B582 | Animal helps person to success in love. |
| B582.1 | Animal wooer. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B582.1.1 | Animal wins wife for his master (Puss in Boots). *Type 545B; BP I 325, III 487; Fb "kat" IV 255b.—Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; Korean: Zong in-Sob 89 No. 48; Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 336. |
| B582.1.1.1 | Goose brings master sleeping princess. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B582.1.2 | Animal wins husband for mistress. *Type 545A; *BP I 325ff., III 487.—Indonesian: De Vries' List Nos. 180, 209 (monkey, bird). |
| B582.2 | Animals help hero win princess. *Type 554, 559, cf. 552, 553; *BP I 134, II 21, 454 n. 1, III 425.—Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 28. |
| B582.2.1 | Hero carried by bird to mistress' chamber. *Chauvin V 242 No. 142. |
| B582.2.2 | Rat digs underground passage to girl's chamber for hero. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B582.2.3 | Swan as matchmaker. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B582.2.4 | Bee as matchmaker. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 175f. |
| B582.2.5 | Dove helps deity draw his wife into a net. Marquesas: Handy 115. |
| B583 | Animal gives treasure to man. India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Yoruba): Frobenius Atlantis X 222ff., No. 14, (Swahili): Stigand Black Tales for White Children 97ff. No. 15. |
| B583.1 | Grateful whales disgorge gold. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B584 | Animal gives man other gifts. India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 29. |
| B584.1 | Fox holds in its mouth a beautiful flower which he gives to hero. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B587 | Animal wins contest for man. |
| B587.1 | Magic horse wins jumping contest for man. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B587.2 | Fly helps loathly suitor pass suitor test. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B587.3 | Grateful bull draws one hundred carts for wager for master. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 29. |
| B589 | Animal helps man to wealth and greatness—miscellaneous. |
| B589.1 | Eagle regains throne for deposed king. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B590 | Miscellaneous services of helpful animals. |
| B591 | Animal avenges murder. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B591.0.1 | Animals refuse to devour Cain to avenge murder of Abel. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B591.1 | Lion kills wolf who has killed mistress' sheep. Africa (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 131 No. 24. |
| B591.2 | Horse kicks to death master's murderer. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B592 | Animals bequeath characteristics to man. Horse gives him the characteristics of youth (fiery), cow of middle age (avaricious), and the dog of old age (fractious).—Fable: Halm Aesop No. 173; BP III 290; Köhler-Bolte I 42ff.; Babrius No. 74; Wienert FFC LVI *70 (ET 347), 127 (ST 358). |
| B593 | Animal as house-spirit. |
| B593.1 | Snake as house-spirit. *Fb "snog" III 436b. |
| B594 | Animal rejuvenates person. |
| B594.1 | Bird rejuvenates person. (cf. B172).—*Chauvin VI 73f. No. 239. |
| B596 | Animal helps saint by setting fire to neglected church. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B597 | Cow gives marvelous supply of milk through virtue of saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B598 | Animal as confederate of adulterous wife. |
| B598.1 | Boar as confederate of adulterous wife. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B598.2 | Deer as confederate of adulterous wife. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B599 | Other services of helpful animals. |
| B599.1 | Cock and hen build pyre for benefactor. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B599.2 | Animal helps person pass test. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B599.3 | Elephant draws plow to mark boundaries of empire. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 528. |
| B600 | Marriage of person to animal. Extremely common. Only a few references are given.—*Wesselski Märchen 247 No. 57; *Chauvin V 177f. No. 101; Fb "kvinde" II 339b; India: *Thompson-Balys; Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 303.—N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 273 n. 3. |
| B600.1 | Various animals tried out as wives. Only one accepted.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 348 n. 254b. |
| B600.1.1 | Various animals tried out as wives: none accepted. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B600.2 | Animal husband provides characteristic animal food. Eskimo (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 52, (Greenland): Thalbitzer 6. |
| B601 | Marriage of person to beast. (Cf. B641, B651). |
| B601.1 | Marriage to bear. (Cf. B611.1, B631, B635.1).—*Fb "björn" IV 42b.; Icel.: Boberg; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 64, 178. |
| B601.1.1 | Bear steals woman and makes her his wife. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B601.2 | Marriage to dog. (Cf. B611.2, B641.1.)—Irish myth: Cross; N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 272 n. 2.—Africa (Benga): Nassau 165 No. 22; Dobu: Beckwith Myth 349. |
| B601.3 | Marriage to rat. Spanish Exempla: Keller; Bødker Exempler 297 No. 60; India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Duala): Lederbogen Märchen V 192, (Mpongwe): Nassau 41 No. 6. |
| B601.3.1 | Marriage to mouse. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| B601.4 | Marriage to leopard. Africa (Benga): Nassau 85 No. 4. |
| B601.5 | Marriage to elephant. Africa (Hottentot): Bleek 61 No. 27. |
| B601.6 | Marriage to lemur. Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 349. |
| B601.7 | Marriage to monkey. India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 183; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 411 s.v. "Affenmutter" |
| B601.7.1 | Person plans to marry monkey. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B601.8 | Marriage to swine. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| B601.9 | Marriage to tiger. India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 62f.; S. A. Indian (Jivarу): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 142. |
| B601.10 | Marriage to deer. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B601.11 | Marriage to jackal. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B601.12 | Marriage to cat. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B601.13 | Marriage to hare. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B601.14 | Marriage to fox. India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 63, 214; Eskimo (East Greenland): Rasmussen I 137, 143; S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 174. |
| B601.15 | Marriage to jaguar. S. A. Indian (Mataco, Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 62, 64, (Jivarу): Steward-Métraux BBAE 143 III 627, (Eastern Brazil): Lowie ibid. I 434, (Yuracare): Métraux ibid. III 504. |
| B601.16 | Marriage to wolf. Eskimo (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 38, (Bering Strait): Nelson BBAE XVIII 482.—Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 49. |
| B601.17 | Marriage to coati-puri. S. A. Indian (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE III 143, 685. |
| B601.18 | Marriage to seal. Koryak: Jochelson JE VI 153; Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 127. |
| B602 | Marriage to bird. (Cf. B644.)—India: *Thompson-Balys.—Marquesas: Handy 120; New Hebrides: Codrington 397; Papua: Ker 57; Mono Alu: Wheeler 20.—Eskimo (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 52, 75; (Greenland, Cape York): Rasmussen III 57, 83. |
| B602.1 | Marriage to eagle. India: *Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 341 n. 231. |
| B602.2 | Marriage to fulmar. *N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 272 n. 2. |
| B602.3 | Marriage to pigeon. Africa (Zulu): Callaway 78. |
| B602.4 | Marriage to vulture. Arawak, Carib: Alexander Lat. Am. 274. |
| B602.5 | Marriage to crane. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B602.6 | Marriage to goose. Eskimo (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 47, 77. |
| B602.7 | Marriage to parrot. S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 175. |
| B602.8 | Marriage to kingfisher. Africa (Togo): Einstein 7. |
| B603 | Marriage to fish (whale). (Cf. B612.)—India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda.—*N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 341 n. 231. |
| B603.1 | Marriage to shrimp. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen I 144. |
| B603.2 | Marriage to eel. Tuamotu: Beckwith Myth 103. |
| B604 | Marriage to reptile. (Cf. B613, B622.1, B642, B652.) |
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