B49B. Cow nipples. (.17.) .27.31.

A cow used to have more nipples on its udder than it does now.

(Socotra), Finns, Karelians, Estonians.

(Wed. Western Asia. Socotra [at Müller's: animals could speak; women had babies for 10 months and cows for 9 months; once a woman was giving birth was unable to get up to milk a cow and it took one month from her pregnant and took it for herself; when the udder was free of milk, the cow went to graze with the sheep; the sheep had 4 nipples and the cow had 2; the cow was already full, but the sheep could not; then the cow took it two nipples in the sheep, giving in return the ability to fill up quickly; in the evening, both returned to the woman and she explained to the sheep that the cow had deceived her; to avoid this in the future, the woman deprived the animals ability to speak; the version recorded by Naumkin only refers to the transfer of two nipples from sheep to cow; in pasture, the sheep cannot get enough; the cow reminds her of her hungry lamb and offers to feed him herself if the sheep gives it two of its four nipples; when the sheep asked them back, the cow refused to give them back]: Naumkin et al. 2014:425).

The Balkans. Slovenes [once cows had udders in their entire belly and had milk "like water"; people were proud - women bathed their children in milk and washed themselves with it; then God took the cow's udder, but cats meowed and asked God to leave a few nipples for the cow]: Fat 2004:284.

Baltoscandia. Estonians: Dähnhardt 1910:73 [the cow had 8 nipples and the goat had 4; the cat threw them into the fire, the dog only saved half; since then, the cow has 4 nipples, the goat and sheep have 2 each; the cat also threw bread into the fire and the dog pulled it out; so people give the dog bread and milk], 500 [1) the cow's belly was covered with nipples; the shepherd left, leaving the cow in the care of the dog; the hungry cat became bite off the cow's nipples; the dog covered four with its paws, and the rest were bitten off and disappeared; therefore, the dog is given the milk first; 2) God created a cow without nipples; after making nipples, he put them dry on the stove; the cat jumped and all the nipples fell into the fire; the dog pulled out four, since then the soles of its paws were scorched and without hair; God forbade the cat to drink milk, but allowed it to eat mice; the cat Nobody cooks food, but cooks for the dog]; the Finns [1) the cow had as many nipples as the pig; the cat threw them into the fire; the dog: but not my share! grabbed four in the mouth and returned it to the cow; the dog scorched its face, it turned black; the cat said that it lives what it would get on its own, although milk is healthier for her than a dog; 2) the woman scolded the cow - why her nipples are as many as a pig; cut off (part) and threw it into the fire; the dog snatched two and the cat two too; since then the dog has a charred face and the cat's paws; 3) the cat bit off the cow the nipple and threw it into the fire; the dog snatched it out and carried it back; therefore, the fifth nipple is smaller than the others, and the dog has a black face; 4) the wife milked, the cow had many nipples, the husband threw them into the fire; the dog and the cat they snatched two at a time; since then, the dog has a black face and the cat has a round face]: Krohn in Dähnhardt 1910:72; Karelians [a cow used to have its entire belly covered with nipples - like a pig; Syöjätä r: and why so much, you get tired of milking; God removed the nipples; the cat asked me to leave 4 so that she could get milk too]: Pentikäinen 1978:311.