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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| A2484.1 | Why fish come in seasonally. New Guinea: Ker 25; Tonga: Gifford. |
| A2537.1 | Why fish is stupid. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2330.5 | Why flea's face is red. Korean: Zong in-Sob 36 No. 20. |
| A2511 | Why flesh of animal is good. |
| A2479.9 | Why flies fly around ox's eyes. Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield 230. |
| A2378.2.8 | Why flies lack tail. Africa (Duala): Ebding 142ff. |
| A2545.1 | Why flies may eat anywhere. (See A2221.2.1, A2229.4.) |
| A2354.1 | Why flounder is flat-bellied. (See A2231.9.) |
| A2341.1 | Why flounder's mouth is crooked. (See A2252.4, A2231.1.2.) —Irish: Beal XXI 327. |
| A2422.5 | Why fly has no voice. Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 384. |
| A2317.2 | Why fly is bald. Dh III 11. |
| A2522.7 | Why fly is hated. Africa (Fang): Tressman 79ff. |
| A2433.5.2 | Why fly lives amid filth. (See A2239.2.) |
| A2432.9 | Why fly lives on dung heap. Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield 229. |
| A1518 | Why food is cooked. New Guinea: Ker 97. |
| A2433.4.6 | Why fowls never shut their doors at night. Africa (Congo): Weeks Jungle 379ff. |
| A2378.6.1 | Why fox has bushy tail. Virginia (negro): Smiley JAFL XXXII 361. |
| A2378.3.4 | Why fox has long tail. (See A2213.4.2.) |
| A2525.3 | Why fox is sly. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2371.4.2 | Why fox's legs are black. Am. Negro (Georgia): Harris Friends 10. |
| A2434.2.2 | Why foxes do not live on a certain island: driven out by a god. Japanese: Anesaki Japanese Myth. 252. |
| A2426.4.1.2 | Why frog croaks in wet weather. Korean: Zong in-Sob 35 No. 18. |
| A2356.2.1 | Why frog has hunchback. Dh III 42ff.—Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2345.7.2 | Why frog has no teeth. (Cf. A2239.8.)—Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2311.8 | Why frog has rough skin. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A2412.5.2.1 | Why frog is spotty all over. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2332.4.3 | Why frog's eyes bulge out. Africa (Congo): Weeks Jungle 459. |
| A2422.7 | Why frogs cannot speak. Dh III 232. |
| A2791.11 | Why fruit of date palm looks like breasts of old woman. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2791.9 | Why fruit of sago palm looks like an eye. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2552 | Why game animals are elusive. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 59, (Cavina, Tumapasa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 448. |
| A2551 | Why game is easy to hunt. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 218. |
| A2332.6.2 | Why giant lizard is blind. Chose poison instead of eyes. Dh III 21.—Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2344.2.1 | Why gnat has no tongue. (See A2236.1.) |
| A2513.4 | Why goat lives with man. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2433.3.8 | Why goat lives with men. Gold Coast: Barker and Sinclair 153 No. 29; Benga: Nassau 100 No. 7. |
| A2365.2.0.1 | Why goat's and cat's members are as they are. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1311.2 | Why God changed right hand into left. Man loses hand with which he gives devil a box on ears.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 6 No. 19. |
| A153.6 | Why gods only accept blood. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1373.1 | Why good-looking but soft, useless women attract men. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 220; cf. Kaska: Teit JAFL XXX 456. |
| A2426.2.9 | Why goose quacks. Finnish: Aarne FFC IX 6 No. 31. |
| A2345.9 | Why gorilla and chimpanzee have large teeth in mouth: punishment for neglecting possessions. Bulu: Krug 111f. |
| A2433.2.1.2 | Why gorilla and chimpanzee live in forests: punishment for neglecting their possessions. Bulu: Krug 111f. |
| A2793.5 | Why grain grows only at top of stalk (punishment for men's sinfulness). Grimm No. 194; BP III 417ff.; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3220, Legends Nos. 305—313; Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| A2793.2 | Why grain of wheat is divided. Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII. 90 No. 126b. |
| A2332.6.3 | Why grasshopper is born blind. (See A2233.4.) |
| A2491.5 | Why grasshoppers and locusts hide in day. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2531.2 | Why grizzly bear is peaceable. Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 95, (Joshua): Frachtenberg JAFL XXVIII 241. |
| A2524.1 | Why grizzly bears are pugnacious. Kaska: Teit JAFL XXX 448. |
| A2367.2.1 | Why grizzly bears have three stripes on inside of stomach. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 208. |
| A2532.2 | Why hairy caterpillar is venomous. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2332.4.1 | Why hare has deep-set eyes. (See A2239.1.) |
| A2371.2.11 | Why hare has short pair of legs. Dh III 23.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 13 No. 73. |
| A2378.4.1 | Why hare has short tail. (See A2215.2, A2262.)—Dh III 47ff.—Japanese: Ikeda; Virginia (negro): Smiley JAFL XXXII 361; Antigua: Johnson JAFL XXXIV 67. |
| A2525.1 | Why hare is deceptive. Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 375 No. 1. |
| A2411.1.4.4.1 | Why hare is grey in summer. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges (A2411.1.22). |
| A2433.3.3 | Why hare lives in bush. (See A2282.) |
| A2435.3.12.1 | Why hare never drinks from rivers or streams. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2474.2 | Why hare shakes head. Bushman: Bleek and Lloyd 65. |
| A2479.2 | Why hare skips about like a leaf. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A2325.2 | Why hare's ears are black. (See A2212.1.) |
| A2342.1 | Why hare's lip is split. (See A2234.4, A2216.3, A2211.2.)—Dh III 22f.; BP III 75 n. 1; Fb "hare" IV 201a; Types 47, 70.—Micmac: Speck JAFL XXVIII 65; Chitimacha: Swanton JAFL XXX 476. |
| A2335.2.4 | Why hare's nose is closed during sowing season. (See A2238.1.) |
| A2378.9.3 | Why hares have cotton tail. Deity rubs cotton on hare. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A2471.3 | Why hawk (vulture) hovers over camp-fire: seeks grandmother. (See A2275.5.2.) |
| A2378.5.2 | Why hawk has forked tail. (See A2216.5.) |
| A2452.3 | Why hawks put heads of mice, etc. on pile of stones. Zuсi: Handy JAFL XXXI 455. |
| A2371.2.8 | Why he-goat has shaggy legs. Braved the wolf, who tore his legs. Dh III 46. |
| A2356.2.10 | Why helldiver has flat stern. Culture hero kicked him. Menomini: Skinner and Satterlee PaAM XIII 269. |
| A2455.4 | Why hen does not know how to steal. Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 88 No. 98a. |
| A2345.8 | Why hen has no teeth. Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield 233. |
| A2477.2 | Why hen scratches in ground. Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield 233. |
| A2431.2.2 | Why heron has no nest. Congo: Weeks 220 No. 15. |
| A2332.5.8 | Why herring's eyes are red. Fb "sild". |
| A2416.7 | Why herrings have bad odor. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| A2426.1.3 | Why hog grunts. Finnish: Aarne FFC IX 4 No. 13.—Jamaica Negro: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 259 No. 51; Angola: Chatelain 215. |
| A2371.2.2 | Why hog has "toes" on back of foreleg. Mark of devil's teeth. (See A2287.1.1.) |
| A2523.1 | Why hog has evil spirit. (See A2287.1.) |
| A2381.1 | Why hog has good flesh. (See A2221.1.)—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2335.4.2 | Why hog has round snout. Creation of hog incomplete since God had to go to fire. (See A2286.1.1.) |
| A2335.4.1 | Why hog has short snout. (See A2287.1.)—Africa (Fang): Trilles 179. |
| A2433.3.6 | Why hog lives in sty. Angola: Chatelain 215 No. 36; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2477.1 | Why hog roots in ground. (See A2236.3, A2275.5.1.)—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2471.2 | Why hogs inspect one another: seek pancake. (See A2275.5.1.) |
| A2423.1.5 | Why hornbill speaks through his nose. Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield 234. |
| A2371.2.7 | Why horse has eye-like marks on forelegs. (See A2262.1.) —Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 162. |
| A2332.2.1 | Why horse has only two eyes. (See A2286.2.2.) |
| A2365.2.1.1 | Why horse's penis is long. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1571.1 | Why husband and wife shall not exchange hats. Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 117. |
| A2378.2.5 | Why hydrax has no tail. (See A2235.) |
| A2375.2.5 | Why hyena has short left hind foot. Deceived into jumping by jackal. (See A2284.6.) |
| A2433.3.4 | Why hyena stays in burrow. (See A2282.) |
| A2433.6.4 | Why iguana lives in stream. Benga: Nassau 106 No. 8. |
| A1599.5 | Why in addressing anyone the second plural should be used. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3072. |
| A1526 | Why Indians cache their meat. Chitimacha: Swanton JAFL XXX 467. |
| A1681.1 | Why Indians chew spruce gum. Loucheux: Barbeau JAFL XXVIII 256. |
| A1674.1 | Why it is not a sin for a Gypsy to steal: helpful at crucifixion. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *1638, Balys Legends No. 102. |
| A1131.0.2 | Why it rains most in the hills. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2427.1 | Why jackal cries in the night. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2317.12.2 | Why jackal has bare tail. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2356.3.2 | Why jackal has black back. (See A2218.2.) |
| A2434.1.5 | Why jackal may go everywhere. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2378.4.5 | Why jackal's tail is short. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2492.1 | Why jackals do not go in herds. Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 368 No. 18. |
| A2479.3 | Why jackals make noise at night when seeking food. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2435.3.16.1 | Why jaguars eat men. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 83. |
| A1681.2 | Why Jews do not eat pork. Jaworskij Der Urquell II 196; Fb "svin" III 676b.—Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 142 No. 23; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 1867A; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 85 No. 42; Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 85 No. 43c. |
| A1544.0.1 | Why Jews do not worship idols. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1689.13 | Why Jews keep aloof from other peoples. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1689.6 | Why Jews read and write from right to left: because of the ugly name of the king of the Jews. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *1867C. |
| A1662.1 | Why Jews smell bad. They rubbed Christ's body with garlic. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *1867A. |
| A2317.11 | Why john-crow has bald head. Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS 259 No. 47. |
| A2371.2.10 | Why kangaroo has short front legs. (See A2284.1.) |
| A2412.1.4 | Why kangaroo-rat has white band around his body. (See A2218.4.) |
| A2317.12.1 | Why kangaroo-rat's tail is not bushy. Salinan: Mason UCal XIV 83. |
| A2751.4.6 | Why kava plant is grey. Tonga: Gifford 72. |
| A2741.5 | Why khijur leaves are long and narrow: split with an arrow. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2378.9.1 | Why king-salmon is thick around root of tail. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 242. |
| A2433.4.5 | Why kingfisher lives in the air. Africa (Togo): Einstein 7. |
| A2442.2.3 | Why lapwing flies in curves. Sébillot RTP III 160. |
| A2771.8.2 | Why laurel tree is bitter. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2765 | Why leaves are evergreen. (See A2711.4.) |
| A2768 | Why leaves hang head downward. Maori: Clark 96. |
| A2435.6.3 | Why leech feeds on human blood. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2332.6.8 | Why leech is blind. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2433.6.5 | Why leeches live in water. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2332.3.1 | Why lemur has big eyes. (See A2234.3.) |
| A2463.1 | Why leopard cannot capture animal who passes him on right side. Gold Coast: Barker and Sinclair 146 No. 28. |
| A2528.1 | Why leopard is strong. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2433.3.18 | Why leopard lives where he does. Gold Coast: Barker and Sinclair 143 (woods), ibid. 153 (desert). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2433.2.3.1 | Why leopard walks alone. He killed treacherously his saviors and all animals deserted him. Milligan Jungle 99. |
| A2435.3.17.1 | Why leopards eat men. Africa (Cameroon): Rosenhuber 79. |
| A2791.2 | Why lightning spares the nut-tree. Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 91 No. 132e. |
| A2464.1 | Why lion does not attack dog. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2524.5 | Why lion is brave. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2433.3.16 | Why lion stays away from settlement. Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 382. |
| A2474.1 | Why lizard bobs head up and down. (See A2255.2, A2211.9.) |
| A2305.1.3 | Why lobster is flat. (Cf. A2213.2.4.).—Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 13 No. 2. |
| A2213.2.4 | Why lobster is shallow: insulted cattle step on it. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 13, No. 2. |
| A2434.3.1 | Why locusts live in certain Pueblo towns. Pueblo: Parsons JAFL XXXI 225. |
| A2343.1.3 | Why loon has big beak. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 209. |
| A2412.3.1 | Why louse has mark on his back. Korean: Zong in-Sob 36 No. 20. |
| A2335.2.2 | Why lynx has short, blunt nose. Kaska: Teit JAFL XXX 455. |
| A2471.5 | Why lynx squints: is looking afar at view. Ojibwa: Jones JAFL XXIX 378. |
| A2351.4.2 | Why magpie has long neck. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2344.2.6 | Why magpie has no tongue. (See A2236.4.) |
| A2317.6 | Why magpie is bald. Dh III 14. |
| A2542.1 | Why magpie is cursed. (See A2231.)—Sébillot RTP III 159. |
| A2378.7.2 | Why magpie's tail is like a chisel. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 262. |
| A1319.12.1 | Why man does not change his skin: ancient contest lost by toad, representing man, won by lizard. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1376 | Why man excels woman. Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield 236. |
| A1382.1 | Why man is fearful in the jungle. Africa: Stanley 78. |
| A1319.13 | Why man's neck is its present size. Marshall Is.: Davenport 231. |
| A2378.4.3 | Why marmot has short tail. Dh III 51. |
| A2471.8 | Why mason-wasp looks for fireplace. Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 346 No. 1. |
| A1310.3 | Why men are clothed in skin. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1315.1 | Why men become gray-headed. Dh I 314.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 6 No. 18. |
| A2861 | Why men become old. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1316.2 | Why men blink. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1319.2 | Why men lack tails. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 117 No. 72; Piegan: Michelson JAFL XXIX 409. |
| A2854 | Why men like tobacco, but spit when smoking. Adam in paradise spat upon the tobacco plant. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3242, Legends No. 338f. |
| A1422.1 | Why men may eat hares. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A1593 | Why men no longer know time of death. Custom changed when men began to repair fences with stalks when they knew they were to die the next day.—Irish myth: Cross; *Babler Sudetendeutsche Zs. f. Vksk. VII (1934) 171ff.; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3062, Legends Nos. 115-120.—Esthonian: Aarne FFC XXV 142 No. 19; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 84 No. 37. |
| A2496.3 | Why men, fish and serpents face each other in copulation. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2435.3.7.1 | Why mice eat grease and salmon. Joshua: Frachtenberg JAFL XXVIII 231. |
| A2793.8 | Why millet is red on top. Chinese: Graham. |
| A2378.8.5 | Why minivet has red tail. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2491.3 | Why mole burrows underground. Dh III 267.—Cherokee: Alexander N. Am. 64. |
| A2375.2.6 | Why mole has hand like man. Dh I 156. |
| A2332.6.5 | Why mole is blind.—(See A2239.8, A2247, A2378.1.4.) —Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 38 No. 287; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2433.3.20 | Why mole lives underground. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 38 No. 287. |
| A2375.2.7 | Why mole's "hands" are turned backward. Sinkyone: Kroeber JAFL XXXII 349. |
| A2433.3.19.1 | Why monkey has first fruits of harvest in every field. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2378.4.6 | Why monkey has short tail. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2433.3.19 | Why monkey lives in tree. Mpongwe: Nassau 68 No. 14. |
| A2362.1 | Why monkey's buttocks are red. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A2330.3 | Why monkey's face is black. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2576 | Why monkeys do not fall from trees. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2435.3.6 | Why moose eat willows. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 231. |
| A2326.3.5 | Why mountain-sheep's horns are close together. Kaska: Teit JAFL XXX 430. |
| A2462.3 | Why mouse does not defend self against cat. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2239.9 | Why mouse is crushed whenever she crosses a road: elephant's curse. Africa (Sandeh): Casati I 221. |
| A2561.1 | Why mule is sterile. Sébillot RTP II 492.—Laguna and Zuсi: Parsons JAFL XXXI 259. |
| A2351.7 | Why munia wears his crop on the back of his neck. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2794.1 | Why mushrooms are slimy. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2433.3.10 | Why muskrats live in water. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 243. |
| A2433.5.1 | Why nit lives at edge of hair. (See A2236.6.) |
| A2791.4 | Why no one can find flower of wild fig. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2761.1 | Why oak-leaves are indented. Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 91 No. 132b. |
| A2771.8.1 | Why olive is bitter. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1689.11 | Why one people is superior in power to another. |
| A1528 | Why one presents stranger with first fish caught. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 22. |
| A2317.12 | Why opossum has bare tail. Am. Negro (Georgia): Harris Remus 129 No. 27; Cherokee: Alexander N. Am. 65. |
| A2466.1 | Why opossum plays dead when caught. Dh III 236f.—Am. Negro (Georgia): Harris Remus 11 No. 3. |
| A2341.2.1 | Why opossum's mouth is large. Choctaw: Alexander N. Am. 64. |
| A1391 | Why other members must serve belly. Result of a debate between members of the body.—India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 393. |
| A2491.2 | Why owl avoids daylight. Dh III 270.—Ibo (Nigeria): Thomas 162; (Wakweli): Bender 39, 46. |
| A2435.4.9.2 | Why owl drinks no water. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2435.4.9.1 | Why owl eats no grain. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2427.3 | Why owl hoots at night. (Cf. A2426.2.17.)—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2332.6.6 | Why owl is blind by day. (See A2233.3.)—Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3140. |
| A2433.4.1 | Why owl lives where he does. (See A2229.3. steeple.)—Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 196 (away from other birds). |
| A2474.3 | Why owl shakes head. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2342.2 | Why ox has no hair on his lips. (See A2221.5.1.) |
| A2515.1 | Why ox is draft animal. (See A2252.2.) |
| A2513.5 | Why ox serves man. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2433.6.2 | Why oyster lives in salt water. Mpongwe: Nassau 62 No. 11. |
| A2778.2 | Why palm is tall. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2877 | Why palm oil is red. Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield. |
| A2320.7 | Why palm-rat has swollen head. Africa (Congo): Weeks Jungle 455. |
| A1666.2 | Why Palmyrenes have narrow eyes. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2433.4.4 | Why parrot lives in tree. Congo: Weeks 220 No. 15. |
| A2343.2.1 | Why parrot's beak is black. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2442.1.2 | Why parrots fly high. Africa (Congo): Weeks 221. |
| A2584 | Why particular animals are not found in certain place. |
| A2375.2.1 | Why partridge has pretty feet. Exchanged with peacock. (Also told of jay and flamingo.) (See A2241.)—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2375.2.2 | Why peacock has ugly feet. (See A2232.7, A2236.2.2, A2375.2.1.) |
| A2527.2 | Why peacock is vain. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 8. |
| A1655.1 | Why peasant is always busy: he is eager to produce food for all living beings. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 108. |
| A2412.1.6 | Why peccary has spots. S. Am. Indian (Yagua): Steward-Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 736. |
| A1381.1 | Why people do not fear earthquakes. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 227. |
| A2330.6 | Why pheasant's cheeks are red. Korean: Zong in-Sob 32 No. 15. |
| A2582.1 | Why pigs are plentiful. New Guinea: Ker 13. |
| A2435.3.14.1 | Why pigs feed on excreta. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2473.2 | Why pigs in mud lift their legs. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2762.3 | Why pipal leaves tremble. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2761.3 | Why plant-leaves are flat. (See A2741.3.) |
| A2771.2 | Why plantain bears but one stalk. (See A2722.1.)—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2775.0.1 | Why plants no longer reach sky. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 134 No. 90. |
| A2762.2 | Why poplar-leaves tremble. Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 90 No. 131. |
| A2376.3 | Why porcupine has only four claws. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 226, 246. |
| A2433.3.11 | Why porcupine lives in high places in mountains. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 246. |
| A2434.2.1 | Why porcupines and skunks do not live on Cape Breton Island. Micmac: Speck JAFL XXVIII 69. |
| A2793.4 | Why potatoes are hard. (See A2721.3.2.) |
| A1102 | Why powers of nature work on Sabbath. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2433.4.3 | Why ptarmigan lives in country. (See A2250.1.) |
| A2378.2.1 | Why quail has no tail. Tricks crab into pulling out tail instead of killing her. Says that gripping her neck would not hurt but that pulling tail will be fatal. Dh III 54.—Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 87 No. 90a; Jewish: Neuman, India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2476.1 | Why rabbit continually moves mouth. Zanzibar: Bateman 22 No. 1. |
| A2325.1 | Why rabbit has long ears. Chuh: Kunst JAFL XXVIII 354. |
| A2375.2.4 | Why rabbits have soft pads on feet. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 222. |
| A2330.8 | Why rail (bird) has red forehead. New Hebrides: Codrington 361. |
| A2416.5 | Why ram smells bad. Sébillot RTP II 492. |
| A2433.3.7 | Why rams live at home. Gold Coast: Barker and Sinclair 143 No. 27; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2335.4.6 | Why rat has long snout. Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield 231. |
| A2435.3.10.1 | Why rat may eat rice. Brings original rice-plant from pond. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A2317.12.3 | Why rat's tail is round and without any hair. (Cf. A2378.9.5.)—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2378.9.5 | Why rat's tail looks like a folded leaf. (Cf. A2317.12.3)—New Hebrides: Codrington 360. |
| A2523.2.1 | Why rattlesnake is dangerous. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 69. |
| A2422.6 | Why raven cannot talk. Dh III 232. |
| A2442.2.1 | Why raven claps wings in flying. (See A2218.6.) |
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