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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| A2461.2 | Toad remains still when he hears footsteps (defense). Dh III 235. |
| A2247.5 | Toad trades his tail for mole's eyes. Spanish: Boggs: FFC XC 38 No. 287. |
| A2426.4.2 | Toad's croak. Jamaica Negro: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 259. |
| A671.2.8 | Toads in hell. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A2611.2 | Tobacco from grave of bad woman. Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 23 No. 128. XXXIII 56 No. 128; Esthonian: Aarne FFC XXV 152 No. 76; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 96 No. 125; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3240, Legends Nos. 326—337; S. Am. Indian (Paressi): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 359, (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 62. |
| A2611.2.1 | Tobacco from grave of virgin. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2233.2.1 | Too cold for hare (dog) to build house in winter, not necessary in summer: must go without house. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 72*, Legends No. 214; Finnish: Aarne Index No. 72*; Russian: Andrejev No. 72**. |
| A901.1 | Topographical changes or landmarks due to battle between gods. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A903 | Topographical features caused by animals. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| A901 | Topographical features caused by experiences of primitive hero (demigod, deity). Footprints of the gods, thoroughfares of heroes, etc.—*Dh II 8, 68, 199; *Hdwb. d. deutschen Aberglaubens III 240 s.v. "Fussspur"; *Wehrhan Die Sage 65; *Basset and others RTP XXIV 299 and references to earlier volumes.—Irish myth: Cross; Breton: MacCulloch Celtic 135; Icel.: De la Saussaye 280; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 303 Nos. 22, 23; Finnish: Kalevala rune 1; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3008, Legends Nos. 12ff.; Greek: Fox 250.—Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 331; Japanese: Anesaki 248f.; Indo-Chinese: Scott Indo-Chinese 291; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 31, 768, 957, 1211.—Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 18; Aztec: Alexander Lat. Am. 70; Africa (Fang): Trilles 153.—Cf. A911, A920.1.2, A920.1.5, A924, A931, A932, A933, A941.1, A941.2, A951, A955, A964, A972, A982.1, A984. |
| A902 | Topographical features of the earth arranged by creator. (Cf. A0.)—Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys.—African: Werner African 143.—N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 30. |
| A900 | Topography—general considerations. |
| A44 | Tora as God's adviser. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2231.7.3 | Tortoise cursed for going under water while ferrying rice-goddess: people will be able to kill it with iron-made spears. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2214.5.1 | Tortoise dropped by eagle: hence cracks in his shell. (Cf. A2312.1.1.)—Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 373 No. 23. |
| A139.2 | Tortoise footstool of God. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2223.6 | Tortoise given hard shell when it ferries rice-goddess across stream. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2214.5 | Tortoise hurled on rock: half falls on land, half in water. Therefore amphibious. African (Nigeria): Herskovits JAFL XLIV 448ff. |
| A2211.10 | Tortoise left out in rain: hard shell develops. (Cf. A2312.1.)—Gold Coast: Barker and Sinclair 115 No. 20. |
| A2213.2.2 | Tortoise pressed into earth: hence humpy back. (Cf. A2356.2.9.) Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 380. |
| A113 | Totemistic gods. Gods which have animal associations; e.g., Athena with the owl, Venus with the sparrow.—Babylonian: Spence 93; India: *Thompson-Balys; Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1414.7.1 | Tree as repository of fire. Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 61; S. Am. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 158. |
| A2721.2.1 | Tree cursed for serving as cross. (Cf. A2751.3.1, A2751.3.2, A2755.2, A2762.1, A2775.)—Dh II 207ff.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 23 No. 131, XXXIII 56 No. 131; Esthonian: Aarne FFC XXV 152 No. 77; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 94 No. 108; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 636. |
| A652.2 | Tree hanging from sky. A tree hangs upside down in the sky. By its branches men pass back and forth to the upper world.—Indonesian and Micronesian: Dixon 38 (n. 113, 114), 249. |
| A671.2.3 | Tree in hell made of living heads of the dead. Quiché: Alexander Lat. Am. 171. |
| A652.3 | Tree in upper world. Iroquois: Alexander N. Am. 35. |
| A2721.5 | Tree on which Judas hanged himself cursed. Dh II 236ff.; **Taylor "The Gallows of Judas Iscariot" Washington University Studies (Humanistic series) IX (1922) 135ff. |
| A2711.4 | Tree protects Jesus from rain: is green all year. (Cf. A2765.1.) —Esthonian: Aarne FFC XXV 152 No. 80 (fig); Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 94 No. 113 (pine). |
| A665.4 | Tree supports sky. (Cf. A652.1.). |
| A652.1.1 | Tree to heaven from goddess' necklace which she hangs on branch. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A652.1 | Tree to heaven. Lithuanian and Lettish: Gray 325; Finnish: Kalevala rune 2; India: Thompson-Balys.—N. A. Indian: *Alexander N. Am. 294f. n. 42; Maya: Alexander Lat. Am. 140; S. Am. Indian (Chaco): Métraux MAFLS XL 24f. |
| A2771.5 | Trees bear first buds to commemorate reign of primitive hero. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A2711.2 | Trees blessed that made the cross. Dh II 207. |
| A2855 | Trees classified as "pleasant trees, herb trees, shrub trees." Irish myth: Cross. |
| A2721.7 | Trees fail to come at god's leavetaking, now bear bitter fruit. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1676 | Tribal characteristics—bravery or cowardice. |
| A1687 | Tribal characteristics—decoration. |
| A1683 | Tribal characteristics—dress. |
| A1681 | Tribal characteristics—eating. |
| A1673 | Tribal characteristics—industry. |
| A1671 | Tribal characteristics—labor. |
| A1674 | Tribal characteristics—stealing. |
| A1675 | Tribal characteristics—warfare. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1501 | Tribal customs established by diviner. (Man who sees future.)—India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A1268.1 | Tribe born from fire. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1631.2 | Tribe climbs down from sky to earth. S. Am. Indian (Tropical Forest): Lowie BBAE CLXIII (3) 55. |
| A1236.2 | Tribes emerge from melon. Lao, Wa (Indo-China): Scott Indo-Chin. 286, 289. |
| A1610.6 | Tribes from clay models made by creator. S. Am. Indian (Inca): Rowe BBAE CXLIII (2) 315. |
| A1610.4 | Tribes from fruits of various trees. S. Am. Indian (Brazil): Oberg 108. |
| A1028.1 | Trickster sticks spear in ground and leads water to sea, ending deluge. S. Am. Indian (Chaco): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 369. |
| A2731.1 | Trickster's burnt flesh becomes gum on trees. N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 304 n. 1091. |
| A913.4 | Tub that drips at high tide but holds water at low tide. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A2431.3.8 | Turkey's nest. |
| A697.2 | Tusita world. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 1034. |
| A841.3 | Twelve iron pillars steady the earth. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1179.1.1 | Twilight reflection of fires of hell. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A515.1.1.3 | Twin culture heroes conceived of as sun and moon. S. Am. Indian (Amuesha): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 150, (Chiriguano): ibid. 158ff. |
| A511.1.2.1 | Twin culture heroes quarrel before birth. (Cf. A515.1.1.)—Dh I 11; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A515.1.1.1 | Twin culture heroes sired by two fathers. S. Am. Indian (Guarani): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 92f., RMLP XXXIII 136. |
| A515.1.1.2 | Twin culture heroes—one foolish, one clever. (Cf.A525.) S. Am. Indian (Bacairi): Lévi-Strauss BBAE CXLIII (3) 347, (Tupinamba): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 135, (Chiriguano): ibid. 163. |
| A515.1.1 | Twin culture heroes. (Cf. A511.1.2.1.). P. Saintyves "Les Jumeaux dans l'ethnographie et la mythologie" Revue Anthrop. XXV (1925) 54ff.—Jewish: Neuman; N. Am. Indian (Plains Tribes): Alexander N. Am. 104, 106, (Pima): ibid. 176, (Sia): ibid. 204; S. Am. Indian (Jíbaros, Eastern Ecuador): Karsten Myths of the Jíbaros (cf. Boas JAFL XXXII 446), Amazon tribes: Alexander Lat. Am. 311, (Warrau, Carib, Tupinamba, Kaigua, Tembé, Apapocuvá-Guarani, Bakairi, Kaingang, Amuesha, Huamachucho, Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 123, 135f., 138, 145ff., 158—165, (Tenetchara): Wagley-Galvao BBAE CXLIII (3) 147, (Cashinawa, Guarani, Guarayú): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 92f., 438, 685, (Toba): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 368, (Bakairi): Lévi-Strauss BBAE CXLIII (3) 347, (Paressi): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 359.—Tonga: Gifford 20. |
| A116.2.1 | Twin daughters of a god. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1273 | Twin first parents. Persian: Carnoy 294f. |
| A116.2 | Twin goddesses (or trinity of goddesses). Irish myth: Cross. |
| A116.1 | Twin gods—one mortal, other immortal. Harris Twins 4ff. |
| A116 | Twin gods. *Harris Twins, Boanerges, Picus who is also Zeus; Krappe Etudes de mythologie 137ff.; Güntert Weltkönig 253ff.; S. Eitrem Die göttlichen Zwillinge bei den Griechen (Christiania 1902); H. Grégoire Saints jumeaux et dieux cavaliers (Paris 1905); J.R. Harris The Dioscuri in the Christian Legends (London 1903); Krappe The Classical Journal XVIII (1923) 502ff.; Zeitschrift für Ethnologie LXVI (1929) 187ff.; "Les dieux jumeaux dans la religion germanique" Acta Philologica Scandinavica (1930); Review of Religion (1944) 123ff.; Revue Celtique XLIX (1932) 96ff; P. Saintyves, "Les Jumeaux, dans l'ethnographie et la mythologie," Revue Anthrop. XXXV (1925) 54—59; T. Gaster Oldest Stories 69.—Germanic: Helm Altgermanische Religionsgeschichte I 321ff.; Irish myth: Cross; Greek: Fox 26; Armenian: Ananikian 40; Hindu: Keith 30f. (Lettish also mentioned).—Zuсi: Alexander N. Am. 188; Mixtec: Alexander Lat. Am. 86; Indians of Central Brazil: Ehrenreich International Cong. of Americanists XIV 661; Chiriguano: Métraux RMLP XXXIII 172. |
| A2283 | Two animals learn songs together—one successfully, the other unsuccessfully. (Cf. A2425.)—*Dh III 365ff. |
| A751.7 | Two children in moon with yoke and bucket. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 184, Boberg. |
| A902.1 | Two creators go by different route to establish features of the earth. Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 59. |
| A733.3 | Two faces of the sun: fire, directed toward earth; hail, directed toward heaven. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A651.2.1 | Two lower worlds. S. Am. Indian (Chamacoco): Métraux MAFLS XL 25, BBAE CXLIII (1) 366. |
| A977.5.4 | Two rocks from split and transformed lapdog. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A773.7 | Two stars from Great Bear constellation transferred to Pleiades. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A227 | Two sun-gods. |
| A139.14 | Ugly god. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 194 No. 135. |
| A1205 | Unacceptable gods as first inhabitants of earth. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 60. |
| A1071.1 | Underground monster fettered by trick. Is persuaded to try on fetters. (Sometimes told of fettering Satan, who plays same role.)—*Type 803; *Olrik Ragnarök 204ff., 248ff.; Lithuanian: Balys Lithuanian Legends of the Devil in Chains (Tautosakos Darbai III [1937] 321-331.) |
| A871.0.2 | Unextinguishable fire at end of earth. S. A. Indian (Mbayá, Mataco): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 367. |
| A2214.3 | Unicorn thrown from ark and drowned: hence no longer exists. Dh I 287f. |
| A102.10 | Unity of God. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A615 | Universe as offspring of creator. The Sky Father begets various parts of the universe by his various wives.—Maori: Dixon 8 n. 9. |
| A618.1 | Universe coughed into being. Mono-Alu: Wheeler 67. |
| A618.2 | Universe created by spitting. Melanesia: Wheeler 66. |
| A618 | Universe created by various activities of creator. |
| A601.1 | Universe created in five periods of time. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 44. |
| A601.2 | Universe created in six days. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 45. |
| A601 | Universe created in specified time and order. Jewish: Neuman; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 45. |
| A622 | Universe created out of fire world. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 279, 324, 326. |
| A623 | Universe created out of ice and mist. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 324—26, 304, 329, Herrmann Saxo II 584. |
| A642 | Universe from body of slain giant. Ymir. See A621.1.—Icel.: *De la Saussaye 341. |
| A621 | Universe from congealed vapor. Kachin (North Burma): Scott Indo-Chinese 263; Chinese: Werner 136. |
| A615.2 | Universe from copulation of various objects to produce others. Easter Is.: Métraux Ethnology 320f. |
| A647 | Universe from cosmic fowl. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 217ff. |
| A615.1 | Universe from creator's masturbation with water, with stone, and with earth. (Cf. A1216.1). Easter Is.: Métraux Ethnology 314. |
| A614 | Universe from parts of creator's body. Ymir makes the world from his members—mountains from bones, cliffs from teeth, heavens from skull, etc.—Norse: Dh I 111 n. 1; Lang Myth I 234 ff.—Mexican: Danzel Kultur und Religion des primitiven Menschen 60; Kalmuck, Chinese, Hindu: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 372; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 96 No. 55. |
| A614.1 | Universe from parts of man's body. (Cf. A831.2)—Kabyle: Frobenius Atlantis I 101; Madagascar: Dandonau Contes pop. de Sakalava No. 58; Papuan: Landtmann The Kiwai Papuans 551; Sumatra: Pleyte Bataksche Vertellingen 68. |
| A644 | Universe from pre-existing rocks. Originally rocks are assumed and everything is made from them.—Samoa: Dixon 17. |
| A1002.2.4 | Unusual migration of birds as sign of Doomsday. Jewish: Moreno Esdras (M307.5.). |
| A1610.1 | Unworthy origin ascribed to hostile tribes. *Dh II 184; Jewish: Neuman; S. Am. Indian (Paressi): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 359. |
| A662 | Upper world (heaven) as a mountain. The sky is the hollowed under side of the mountain.—Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 341ff. |
| A2510 | Utility of animals. |
| A1313.3.1 | Vaginal teeth broken. Women originally had toothed vaginas. Culture hero breaks teeth so that women will be harmless to men. (See practically all references to F547.1.1, Vagina Dentata.)—S. Am. Indian (Toba, Mataco): Métraux MAFLS XL 99, 105, Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 367. |
| A1415.4 | Vain attempts to circumvent theft of fire. *Dh III 109ff. —Polynesian: Dixon 47; Massim (British New Guinea): ibid. 115 n. 48. |
| A661.1.0.1 | Valhalla has five hundred and forty doors. Icel.: Boberg. |
| A661.1 | Valhalla. The hall of warriors who go to Odin. They die and are resurrected daily.—**Neckel Walhall (Dortmund, 1913); M. Olsen Acta Philol. Scand. VI 151f.; MacCulloch Eddic 312; Irish myth: Cross. |
| A485.2 | Valkyries (shield-maidens). Demigoddesses who attend battle. —*Handwb. d. Abergl. IX Nachträge 240ff; **Golther "Der Valkyrenmythus" Abhandl. d. Akad. d. Wiss. (München), 1. Kl., XVIII, Abt. 2, 401ff.; *Krappe Modern Language Review XXI 55 ff.; *Hertz Aus Dichtung und Sage 31ff.—Irish myth: Cross; Norse: De la Saussaye 304ff., MacCulloch Eddic 248ff., 259, 283—84, 314, Penzer X 345 s.v. "Valkyries". |
| A171.1.2 | Valkyries ride through air and water. Icel.: Boberg. |
| A139.4 | Vampire goddess. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1901 | Various birds from Pharaoh's drowned army. (Cf. A1715.1).—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 15 No. 82, Esthonian: Aarne FFC XXV 146 No. 48; Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 38 No. 45. |
| A697 | Various Buddhist otherworlds. |
| A2433.2 | Various haunts of animals. |
| A934 | Various origins of rivers. |
| A151.14 | Various other dwelling places of gods. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 3, 11, 43, 67. |
| A661.0.1.1.2 | Veils of fire and ice before chief door of heaven. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A592.2 | Virgin daughter of culture hero. S. Am. Indian (Tupinamba): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 168. |
| A661.0.1.5 | Virgins with iron rods as guardians of two of the doors in heaven. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A722.12 | Visible sun is the "pet" of real sun. S. Am. Indian (Bacairi): Lévi-Strauss BBAE CXLIII (3) 348. |
| A2421.7 | Voice of peewit. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 264f. |
| A1013.1 | Vomiting of a whale causes flood. N. Am. Indian (Déné): Petitot Traditions (Paris 1886) 318f. |
| A1039.1 | Vulture sent out as scout to see whether earth has cooled from world-fire. (Cf. A1021.2.). |
| A1172.2 | Wallet containing night and day. Sébillot Incidents s.v. "bissac". |
| A1630 | Wandering of tribes. Icel.: Snorra Edda Prologue IV-V, Hermann Saxo II 85ff.; Hebrew: Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy; Jewish: Neuman; Armenian: Ananikian 65.—N. A. Indian (Thompson, Gros Ventre, Sarcee, Blackfoot, Cheyenne): *Teit MAFLS XI 48ff., (Creek): Alexander N. Am. 63, (Sia): ibid. 203f.; S. Am. Indian (Yuracare): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 503, (Mundurucú): Horton ibid. (3) 281, (Brazil): Oberg. 108. |
| A739.2 | War with the sun. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A308 | Warrior chieftain of underworld. Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G. 13/203). |
| A2432.7 | Wart-hog's burrow. Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 364 No. 16. |
| A165.4 | Watchman of the gods. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 152 (Heimdall), 276, 303, 313, 331 (Cock), 328 (Thor), 329 (Heimdall).—Tahiti: Beckwith Myth 221. |
| A969.5 | Water freezes and forms mountains. Eskimo (Bering Strait): Nelson RBAE XVIII 482. |
| A2442.2.6 | Water-birds' flight and diving. Dh III 224ff. |
| A1063 | Water-disturbances at end of world. |
| A420.1 | Water-goddess. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A910.2 | Waters created as punishment. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A910.5 | Waters created by divine twins. S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 167. |
| A910.1 | Waters created on first day of creation. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A810.2.1 | Waters of heaven would engulf earth were it not for firmament. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A423 | Waves as girls, daughters or widows of the sea-god. Icel.: Boberg, MacCulloch Eddic 190. |
| A157 | Weapons of the gods. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 32, 965. |
| A280 | Weather-god. Irish myth: Cross, Beal XXI 326, 334. |
| A2261.5 | Weeping man turned into owl; still bewails sorrows. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A671.4 | Well in hell (Hvergelmir). Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 319, 324, 332. |
| A875.2 | Well in the midst of earth from which eleven rivers originate. (Cf. A871.1.) Icel.: Boberg. |
| A941.5.0.2 | Wells break forth at birth of Christ. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1422.0.2 | What animals are to be eaten by man. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2236.1 | What creature has sweetest blood: gnat's tongue torn out. Assembly to decide who has the sweetest blood so that it may be the food for the serpent. Gnat discovers that man has the sweetest blood. Rather than let him tell this secret, swallow tears out his tongue. Gnat can only buzz. (Cf. A2344.2, A2426.3.2.)—Dh I 281, 332ff.; Circassian: Nicolaides and Carnoy RTP I 80; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 192. |
| A2471.7 | What hawks are looking for. Gold Coast: Barker and Sinclair 128 No. 22. |
| A2426.2.11 | What parrot says. Benga: Nassau 199 No. 29; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A137.3.1 | Wheel symbol. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1128.2 | When wind-spirit is awake it storms; asleep, it is calm. Tonga: Gifford 53. |
| A2375.1 | Where animal got feet. |
| A2378.1.1 | Where baboon got tail. (See A2262.2.) |
| A2378.1.6 | Where beaver got tail. (See A2241.10.) |
| A2345.2 | Where coyote got his long teeth. Dh III 33f. |
| A2421.3 | Where crow got voice. Traded with thunder-bird. (See A2247).—Dh III 126. |
| A2343.1.4 | Where hornbill got his big beak. (See A2241.9.)—Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield 234. |
| A2351.6 | Where horse got arched neck: arches neck to kick tiger from rear; remains so. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2345.1 | Where horse got his upper teeth. Borrowed them from buffalo. (See A2241.) |
| A2351.3 | Where Jahrvogel (rhytidoceros) got its necklace. Borrowed form dove. (See A2241.)—Dh III 133. |
| A2343.1.1 | Where kingfisher got his long beak. Dh III 27; Korean: Zong in-Sob 35 No. 19. |
| A2378.1.3 | Where lizard got tail. From the snake. (Cf. A2247.)—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 20 No. 110, XXXIII 55 No. 110; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2378.1.4 | Where mole got tail. Traded eyes for it. (See A2247, A2332.6.5.)—Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 38 No. 287. |
| A2332.1.5 | Where owl got his eyes. Eskimo (Alaska): Jenness 32. |
| A2378.1.2 | Where rat got tail. (See A2241.7.) |
| A2345.3 | Where reindeer got his small teeth. Dh. III 34. |
| A2345.5 | Where snake got his fangs. (See A2247.2.)—Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2343.1.2 | Where snipe got his long beak. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 219. |
| A2378.1.5 | Where squirrel got tail. (See A2241.7, A2242.) |
| A2345.4 | Where walrus got his tusks. Traded antlers with caribou for tusks. (See A2247.) |
| A124.2 | White god. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 152 (Heimdall), 129 (Balder). |
| A2412.1.1 | White markings on deer. Liberian: Bundy JAFL XXXII 417. |
| A1006.7 | Whole tribe descended from lone woman-survivor of doomed city. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1683.2 | Why a certain tribe wear clothes like dogs (supposed descendants of a bitch mother). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1365 | Why a lad at puberty is energetic and later lazy. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 239. |
| A1599.14 | Why a lamp must be lighted in a house at least every fortnight. —India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1575.1 | Why a mother has prior claim on her children. Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 101. |
| A1665.1 | Why Africans have bad feet. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2731.4 | Why agar-tree has magic properties. A transformed magician. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1689.2 | Why Agaria are not afraid of fire. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1391.1 | Why all limbs are dependent on body. Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield 234. |
| A2760.1 | Why all trees have leaves. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2356.2.11 | Why alligator has rough back. Am. Negro: (Georgia) Harris Nights 141 No. 26. |
| A2344.1.2 | Why alligator has short tongue. Dh III 28. |
| A1312.2 | Why an uneven number of ribs. Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 83 Nos. 21, 22.—Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 226 (floating ribs). |
| A1545.6 | Why animal bones only are used in sacrifice. Greek: Grote I 59. |
| A2464 | Why animal does not attack. |
| A2378.6 | Why animal has bushy tail. |
| A2378.7 | Why animal has flat tail. |
| A2378.5 | Why animal has forked tail. |
| A2578 | Why animal has long life. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2378.3 | Why animal has long tail. |
| A2344.2 | Why animal has no tongue. |
| A2378.4 | Why animal has short tail. |
| A2344.1 | Why animal has short tongue. |
| A2355.1 | Why animal has small waist. Dh III 36ff. |
| A2427 | Why animal howls (cries out) at night. |
| A2382 | Why animal is a hybrid. |
| A2542 | Why animal is cursed. |
| A2522 | Why animal is disliked. |
| A2523 | Why animal is evil. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2531 | Why animal is harmless. |
| A2524 | Why animal is pugnacious (brave, bold). |
| A2541 | Why animal is sacred. |
| A2521 | Why animal is sad. |
| A2306 | Why animal is slippery. |
| A2528 | Why animal is strong. |
| A2537 | Why animal is stupid. |
| A2534 | Why animal is timorous. |
| A2527 | Why animal is vain. |
| A2371.3 | Why animal lacks legs. |
| A2345.7 | Why animal lacks teeth. |
| A2341.3 | Why animal's mouth is closed. |
| A2341.2 | Why animal's mouth is large. |
| A2365.2.1 | Why animal's penis is large (long). |
| A2471.9 | Why animals always look down. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2525 | Why animals are deceptive. |
| A2526 | Why animals are unrestrained. |
| A2532 | Why animals are venomous. |
| A2471 | Why animals continually seek something. (See A2275.5.) |
| A2484 | Why animals crowd together seasonally. |
| A2435.2.1 | Why animals eat everything without salt. Zuсi: Handy JAFL XXXI 461. |
| A2378.1 | Why animals have tail. (See A2286.2.4.) |
| A2481 | Why animals hibernate. |
| A2436 | Why animals lack fire. Sent to steal fire but are lazy and fail. African (Fang): Tessman 18. |
| A2378.2 | Why animals lack tail. |
| A2486 | Why animals lay eggs as they do. (Cf. A2431, A2433.6.1.2.) |
| A2473 | Why animals lift their legs. |
| A2434.3 | Why animals live in certain countries. *Dh III 217ff. |
| A2482 | Why animals migrate. Dh III 257ff. |
| A2476 | Why animals move mouth, nose, etc. |
| A2477 | Why animals root in ground. |
| A2472 | Why animals ruminate. |
| A2475 | Why animals scent from distance. |
| A2483 | Why animals shed periodically. |
| A2453.1 | Why ant collects resin. (See A2221.4.) |
| A2355.1.2 | Why ant has small waist. (See A2214.2.)—India: *Thompson-Balys; Korea: Zong in-Sob No. 16, 35 No. 19. |
| A2432.1 | Why ant lives in ant-hill. Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 92 No. 97. |
| A2435.3.8 | Why ant-bear eats insects. Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 366 No. 16. |
| A2326.3.3 | Why antelope's antlers reach backward. Dh III 30. |
| A2433.5.5 | Why ants are lords of the bush. Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 400. |
| A2451.1 | Why ants carry large bundles. (See A2221.4.) |
| A2479.7 | Why ants fall upon every man. Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield 231. |
| A2584.2 | Why ants no longer live on the back of the hare. Korean: Zong in-Sob 33 No. 16. |
| A2411.1.5.1.1 | Why ape has red back. China: Eberhard FFC CXX 177 No. 119, 411 s.v. "Affenmutter". |
| A2353.1 | Why apia (bird) is flat-chested. Told wife that he was going away to dine. Was too late for his meal.—Ibo (Nigeria): Basden 278. |
| A2771.1 | Why ash-tree buds last. (See A2725.1.)—Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3222, Legends No. 324. |
| A2762.1 | Why aspen-leaves tremble.—*Fb "asp" IV 18a; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3105, Legends Nos. 203—213. |
| A2751.2.1 | Why aspen's bark is rough. (See A2734.1.) |
| A2423.1.4 | Why ass brays. (Cf. A2239.3.) |
| A2376.1.1 | Why ass does not have cloven hoof. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2356.2.7 | Why ass has cross on back (shoulders). (See A2221.1, A2239.6.)—England: Baughman. |
| A2325.3 | Why ass has long ears. Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 86 No. 58b.; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3125, Legends No. 226. |
| A2537.2 | Why ass is stupid. Jewish: Neuman. |
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