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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| A189.1 | Mortal as ally of gods. |
| A187.2 | Mortal as umpire of quarrel between gods. Icel.: Boberg; Celtic-Norse: FFC LXXXIII, xxxviii-xli.—India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A733.2 | Mortal cannot look at sun since God's name is engraved on it. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A762.2 | Mortal marries star-girl. Chinese: Graham; African (Lamba): Doke Lamba Folk-Lore 14 No. 11; S. Am. Indian (Camacan): Métraux-Nimuendajú BBAE CXLIII (1) 552, (Chaco): Métraux ibid. 369, (Sherente): Louis ibid. 516, (Mataco): Métraux MAFLS XL 48, (Carajá): Métraux ibid. 49, (Chamacoco): ibid. 48, (Apinaye, Canella): ibid. 48. |
| A117.4 | Mortal transfigured to god on mountain top. Maori: Beckwith Myth 250. |
| A117.2 | Mortal translated to heaven and deified. India: *Thompson-Balys; Maori: Clark Maori Folk Tales 167. |
| A117 | Mortals become gods. |
| A2426.3.5 | Mosquito's buzz. Mpongwe: Nassau 62 No. 12. |
| A2034.1.1 | Mosquitoes created by goddess to make sleeping outside impossible to men. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 128. |
| A2034.3 | Mosquitoes from ashes of bad woman. (Cf. A2001.)—Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 128. |
| A2034.2 | Mosquitoes from bones of slain demon flung into the air. (Cf. A2001.)—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A764.3 | Most brilliant stars children of the sun; others are children of the moon. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A401.1 | Mother Earth pregnant with Adam. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A401 | Mother Earth. The earth is conceived of as the mother of all things (cf. A431.1).—**Dieterich Mutter Erde; A. Mayer Erdmutter und Hexe (München 1936); *Lang Myth. 299ff.; Fb. "jord" II 44b IV 247a; Nöldeke "Mutter-Erde bei den Semiten" Archiv f. Religionswiss. VIII 161.—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 194, 328; Finnish: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 239; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 459; Hindu: Keith 230; India: *Thompson-Balys.—African: Werner African 125.—N. Am. Indian: *Thompson Tales 280 n. 37a, Alexander N. Am. 91f., 289 n. 34. |
| A111.1 | Mother of the gods. (cf. A116.2). **Showerman; Smith Dragon viii; *Holmberg Baum 84ff.—Babylonian: Spence 123ff.; Hindu: Penzer I 270ff., 276, VII 231; India: Thompson-Balys; Hittite: Garstang The Hittite Empire 305ff.; Gaster Thespis 179.—Oceanic: Beckwith Myth 294; So. Am. Indian (Apapocuvú-Guarani): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 122. |
| A745.2 | Mother of the moon: the most distant star in the sky. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1282.1 | Mother of the world gives birth to three sons. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A164.1.1 | Mother-son marriage of the gods. Irish myth: Cross; So. Am. Indian (Munderucú): Horton BBAE CXLIII (3) 281. |
| A967.1 | Mounds from horns cast by cattle. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A875.1.1 | Mountain at center of earth. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 1136. |
| A961.3 | Mountain from accident to primeval lizard. Lizard passing through a mountain is broken; his fore and hinder parts become mountains.—Bushman: Bleek and Lloyd 215. |
| A969.1 | Mountain from buried giant. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A962.1 | Mountain from part of deity's (hero's) body. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 170 (bones), 188f.; Maori: Beckwith Myth 379 (navel); Tahiti: Henry 339 (ribs, spine). |
| A969.9 | Mountain or hills from actions of the devil. England: *Baughman. |
| A665.3 | Mountain supports sky. India: Thompson-Balys; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 341ff. |
| A722.7 | Mountain where sun goes through. Babylonian: Jensen Gilgamesch Epos IX 37. |
| A495 | Mountain-god. Chinese: Ferguson 91. |
| A961.5 | Mountains (cliffs) from bones of killed giant. Icel.: Boberg. |
| A962 | Mountains (hills) from ancient activities of god (hero). |
| A964 | Mountains (hills) from ancient contest (fight). |
| A962.9 | Mountains and hills are former sons, daughters of gods. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A963.4 | Mountains and hills from stones thrown by giant at church. Germanic: Hdwb. d. deutschen Aberglaubens s.v. "Findlingssteine"; Celtic: Thurneysen Irische Helden- und Königssage 431; Danish: Schmidt Danmarks Kaempesten (1932) (DF XXXIX) 66ff.; Kristensen Danske Sagn III (1895) 19ff., (1931) 11ff.; Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 493-96; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 68 Nos. 586-591. |
| A969.3 | Mountains and valleys formed from great fire. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1062 | Mountains fall together at end of world. *Olrik Ragnarök 484 s. v. "Zusammenstürzen". |
| A964.2.1 | Mountains fight each other for honor of being the spot for the revelation. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A964.2 | Mountains fight each other: cause of their present shape. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A963.2 | Mountains from breaking of God's sieve. He is sifting stones and the bottom of the sieve breaks, letting huge stones and mountains fall through. (Cf. A971.) —Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 4 No. 5; Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 34 No. 1. |
| A961.2 | Mountains from hacked-up fish drawn from bottom of primeval water. Earth originates from a fish drawn from the water. It is hacked up and thus made to form mountains.—Maori: Dixon 43. |
| A961 | Mountains from primeval animal. |
| A962.3 | Mountains from primeval journeys of a god. (Cf. A901.)—Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 332. |
| A963 | Mountains from stones (soil, sand) dropped or thrown. |
| A963.1 | Mountains from stones dropped from giant's clothes. He carries the stones in his clothes but loses them as he walks.—German: Grimm Deutsche Mythologie I 443; Hdwb. d. Abergl. I 1043; French: Sébillot France IV 7ff.; Swedish: Wessman 68 Nos. 581-3.—Indonesian: L. de Backer L'archipel indien 232ff. |
| A962.2 | Mountains made with God's hand. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A962.5 | Mountains made with the hand. Jewish: Moreno Esdras. |
| A962.6 | Mountains originated from primeval journeys of the first man. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 14. |
| A962.4 | Mountains pressed together by God. Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 4 No. 4, XXXIII 51 No. 4. |
| A914 | Mountains push water westward. Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 54. |
| A961.4 | Mountains spring from scattered parts of slain giant serpent's body. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1751.1 | Mouse created by Lucifer; cat by Michael to destroy mouse. (Cf. A1811. A1853.)—Irish myth: Cross. |
| A2223.3 | Mouse gathers rice for man: may eat a little of his rice daily. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2301.1 | Mouse's body made larger. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 231. |
| A2302.1 | Mouse's body made smaller. Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 260 No. 55; Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 231. |
| A2213.4.3 | Mouse's nose pulled out long. Salinan: Mason U. Cal. XIV 64. |
| A2762 | Movement of leaves. |
| A132.3.1.1 | Mule-god. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2 | Multiple creators. |
| A1296 | Multiplication of man by fragmentation. S. Am. Indian (Inca): Rowe BBAE CXLIII (2) 406. |
| A2613.1 | Mushroom from spittle of deity. (Cf. A2686.1.)—Dh II 107; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3230, Legends No. 325. |
| A661.0.2 | Music in heaven. India: Thompson-Balys; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A659.1 | Music of the spheres. Jewish: Neuman. (The general philosophical theory of the music of the spheres is not treated here). |
| A661.0.2.2 | Music produced by precious stones in heaven. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A2432.5 | Muskrat's dwelling. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 243. |
| A128 | Mutilated god. Egyptian: Müller 92ff.; Jewish: Neuman; Greek: Argonautica IV line 984 (Chronos); India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A169 | Mutual relations of the gods—miscellaneous. |
| A160 | Mutual relations of the gods. |
| A511.1.8.3 | Mythical lizards parents of culture hero. S. Am. Indian (Amuesa): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 149. |
| A2571.0.4 | Names of animals explained by their characteristics. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A765 | Naming the stars. The "Great Star" names the stars.—Bushman: Bleek and Lloyd 79. |
| A901.2 | Natural features because of combat of huge rock columns with each other. Marquesas: Handy 133. |
| A1091 | Natural laws inoperative at end of world. *Olrik Ragnarök 46ff.; Irish myth: Cross; Chinese: Graham. |
| A139 | Nature and appearance of the gods—miscellaneous. |
| A120 | Nature and appearance of the gods. (cf. A18f.). Jewish: *Neuman. |
| A870 | Nature and condition of the earth. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 325. |
| A750 | Nature and condition of the moon. Many motifs in A720 to A739 refer to the moon and are not here repeated. |
| A739 | Nature and condition of the sun—miscellaneous. |
| A720 | Nature and condition of the sun. Chinese: Graham. |
| A2426 | Nature and meaning of animal cries. *Dh III 355 ff.—Finnish: *Aarne FFC IX. |
| A405 | Nature gods. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 2, chap. I passim. |
| A2375.2 | Nature of animal's feet. |
| A2435.2 | Nature of animal's food. |
| A2326.3 | Nature of animal's horns. |
| A2335.2 | Nature of animal's nose. (See A2213.4.3.) |
| A2365.2 | Nature of animal's penis. |
| A2378.9 | Nature of animal's tail—miscellaneous. |
| A2365.1 | Nature of animal's testicles. |
| A2391 | Nature of bird's eggs. |
| A2431.3 | Nature of birds' nests. |
| A705.2 | Nature of clouds (covered with skin). (Cf. A702.9.)—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A19 | Nature of creator—miscellaneous. |
| A10 | Nature of the creator.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A520 | Nature of the culture hero (demigod). |
| A689 | Nature of the lower world—miscellaneous. |
| A670 | Nature of the lower world. |
| A702 | Nature of the sky. Chinese: Graham. |
| A669 | Nature of the upper world—miscellaneous. |
| A660 | Nature of the upper world. |
| A1103 | Nature transformed by God once in seven years. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A875.1 | Navel of the earth. Omphalos, the central point on the earth disc.—*Holmberg Baum des Lebens 150 s.v. "Mittelpunkt"; *Frazer Pausanias V 314f.; *Pease Cicero De Divinatione 353 (Bk. II 115); *Roscher Abh. kgl. Sächs. Ges. d. Wiss. (Phil. hist. Kl.) XXIX (1913) 9, XXXI (1915) 1, Berichte d. kgl Sächs. Ges. d. Wiss. (Phil. hist. Kl.) LXX (1918) 2; Warren Paradise Found (1885) 225ff.; Gaster Thespis 170f.; Jewish: Neuman; Norse: Boberg. |
| A1614.1 | Negroes as curse on Ham for laughing at Noah's nakedness. Dh I 290; *BP III 311; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1614.5 | Negroes made from left-over scraps at creation. North Carolina: Brown Collection I 632. |
| A636 | New creation shouted away. It is unstable and therefore unsatisfactory. —American Indian: Kroeber JAFL XXI 224, (California): Gayton and Newman 56. |
| A1006.2 | New race from incest after world calamity. Hindu: Keith 92; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| A1254.1 | New race from seeds thrown over head after deluge. (Cf. A1245.1., A1006.)—Tamanac (Carib): Alexander Lat. Am. 271. |
| A1006.1 | New race from single pair (or several) after world calamity. (Cf. A1038, A1045.)—*Olrik Ragnarök 479 s.v. "Erneuerung".—Greek: *Grote I 93; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys.—Marquesas: Handy 110; Ellice Is.: Beckwith Myth 270; Hawaii: ibid. 315; Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 91; S. Am. Indian (Yuracare): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 144, (Chiriguano): ibid. 157, 163, 170f., (Guaporé River): Lévi-Strauss BBAE CXLIII (3) 379; African (Lamomi): Bouveignes 29. |
| A1245.1 | New race from stones thrown over head after deluge. (Cf. A1254.1.).—Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 55 n. 2, Fox 19. |
| A1006.4 | New race from union of girl and rat. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1006.3 | New race made of red earth after world calamity. Smith Dragon 121. |
| A1174.1 | Night (darkness) in package. Released.—Munderucú: Alexander Lat. Am. 310; Arawak, Carib, Surinam: ibid. 274. |
| A1172.3 | Night and day have steeds and chase each other. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 200. |
| A1174.4 | Night caused by deity wrapping himself in dark mantle. Maori: Clark 17, 21. |
| A1174.3.1 | Night stolen and kept in jar. S. Am. Indian (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 683. |
| A189.17 | Night the period of gods, day the period of mankind. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 14. |
| A2241.5 | Nightingale borrows blindworm's eye. Each has one eye. Nightingale borrow's blindworm's and will not return it. (Cf. A2332.6.1.)—*Type 234; *Dh III 136ff.; *Köhler-Bolte I 72.—Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 55 No. 110** (frog in place of nightingale).—Japanese: Ikeda; English: Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet III v. 31. |
| A2272.1.1 | Nightingale hears boy call oxen: learns her song. (Cf. A2426.2.1.)—Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 147 No. 53. |
| A2426.2.1 | Nightingale's song. (See A2272.1.1.)—Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3151, Balys Legends No. 260; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| A658.1 | Nine days' fall from heaven to earth; the same from earth to hell.—Frazer Apollodorus I 4 n. 2. |
| A651.1.6 | Nine heavens. Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 400f.—Fiji: Beckwith Myth 150; Aztec: Alexander Lat. Am. 77. |
| A658.1.1 | Nine nights' riding from heaven (or earth) to hell. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 304. |
| A651.0.1 | Nine worlds. India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 974. |
| A2236.6 | Nit tries to bore through man's head: must remain at edge of hair. (Cf. A2433.5.1.)—Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 151 No. 72; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 94 No. 106. |
| A1002.2.1 | No rainbow for fifteen years before the Day of Judgment. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1127.1.1 | North wind tempers fury of south wind. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2332.2 | Number of animal's eyes. |
| A1601 | Number of nations of the world (70, 72, 140). Jewish: Neuman. |
| A511.2.2 | Nursing of culture hero. |
| A2493.9.1 | Oath of friendship between cat and rat. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2615 | Object transformed to plant. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A923 | Ocean from creator's sweat. Corpus Poeticum Boreale I 64.—Polynesian: Dixon 37 n. 106. |
| A923.1 | Ocean from urine. (Cf. A933.)—Buin: Wheeler Mono-Alu 28, Aurora (New Hebrides): Codrington II 372. |
| A922 | Ocean made from blood. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 325f.; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 51 No. 7**; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 86 No. 45.—Oceanic: Dixon 37 n. 107, 108 (Polynesia, Samoa, Marquesas). |
| A921 | Ocean the son of Earth and Heaven. Greek: Fox. |
| A816.2 | Ocean under this world. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1082.2 | Odin battles Fenris Wolf at end of world. (Cf. A1070.)—*Olrik Ragnarök 479 s.v. "Fenris-wolf". |
| A1279.1 | Of first parents husband so hideous he is kept hidden. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1275.3 | Of ten original men one magically changes sex. New Hebrides: Dixon 107; Eskimo (Cape York): Rasmussen III 49. |
| A1277 | Offspring of first parents. |
| A192.1.1 | Old god slain by young god. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A15.3 | Old man as creator. |
| A21.2 | Old man from sky as creator.—Old man with his wife comes from the sky. Are the first couple on earth. Have seven sons and seven daughters. Each son marries a daughter.—Ekoi: Talbot 366. |
| A15.3.1 | Old man with staff as creator. (cf. A1.2.). Inca: Rowe BBAE CXLIII (2) 316. |
| A15.1.1 | Old woman as creator. Lepers Is.: Codrington II 372f. |
| A955.12 | Old woman as guardian of floating islands of the gods. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 68. |
| A842.2 | Old woman supports earth on her head. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A102.4 | Omnipotent god. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| A102.5 | Omnipresent god. Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A102.1 | Omniscient god. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 47 (Odin); Irish Myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman.—So. Am. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 173, (Guarani): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 93. |
| A1006.8 | One bear-child escapes death, is ancestor of all bears. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A965.1 | One mountain in love with another stretches leg out to meet her: origin of a mountain chain. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1045 | One pair escapes continuous winter and renews race. (Cf. A1006.1, A1038.)—*Olrik Ragnarök 479 s.v. "Fimbulwinter". |
| A2616 | One plant transformed into another. India: Thompson-Balys; Eskimo (Labrador): Hawks GSCan XIV 152. |
| A227.2 | One sun-god for night; another for day (Osiris, Horus). Egyptian: Müller 113. |
| A128.2 | One-eyed god. Odin.—Harrison (Jane E.) Prolegomena to the Study of Greek Religion 194; Holmberg Finno-Ugric 179.—Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: Boberg, De la Saussaye 226, MacCulloch Eddic 21; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2219.3 | Only one serpent had sting: fed poison to the rest. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1171.1 | Opening of creator's eyes creates day. (Cf. A0.)—Chinese: Werner 78. |
| A855 | Opposite of present. Everything on the earth—courses of rivers, height of mountains, human reproduction, etc.—are at first the reverse of the present condition.—N. A. Indian: Kroeber JAFL XXI 225. |
| A106 | Opposition of good and evil gods. Hindu: Keith 84; *Penzer I 197; India: Thompson-Balys.—Tarahumare (Mexican Indian): Alexander N. Am. 176; S. Am. Indians (Antioquians): Alexander Lat. Am. 197.—Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1399 | Ordaining of human life—additional motifs. |
| A1390 | Ordaining of human life—miscellaneous. |
| A1300 | Ordering of human life. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2426.2.18 | Origin and meaning of cock's cry "cock-a-doodle-do". India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 13. |
| A2356 | Origin and nature of animal's back. Dh III 42ff. |
| A2354 | Origin and nature of animal's belly. |
| A2353 | Origin and nature of animal's breast. |
| A2362 | Origin and nature of animal's buttocks. |
| A2375 | Origin and nature of animal's feet. Dh III 45ff. |
| A2365 | Origin and nature of animal's genitals. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2326 | Origin and nature of animal's horns. Dh III 30ff.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2371 | Origin and nature of animal's legs. Dh III 45. |
| A2342 | Origin and nature of animal's lips. |
| A2364 | Origin and nature of animal's loins. |
| A2341 | Origin and nature of animal's mouth. Dh III 22—27. |
| A2335 | Origin and nature of animal's nasal organ (nose, snout, proboscis, etc.). |
| A2351 | Origin and nature of animal's neck. |
| A2335.3 | Origin and nature of animal's proboscis. |
| A2416 | Origin and nature of animal's smell. *Dh III 233f. |
| A2335.4 | Origin and nature of animal's snout (muzzle). |
| A2378 | Origin and nature of animal's tail. Dh III 47ff. |
| A2363 | Origin and nature of animal's teats. |
| A2345 | Origin and nature of animal's teeth. |
| A2344 | Origin and nature of animal's tongue. Dh III 27ff. |
| A2355 | Origin and nature of animal's waist. |
| A2332 | Origin and nature of animals' eyes. |
| A2343 | Origin and nature of bird's beak. Dh III 26. |
| A705 | Origin and nature of clouds. |
| A2346 | Origin and nature of insect's sting. |
| A1614.1.2 | Origin of "goat-heads" from curse of Ham. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1534 | Origin of "guesting." Irish myth: Cross. |
| A2654 | Origin of "Mary's bed straw" (thymus serpyllum). Flemish: De Meyer FFC XXXVII 91 No. 251*. |
| A1178 | Origin of "yesterday" and "today." India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1653.2 | Origin of a king's family from a fairy prince. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A941.0.1 | Origin of a particular spring. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1351.2 | Origin of abortions. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1319.1 | Origin of Adam's apple. Forbidden fruit sticks in Adam's throat.—*Dh I 208ff.; *Fb "Adamsæble" IV 4.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 5 No. 16, XXXIII 52 No. 16; Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 35 No. 10; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 34; U.S.: Baughman; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1599 | Origin of additional customs. |
| A1556.3 | Origin of adultery. It occurs in the primeval human family. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 69. |
| A2315.2 | Origin of alligator's scales. (Cf. A2311.7.)—Dh III 10.—Am. Negro: (Georgia): Harris Nights 26. |
| A1599.16 | Origin of allusive expression for the story of gods' incest and trickery. Marquesas: Handy 123. |
| A1484.2 | Origin of alphabet. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2755.3.1 | Origin of amber in poplar trees. (Cf. A2731.2.)—Greek: Frazer Apollodorus II 82 n. 2. |
| A1611.1 | Origin of American Indian tribes. |
| A2160 | Origin of amphibia. |
| A955.3.1 | Origin of an island's shape. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2284 | Origin of animal characteristics: animal persuaded into self-injury. |
| A2310 | Origin of animal characteristics: body covering. |
| A2300 | Origin of animal characteristics: body. |
| A2330 | Origin of animal characteristics: face. |
| A2320 | Origin of animal characteristics: head. |
| A2350 | Origin of animal characteristics: trunk. |
| A2425 | Origin of animal cries. (See A2261.1, A2272.1, A2275.1, A2275.2.) —*Millier (A.) Petits Contes du Nivernais (Nevers, 1894); Dh III 355ff.; BP II 535; Wienert FFC LVI 40; Chauvin VIII 49 No. 17; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2412 | Origin of animal markings. (See A2211.12, A2221.3, A2221.7.) —Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 61, 75. |
| A1545.3 | Origin of animal sacrifices. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A2312 | Origin of animal shell. Tahiti: Henry 339. |
| A1546.7 | Origin of animal worship. |
| A2356.1 | Origin of animal's back. |
| A2305 | Origin of animal's flat body. |
| A2371.1 | Origin of animal's legs. |
| A2351.4 | Origin of animal's long neck. |
| A2335.1 | Origin of animal's nose. |
| A2311 | Origin of animal's skin. Dh III 7ff. |
| A2413 | Origin of animal's stripes. |
| A2325 | Origin of animals' ears. |
| A2332.1 | Origin of animals' eyes. |
| A2335.3.1 | Origin of anteater's proboscis. Transformed digging-stick. (See A2262.) |
| A2351.4.3 | Origin of antelope's long neck. Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield |
| A1596 | Origin of army. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1491 | Origin of art of walking on stilts. Marquesas: Handy 114. |
| A1487.1.1 | Origin of astrology. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1487.1 | Origin of astronomy. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1315.2 | Origin of bald heads. Christensen Molboerne 212 No. 70; Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 6 No. 17, XXXIII 52 No. 17; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 82 No. 20; Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 84 No. 17; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1495.1 | Origin of ball game. Mangaia (Cook Island): Beckwith myth: 336. |
| A2681.6 | Origin of bamboo. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A2687.5 | Origin of banana. Tonga: Gifford 17. |
| A2681.10 | Origin of banyan tree. Marquesas: Handy 123. |
| A2751.1 | Origin of bark on plants. (See A2736.) |
| A1453.5 | Origin of bark-cloth. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2685.4 | Origin of barley. Finnish: Kalevala rune 2; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1446.5.5 | Origin of baskets. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1341.1 | Origin of battle-shouting. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A2686.6 | Origin of beans. S. Am. Indian (Caingang): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 473. |
| A1315.3 | Origin of beard. *Dh I 228ff.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 5 Nos. 13, 14, XXXIII 52 No. 13; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 83 Nos. 23, 24; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 141 No. 11; Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 58-62, 70. |
| A1599.15 | Origin of begging. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2687.3 | Origin of berries. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 188, 282. |
| A2691.5 | Origin of betel. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2655 | Origin of bindweed (convolvulus sepium). Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 91 No. 252*. |
| A2681.4 | Origin of birch trees. |
| A2321 | Origin of bird crests. Dh III 18f.—Tahltan- Teit JAFL XXXII 208f. |
| A2313 | Origin of bird's feathers. |
| A2343.1 | Origin of bird's long beak. |
| A2425.2 | Origin of birds' morning-songs (from singing angels). Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1447.2 | Origin of blacksmith work. Irish myth: Cross. |
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