M197F. Black beard, grey head, ATU 921C. .15.16.23.27.28.30.31.

The person answers why his head is gray and his beard is not: his beard is 20 years younger.

Southern Europe. Italians (region not specified; conditionally north): Cirese, Serafini 1975, No. 921C: 234.

Western Europe. Germans (Lower Saxony, Switzerland), Dutch, Friesians: Uther 2004 (1), No. 921C: 548.

South Asia. Punjabi []: Swynnerton 1908, No. 14:.

The Balkans. Bulgarians [as in defining the motive]: Daskalova-Perkovska et al. 1994, No. 921C:.

Central Europe. Czechs: Uther 2004 (1), No. 921C: 548; (cf. Russians (Nekrasov Cossacks only) ["Why does my head turn gray ahead of my beards!" - the tsar asks the synod a question; the correct answer is given by the peasant ("Hair appeared on the head 20 years earlier")]: SUS 1979, No. 921E**: 233).

Iran - Central Asia. Pashtuns [as in defining the motive]: Lebedev 1958:152-153.

Baltoscandia. Latvians [Why hair is whiter than a beard]: Arys, Medne 1977, No. 921C: 332; Lithuanians, Finns, Danes: Uther 2004 (1), No. 921C: 548.