Folklore Database · Browse
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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| B390 | Animals grateful for other kind acts. |
| B360 | Animals grateful for rescue from peril of death. *Types 554, 554*, 560; *BP II 21f., 454; *Dh IV 147ff.; Chauvin II 109 No. 73; Hartland Perseus III 194; *Brown Iwain 16 and passim, 132 n. 3; Hüsing (G.) "Zum Etanamythos" Archiv f. Religionswiss. VI 178ff.; Alphabet No. 166; Wienert FFC LVI 70 (ET 338, 339), 127 (ST 353), Halm Aesop Nos. 92, 130; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 648.—Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: Boberg (B364.5).—India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Anesaki 321ff.; Ikeda; Chinese: Graham, Eberhard FFC CXX 29 No. 17; Korean: Zong in-Sob 175 f. No. 76.—Africa (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 163 No. 32; Missouri French: Carrière. |
| B361 | Animals grateful for rescue from pit. *Type 160; Chauvin I 106 No. 71; Ward II 196; Bødker Exempler 304 No. 75; *Oesterley Gesta Romanorum No. 119; Wienert FFC LVI 70 (ET 346), 127 (ST 357), Phaedrus III 2; BP IV 139f; *Moe Samlede Skrifter I 192ff.; Hilka Compilatio Singularis Exemplorum 23; Wesselski Märchen 246 No. 56.—Krappe Bulletin Hispanique XXXIX 31; Spanish Exempla: Keller; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 649.—Hindu: *Penzer V 157; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 30.—Africa: Frobenius Atlantis IX 385 Nos. 103f., (Swahili): Steere 423, (Zanzibar): Bateman 81 No. 6, (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 163 No. 32. |
| B393 | Animals grateful for shelter. Japanese: Mitford 270. |
| B576.2 | Animals guard treasure. *Fb "höne" I 750b, "hund", I 675 b (hen, dog)—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "animaux"; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 294 No. 9, 325 No. 4.—*Norlind Skattsägner 53; *Winter Deutsche Schatzsagen 54, 61; Danish: Kristensen Da. Sagn III (1895) 455ff.; (1931) 311ff.—England-U.S.: *Baughman (dog, cat, sow, goat, snake, bird, crow, raven, cock, drake, swan and night-bird). India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham (tiger). |
| B120.0.1 | Animals have second sight. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B582.2 | Animals help hero win princess. *Type 554, 559, cf. 552, 553; *BP I 134, II 21, 454 n. 1, III 425.—Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 28. |
| B544.1 | Animals help imprisoned master. India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 180. |
| B571.1 | Animals help man overcome monster with external soul. Discover where he keeps his soul.—BP I 134; Type 302.—Missouri-French: Carrière. |
| B579.4 | Animals help repair leaky pot. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B294.4 | Animals hold fairs. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B251.2 | Animals honor saint (cleric). Irish myth: Cross (B251.13). |
| B294 | Animals in business relations. |
| B270 | Animals in legal relations. **Cabanès Les animaux en justice (L'indiscretions de l'histoire, 5e serie, procedures singulières, Paris, 1920), **Lossouarn Les animaux en justice aux temps jadis (Bordeaux 1905).—Spanish Exempla: Keller; Bødker Exempler 289 No. 40, 294 No. 55.; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B7 | Animals in the heavens. |
| B251.6 | Animals keep religious precepts. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B292.0.2 | Animals leave wicked and go to pious master. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B251.10 | Animals lick Christ-child. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B251.9 | Animals make religious responses. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B530 | Animals nourish men. Provide food, shelter, or other necessities.—India: Thompson-Balys.—Zanzibar: Bateman 85 No. 6 (ape, lion, snake). |
| B251.8 | Animals observe sacred revelation. |
| B731.0.1 | Animals of strange and varied coloring. *Schoepperle Tristan and Isolt II 322 n. 1. |
| B524.1 | Animals overcome man's adversary by force. English: Wells Manual of Writings 66 (Ywain and Gawain); Irish myth: Cross; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 98 No. 327; India: *Thompson-Balys; Eskimo (Bering Strait): Nelson RBAE XVIII 493, (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 187. |
| B524.2 | Animals overcome man's adversary by strategy. Type 545; BP I 325ff., III 487 (Gr. 33a, 214).—Icel.: Boberg; Indonesian: De Vries' list No. 48.—Africa (Kaffir): Kidd 230 No. 2, (Ekoi): Talbot 233, (Basuto): Jacottet 114 No. 27. |
| B253 | Animals perform offices of church. |
| B571 | Animals perform tasks for man. *Type 554; BP I 134, II *21ff.; Köhler-Bolte I 397; *Fb "fugl" I 381a; Köhler Zs. f. Vksk. VI 71 (to Gonzenbach No. 32).—Arabian: Burton S VI 9—11.—Indonesian, Malay: Dixon 216, 217, *218 n. 23.—India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 28, 80 No. 46.—Carib: Alexander Lat. Am. 264; Chincha: ibid. 231; Quiché: ibid. 174; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Missouri-French: Carrière. |
| B251 | Animals praise or worship. |
| B251.4 | Animals pray. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B531 | Animals provide food for men. *Basset 1001 Contes III 295 (birds); *Wesselski Märchen 249 No. 57; Toldo Studien zur vgl. Littgsch. VIII 21; *Fb "hind" I 612 (deer); Alphabet Nos. 361. 636.—Irish myth: Cross, Saints' legend (Irish): Plummer cxliv (otter).—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "nourriture" (bird, dog); French Canadian: *Barbeau JAFL XXIX 15 (dog); Missouri-French: Carrière; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 328 No 17 (dragon).—Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 217, II 655, 1158; Chinese: Graham; Africa: Stanley 329, (Angola): Chatelain 129 No. 19; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen I 143, III 80, 198, Rink 227, 413, 462, Holm 84, (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 222, (Central Eskimo): Boas RBAE VI 638, (Smith Sound): Kroeber JAFL XII 176.—S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 6, (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 155. |
| B538 | Animals provide shelter. |
| B548.1 | Animals recover lost wishing ring. Grateful cat, dog, and snake compel mouse to steal it from thief.—*Type 560; **Aarne MSFO XXV 3—82; *BP II 455ff.; Dh IV 147ff.—Missouri-French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys. —Indonesian: De Vries' list No. 186; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 24ff. No. 13, 68. |
| B259.4.1 | Animals refrain from spoiling consecrated food. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B591.0.1 | Animals refuse to devour Cain to avenge murder of Abel. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B251.1 | Animals rejoice at Christ's birth. Irish myth: Cross; English: Child V 485 s.v. "joy". |
| B271.3 | Animals ring bell and demand justice. A king has a bell which petitioners for justice may ring and thus summon him. The bell is rung by a serpent which is being menaced by a turtle (or by an old horse who wishes to complain against a cruel master).—*Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 648; *Wesselski Theorie 20; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| B7.1 | Animals rule celestial spheres. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B520 | Animals save person's life. See also B540.—Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 372 n. 1 (horse).—Icel.: *Boberg; Missouri-French: Carrière; Panchatantra III 8 (tr. Ryder) 334; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 1260; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 25, 28, 31, 84; Africa (Duala): Lederbogen 76. |
| B555 | Animals serve as bridge across stream. Jewish: Neuman (snake); Persian: Carnoy 289 (ox); Burmese: Scott Indo-Chinese 274 (snake); Chinese: Werner 190 (magpie); Korean: Zong in-Sob 6 No. 2. (fish and tortoise).—India: Thompson-Balys; S. A. Indian (Ceuici): Alexander Lat. Am 304 (herons). |
| B579 | Animals serve man otherwise. |
| B570 | Animals serve men. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B251.2.1 | Animals sing in honor of a saint. Köhler-Bolte I 148; Irish myth: Cross. |
| B251.3 | Animals sing songs of praise. Jewish: Neuman (cow, cat, lion, mouse, cock, vulture, fish, frog); Irish myth: Cross. |
| B251.1.2 | Animals speak to one another at Christmas. DeCock Volkskunde XXI 52ff.; Luzel Légendes Chretiennes de la Basse Bretagne II 333; Tille Die Geschichte der deutschen Weinacht 66f.; Wossidlo Mecklenbürgische Volksüberlieferung II (1) 59, 369; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *748; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 47 No. 237; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 637. |
| B211.0.1 | Animals speak, praising God, on the night of Christ's Nativity. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B215.0.1 | Animals taught one another's language. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B561 | Animals tell hero their secrets. Do so voluntarily.—*BP II 482. |
| B831 | Animals try in vain to repair sleigh. They get unsatisfactory materials.—Type 158. |
| B521.3 | Animals warn against attack. Icel.: Boberg; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Zulu): Callaway 87. |
| B521.4 | Animals warn wife of husband's danger. Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 252. |
| B292.0.1 | Animals with human child as slave. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B773 | Animals with human emotions. |
| B200 | Animals with human traits. See in general the literature dealing with fables, with the Romance of Reynard, with the bear-fox cycle of Europe, with the rabbit fox cycle of America, etc.—Irish myth: Cross Fables: Wienert FFC LVI; Hervieux Les Fabulistes latins; Jacobs The Fables of Aesop; Jewish: Neuman; Reynard the Fox: Graf FFC XXXVIII; Bear-fox cycle: Krohn Bär (Wolf) und Fuchs JSFO VI; Dh IV; Rabbit-fox cycle: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) notes; Beckwith MAFLS XVII notes. See also Panchatantra.—Marquesas: Handy 79; S. A. Indian (Warrau): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 146, (Chiriguano): ibid. 161, 179. |
| B15.6.3 | Animals with many legs. Ipolyi Zs. f. deutsche Mythologie II 269.—Hindu: Penzer III 259 n. 1 (sarabhas); Irish myth: Cross. |
| B101 | Animals with members of precious metal (jewels). |
| B15.4 | Animals with unusual eyes. (Cf. B15.7.2.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| B15.6 | Animals with unusual legs or feet. (Cf. B19.1.) |
| B15 | Animals with unusual limbs or members. |
| B251.1.1 | Animals worship infant Jesus. *Dh II 12ff.—Alphabet No. 554.—Irish myth: Cross; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| B562 | Animals' advice leads man to wealth. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B154.2 | Ant as soothsayer. Ila of Rhodesia: Smith and Dale 396. |
| B365.2.1 | Ant grateful for preventing destruction of nest. German: Grimm No. 62. |
| B215.6.1 | Ant language. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B81.9 | Appearance of mermaid. Fb "havfrue" IV 204a; Irish myth: Cross. |
| B551.2 | Aquatic bird carries man across water. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B119.3 | Armadillo with silver plate over its forehead. S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 71. B120—B169. |
| B268.1 | Army of apes. Hindu: Keith 128; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Werner 328 (monkeys). |
| B268.5 | Army of birds. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B268.12 | Army of boars. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 819. |
| B268.11 | Army of cats. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B268.10 | Army of cows. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B20.1 | Army of half-animals, half-men. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B268.8.1 | Army of hornets. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B268.13 | Army of hyenas. Africa: Stanley 261. |
| B268.8.2 | Army of locusts. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B268.6 | Army of mice. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B268.5.1 | Army of quails. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B268.7.1 | Army of snakes and scorpions. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B268.7 | Army of snakes. India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Upoto): Einstein 121. |
| B268.9 | Army of tigers. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B268.8.3 | Army of wasps. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B731.2.2 | Artificially colored horses. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B121.4 | Ass (mule) with magic wisdom. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B133.0.1.1 | Ass alone knows where hidden wind can be found. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B292.13 | Ass as tollkeeper. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B151.1.1.2.1 | Ass carries usurer's body to the gallows instead of to the church. He has been denied burial in the church.—Alphabet of Tales No. 705. |
| B151.1.1.2 | Ass determines road to be taken. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B259.1 | Ass insists upon payment of tithes. When stolen by thieves, the ass refuses to eat for three days because the thieves' provender has not been tithed. —Hebrew: Gaster Exempla 228 No. 235; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B22.2 | Ass with human intelligence. German: Grimm No. 144. |
| B141.3 | Ass's behavior predicts the weather. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| B279.2 | Attitudes of animals toward oath. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B151.1.1.2.2 | Baalam's ass. Advises master that angel is barring the way. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| B292.1.1 | Baboon as shepherd for man. Africa (Hottentot): Bleek 44 No. 21. |
| B733.1 | Balaam's ass perceives angel. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B535.0.2 | Bandicoot (large rat) as nurse. Cares for children.—India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B712 | Barnacle goose. Goose born from barnacles.—*Chauvin VII 18 No. 373C; Fb "and" IV 12b; Hdwb. d. Abergl. s.v. "Baumgans"; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B12.1 | Basilisk hatched from cock's egg. Usually, a seven-year-old cock. Egg must lie in manure. (Cf. B11.1.1.)—*Polívka Zs. f. Vksk. XXVIII 46ff.; *Fb. "basilisk" I 53a, IV 29a; De Vries Het Sprookje 19—97; Taylor PMLA XXXVI 35ff.; Hdwb. d. Abergl. s.v. "Basilisk". |
| B12.3 | Basilisk killed by seeing own image. *Fb "basilisk" I 53a, "spejl" III 48a; Ward Catalogue of Romances III 194; Oesterley Gesta Romanorum No. 139; Hdwb. d. Abergl. I 935. |
| B12 | Basilisk. A mythical lizard or serpent whose hissing drives away all other serpents.—*Polívka Zs. f. Vksk. XXVII 46ff.; *Fb "basilisk"; *A Guichot y Sierra El Basilisco (Folklore Espaсol III 9—83); *Norlind Skattsägner 46 n. 1; Hdwb. d. Abergl. s.v. "Basilisk"; Köhler-Bolte I 133.—English: Wells Manual of Writings 105 (Prose Alexander); Jewish: Neuman. |
| B12.2 | Basilisk's fatal glance. Renders powerless or kills.—*Fb "basilisk" I 53a, IV 29a, "øje" III 1167b; Penzer VIII 75 n.l. |
| B261.1 | Bat in war of birds and quadrupeds. Because of ambiguous form joins first one side and then the other. Discredited.—Wienert FFC LVI *48 (ET 66, 67), *52 (ET 166), 134 (ST 398, 399); Halm Aesop Nos. 307, 391; Dh IV 197ff.; India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; Africa (Benga): Nassau 163 No. 21, (Ibo, Nigeria): Basden 281, Thomas 161 (hornbill), (Mpongwe): Nassau 53 No. 8 (crocodile), (Yoruba): Ellis 252 No. 3. |
| B542.1.2 | Bat rescues man from height. Bat lets him down in a spider-web basket.—N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 318 n. 151b, Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 95. |
| B788 | Bats keep fireflies to light their houses. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B240.1 | Bear as king of animals. *Fb "bjørn" IV 42b. |
| B621.1 | Bear as suitor. (Cf. B601.1, B611.1, B635.1.)—Fb "björn" IV 43a. |
| B299.4 | Bear asks boy to stay with her cubs. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B746 | Bear could formerly lift mountain. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B571.4 | Bear husks millet for man. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B611.1 | Bear paramour. (Cf. B601.1., B631, B635.) India: Thompson-Balys.—N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 345 nn. 244, 245. |
| B635.1.3 | Bear says he is boy's father; asks food. Eskimo (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 47. |
| B601.1.1 | Bear steals woman and makes her his wife. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B635.1.2 | Bear's foster child not used to sun and light. Eskimo (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 53. |
| B621 | Beast as suitor. |
| B151.1 | Beast determines road to be taken. |
| B251.4.1 | Beast invokes saint's protection. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B611 | Beast paramour. (Cf. B601.) |
| B281 | Beast wedding. |
| B96 | Beast with human head and shape of smith's bellows. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B20.2 | Beast-men in the lower world. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B20 | Beast-men. Combinations of bestial and human form. |
| B147.1 | Beasts furnish omens. |
| B147.1.1 | Beasts of good omen. |
| B147.1.2 | Beasts of ill-omen. |
| B16.0.1 | Beasts that destroy vineyards and steal fruit. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B15.4.2 | Beasts with fiery eyes. |
| B121 | Beasts with magic wisdom. |
| B582.2.4 | Bee as matchmaker. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 175f. |
| B291.4.1 | Bee as messenger from heaven to earth. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B514.2 | Bee fetches balm from heaven to restore hero's speech. Finnish: Kalevala rune 15. |
| B147.3.1.2 | Bees (ants) leave honey on lips of infant to show future greatness. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| B713.1 | Bees born from carcass of ox. Frazer Fasti of Ovid II 157. |
| B259.4 | Bees build church of wax to contain consecrated host. (Cf. A2012.1.) —*Kittredge Witchcraft 150, 469 n. 112; Alphabet No. 695.—*Loomis White Magic 65.—Irish myth: Cross. |
| B18 | Behemoth: mythical gigantic animal. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B741.4 | Bellow of bull heard over entire land. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B101.8.1 | Big ox with gold and silver in the horns. Icel: *Boberg. |
| B122.4 | Bird announces time for sunrise and sunset. Chinese: Werner 186f. |
| B122.1 | Bird as adviser. *BP II 534.—Irish myth: Cross; Greek Grote I 105; Icel.: Gering-Symons Edda-Kommentar II 226; Völsunga saga ch. 19—20 (19); English and Germanic: Wimberly Folklore in Ballads 44ff.—India: *Thompson-Balys; Tibet: Schiefner-Ralston Tibetan Tales 129; Japanese: Ikeda; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 67; Africa: Frobenius Atlantis III 244, IV 56; Am. Negro (Georgia): Harris Remus 107 No. 22, Nights 118 No. 22; S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 142. |
| B292.2.2 | Bird as domestic servant. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 526. |
| B291.1.0.1 | Bird as letter carrier. (Cf. K131.)—India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B191.6 | Bird as magician. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B291.1 | Bird as messenger. English: Child II 113n., 356—365 passim, III 4, 8, IV 412, 482, 484f., V 234; Welsh: MacCulloch Celtic 101; Irish myth: Cross; Warncke Lais der Marie de France cxxxix.; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 90f.; Marquesas: ibid. 91; Mono: Wheeler 9, 21; Mangaia (Cook Is.): Clark 142; Africa (Fang): Einstein 148, 154, (Cameroon): Gantenbein 68. |
| B535.0.7 | Bird as nurse for child. Chinese-Persian: *Coyajee JPASB XXIV 188. |
| B623 | Bird as wooer. |
| B131.6 | Bird betrays hiding-place of the Virgin. English: Child II 8.—Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 198f. |
| B131.3 | Bird betrays woman's infidelity. (Cf. B134.1.)—Campbell Seven Sages xcviii—Greek: Fox 280; English: Child II 260; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 731. |
| B122.3 | Bird can recite sacred writings. Persian: Carnoy 290. |
| B563.7 | Bird conducts navigators to landing place. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 92. |
| B238.2 | Bird council assigns coats to different birds. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B238.1 | Bird council assigns place and work to all. Eagle as judge. (Cf. B232).—Type 220. Cf. Chaucer "Parlement of Foules". |
| B143.2 | Bird describes doomsday. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B151.2 | Bird determines road to be taken. |
| B542.1 | Bird flies with man to safety. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B39.1 | Bird from paradise. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B735 | Bird gives milk. Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 102 No. 15, (Kaffir): Theal 33; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B538.1 | Bird gives shelter with wings. (Cf. B450.)—Irish myth: Cross; Günter Christliche Legende des Abendlandes 125; Singer Zs. f. deutsch. Altertum XXXV 184f.; Dunlop-Wilson History of Fiction I 428; Saintyves Saints Successeurs 134; Dh I 321ff.; Hand. d. Abergl. I 187.—Jewish: Neuman; Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 104 No. 15. |
| B143.1 | Bird gives warning. (Cf. B131.5.)—English: Child I 31ff., 37, II 206 n., 496f., III 10, IV 441, V 284; India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; Jamaica: *Beckwith MAFLS XVII 266 No. 73.—Africa (Benga): Nassau 142, No. 16. |
| B364.4 | Bird grateful for being saved from attacking serpent. Cook Islands: Beckwith Myth 269. |
| B365.0.1 | Bird grateful for rescue of its young. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B511.5 | Bird heals man. Chinese-Persian: Coyajee JPASB XXIV 185f.; Alu: Wheeler 60; Papua: Ker 103. |
| B217.5 | Bird language learned by having ears magically cleansed. Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 363 n. 2 (Athena and Tiresius). |
| B215.1 | Bird language. *Types 517, 671, 781; *BP I 322; Cox 497 n. 32; *W. Seelman "Die Vogelsprachen (Vogelparlamente) der mittelalterlichen Literatur" Jahrh. d. Vereins f. niederdeutsche Sprachforschung XIV 102f; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 86 n. 2 (Melampus); Icel.: Völsungasaga p. 45, cf. von Sydow Fеvne; Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 87 No. 90a; Jewish: Neuman; Hindu: Penzer *II 107, IV 145; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B34 | Bird of dawn. Golden plumage; three feet.—Chinese: Werner 186. |
| B147.2.1 | Bird of good omen. |
| B147.2.2 | Bird of ill-omen. (Cf. B172.)—*Hdwb. d. Abergl. s.v. "Angang" I 428; German: Grimm No. 105. |
| B131 | Bird of truth. A bird which reveals the truth. (Cf. B122, B141, B172.) —*Type 707; *BP II 380 (Gr. No. 96); *Köhler-Bolte I 118; *Fb "fugl".—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "oiseau"; Jewish: Neuman; Arabian: Burton Arabian Nights SV 245; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda.—Africa (Angola): Chatelain 153 No. 16, (Ibo [Nigeria]): Thomas 48, (Fjort): Dennett 92 No. 23, (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 78 No. 12. |
| B614 | Bird paramour. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B297.1.1 | Bird plays timpan. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B594.1 | Bird rejuvenates person. (cf. B172).—*Chauvin VI 73f. No. 239. |
| B375.3 | Bird released: grateful.—*Chauvin II 117 No. 97; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| B541.3 | Bird rescues man from sea. (Cf. B542, B450.)—*Liljeblad Tobiasgeschichte 94.—N. A. Indian (Ojibwa): Thompson CColl II 408. |
| B575.2 | Bird rests on person's shoulders. Type 709.—Scottish: Campbell-McKay No. 2 (and note 2). |
| B131.4 | Bird reveals dead rider. Calls out in human voice at seeing living woman riding behind dead man.—English: Child V 65. |
| B122.1.2 | Bird reveals druidic secrets. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B131.1 | Bird reveals murder. *Type 781; *BP I 275 n. 1; Hdwb. d. deutschen Märchens s.v. "Ibycus".—English: Child II 144, 146—155; Irish: Beal XXI 336.—Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 312, (Zulu): Callaway 219, 299, (Thonga): Junod 242, (Basuto): *Jacottet 56 n. 1.—Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 266 No. 73.—Japanese: Ikeda.—S. A. Indian (Carib): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 129, 147, (Chiriguano): ibid. 162, Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 484, (Yuracare): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 144. |
| B131.2 | Bird reveals treachery. (Cf. B133.2.)—*Type 707; *BP II 380ff. (Gr. No. 96); Köhler-Bolte I 277; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B292.2.2.1 | Bird servant to deity. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B736.1 | Bird sheds tears. (Cf. D1505.5.1.)—Spanish Boggs FFC XC 59 No. 425D.; Irish myth. Cross. |
| B151.2.0.1 | Bird shows way by dropping feathers every seven steps. —Hdwb. d. deutschen Märchens s.v. "Ariadnefaden" n. 14. |
| B151.2.0.3 | Bird shows way by singing. South Africa: Bourhill and Drake Fairy Tales from South Africa 237ff. No. 20. |
| B292.5 | Bird sings to console man. Saints' legend (Irish): Plummer cxlvi (swan); Irish myth: Cross. |
| B172.11 | Bird steals island. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B122.6 | Bird summarizes history. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B131.8 | Bird warns to hurry. Chinese: Graham. |
| B282 | Bird wedding. *RTP V 15; *Fb "ørn" III 1183b; *Hdwb. d. Aberglaubens s.v. "Vogelhochzeit"; Mélusine I 193, 287, 553; Missouri-French: Carrière. |
| B15.7.13.1 | Bird with beak of iron. Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B731.13 | Bird with changing color. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B49.1 | Bird with crocodile head. Jewish: Neuman; |
| B15.7.13 | Bird with fiery beak. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B101.1.2 | Bird with golden feet. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B101.1 | Bird with golden head. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B15.7.3 | Bird with head of gold and wings of silver. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B172.4 | Bird with magic bones and feathers. Persian: Carnoy 290. |
| B122 | Bird with magic wisdom. (Cf. A1904, B130, B211.3.)—Persian: Carnoy 291; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B15.7.14 | Bird with tail of fire. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B101.1.1 | Bird with wings of silver. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B44 | Bird-bear. Icel.: Herrman Saxo II 174ff., *Boberg. |
| B49 | Bird-beasts—miscellaneous. |
| B40 | Bird-beasts. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "ailes". |
| B41 | Bird-horse. |
| B50 | Bird-men. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B259.5 | Bird's wings drip blood when birds hear of Day of Judgment. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B252.2 | Birds (in otherworld) call at canonical hours. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B122.2 | Birds as reporters of sights and sounds. Sit on Odin's shoulder and report what they see and hear.—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 65, Krappe Etudes 29ff. |
| B563.6 | Birds as scouts. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 466. |
| B251.2.5 | Birds beat waters with wings as welcome to saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B572.2 | Birds build canoe for master. Maori: Clark 98. |
| B159.1 | Birds drop quill when man requires pen. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B147.2 | Birds furnish omens. *Frazer Fasti II 203, III 378ff.; Irish myth: Cross. |
| B501.4 | Birds give hero feather to burn if he is in difficulty. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B251.3.1 | Birds in otherworld sing religious songs. Patch PMLA XXXIII 626 n. 89; Irish myth: Cross. |
| B155.2.3 | Birds indicate the place where a town (castle) is to be built. Krappe Revue de l'histoire des Religions CXIV (1936) 236—246. |
| B251.2.9 | Birds lament saint's departure. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B787 | Birds mock ascetic's devotions. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B256.1 | Birds nest in saint's hand (cowl).—Saints' legend (Irish): Plummer cxlvi.; Irish myth: Cross. |
| B853 | Birds perch on ears of cows. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B256.1.1 | Birds perch on hands and head of saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B563.2 | Birds point out road to hero. (Cf. B151.0.3.).—E. Norden P. Vergilius Maro æneis Buch VI p. 170; Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 216 (ravens); Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B256.5.1 | Birds protect saint and serve him. *Loomis White Magic 68. |
| B131.7 | Birds reveal innocence of suspect. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B531.5 | Birds save man from hunger by pitching themselves to roast in fire he has made. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B562.1.3 | Birds show man treasure. Doves saved by monk from death show him where to dig for treasure.—Spanish Exempla: Keller; Bødker Exempler 305 No. 77. |
| B151.2.0.2 | Birds show way to otherworld. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B742.2 | Birds spit fire. English: Wells 104 (Alexander and Dindimus); Irish myth: Cross. |
| B251.2.12 | Birds take part at saint's funeral. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B122.1.1 | Birds tell a secret. Chauvin II 107.—Icel.: *Boberg, Ragnars saga ch. 9 (8) p. 134, Völsunga saga ch. 19—20 (19). |
| B540.1 | Birds throw some of their feathers to the hero in danger and he flies off. Lithuanian: Balys Index Nos. *3270, *404. |
| B521.6 | Birds warn of enemy's approach. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 390. |
| B299.5.3 | Birds weep when man cuts off his hand. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B535.0.1.1 | Bison as nurse for child. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B766.4 | Bite of white she-mule causes certain death. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B33.1.3 | Black birds destroy crops. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B172.10 | Black birds. |
| B292.6 | Black cat as servant of giant. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "chat". |
| B776.5 | Blood of animal considered venomous. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B776.5.5 | Blood of bear venomous. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B11.2.13.1 | Blood of dragon venomous. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B11.2.13 | Blood of dragon. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B776.5.2 | Blood of lion venomous. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B776.5.4 | Blood of otter venomous. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B776.5.3 | Blood of snakes venomous. (cf. B776.7.)—Irish myth: Cross. |
| B776.5.1 | Blood of toad venomous. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B16.6.2 | Blood-sucking chafer. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B17.1.2.1 | Bloodhounds decapitate victim. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B743 | Blowing serpent. Can blow through seven church walls but not through a pair of hose.—Fb "blæseorm". |
| B731.6.2 | Blue dogs and cats. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B731.11 | Blue serpent. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B256.6.3 | Boar acts as physician for holy man: licks his wounded feet. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B598.1 | Boar as confederate of adulterous wife. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B256.6.1 | Boar guards holy man's swine. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B256.6.2 | Boar makes music for holy man. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B256.6 | Boar serves saint. (Cf. B183.)—Irish myth: Cross. |
If you wish to get access to data for projects and research, then please contact us, we do our best to help
How to cite: Fielder-White, Jonathan (2026). The Folklore Database. https://folkloredatabase.com
0009-0006-1672-4451
Please cite the relevant sources, catalogues, and classification systems, including the Folklore Database, Berezkin-Duvakin Catalogue, ATU, Thompson, alongside the page accessed and the last time accessed. Please respect copyright and licenses.
Editorial annotations and database enhancements © Jonathan Fielder-White licensed under CC BY 4.0. Berezkin-Duvakin derived narrative and metadata licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Full rights information can be found here.
All rights are reserved in the database structure, selection, arrangement, metadata, classifications, software, interface design, and original editorial content.
Important: The Folklore Database expressly reserves all rights in relation to text and data mining, automated extraction, scraping, machine learning, dataset creation, and the training, development, validation, or improvement of artificial intelligence technologies or systems. No part of this website or database may be scraped, copied, reproduced, harvested, downloaded in bulk, or otherwise used for AI training or commercial data extraction without prior written permission.
Designed and Developed by Jonathan Fielder-White.
© 2024–2026 Crecganford / Jonathan Fielder-White. All rights reserved.