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 |
|---|---|
| B251.1.2.2 | Cows speak to one another on Christmas. (Cf. B215.)—Fb "ko" II 240b. |
| B251.1.2.3 | Cows kneel in stable at midnight of Eve of Old Christmas. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| B251.2 | Animals honor saint (cleric). Irish myth: Cross (B251.13). |
| B251.2.1 | Animals sing in honor of a saint. Köhler-Bolte I 148; Irish myth: Cross. |
| B251.2.2 | Fish perform races as welcome to saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B251.2.3 | Wolves lick saint's shoes. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B251.2.4 | Fly habitually buzzes when cleric returns from matins. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B251.2.5 | Birds beat waters with wings as welcome to saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B251.2.6 | Deer lick saint's tomb daily at noon. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B251.2.6.1 | Water-monsters lick saint's feet. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B251.2.6.2 | Cow licks saint's feet. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B251.2.7 | Wild animals as saint's disciples. *Loomis White Magic 63. |
| B251.2.7.1 | Fish come in great numbers to the bank of a stream in order to hear Anthony of Padua preach. *Loomis White Magic 70. |
| B251.2.8 | Sea-monster honors saint above all others. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B251.2.9 | Birds lament saint's departure. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B251.2.10 | Cow gives twelve measures of milk for the twelve apostles of Ireland. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B251.2.10.1 | Brilliantly white cow comes to be milked for infant saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B251.2.11 | Lion lies down at feet of saint. Saintyves Saints Successeurs 133. |
| B251.2.12 | Birds take part at saint's funeral. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B251.3 | Animals sing songs of praise. Jewish: Neuman (cow, cat, lion, mouse, cock, vulture, fish, frog); Irish myth: Cross. |
| B251.3.1 | Birds in otherworld sing religious songs. Patch PMLA XXXIII 626 n. 89; Irish myth: Cross. |
| B251.4 | Animals pray. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B251.4.1 | Beast invokes saint's protection. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B251.4.1.1 | Wild beast seeks protection of saint against hunters. *Loomis White Magic 61f. |
| B251.5 | Animals fast. Irish myth: Cross (B251.4). |
| B251.6 | Animals keep religious precepts. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B251.7 | Animal makes religious oath. |
| B251.7.1 | Wolf swears by God. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B251.8 | Animals observe sacred revelation. |
| B251.8.1 | Singing of birds ceases at time of revelation. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B251.9 | Animals make religious responses. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B251.10 | Animals lick Christ-child. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B252 | Animal churchmen. |
| B252.1 | Animal monks. Irish: Plummer Vitae Sanctorum Hiberniae cxli.; Irish myth: Cross. |
| B252.2 | Birds (in otherworld) call at canonical hours. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B252.3 | Priest of snakes. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B253 | Animals perform offices of church. |
| B253.1 | Snakes have mass. Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 310 No. 34. |
| B253.2 | Wolves have annual (church) feast. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B253.3 | Fox fasts as penance. (cf. B251.4.)—Irish myth: Cross. |
| B253.4 | Spider performs penance. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B253.5 | The deer with a cross carried between their horns. *Loomis White Magic 61. |
| B253.6 | Deer with candles on the tops of their antlers. *Loomis White Magic 61. |
| B255 | Miracle wrought for animal. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B256 | Animal as servant of saint. (Cf. B292.)—*Loomis White Magic 63; Irish myth: Cross; Irish: Plummer cxliiff. |
| B256.0.1 | Animal deluded by saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B256.1 | Birds nest in saint's hand (cowl).—Saints' legend (Irish): Plummer cxlvi.; Irish myth: Cross. |
| B256.1.1 | Birds perch on hands and head of saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B256.2 | St. Anthony's pigs. Pigs dedicated to saint held sacred.—Italian. Novella: Rotunda. |
| B256.3 | Deer makes its horns available as a bookholder to a saint. *Loomis White Magic 61. |
| B256.3.1 | Deer furnish bier and bear saint's corpse to church. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B256.4 | Domesticated wolves. *Loomis White Magic 60. |
| B256.4.1 | Wolves guard saint's cattle like watchdogs when he is absent. *Loomis White Magic 59. |
| B256.5 | Obedience of the feathered creatures to the commands of saint. *Loomis White Magic 67f. |
| B256.5.1 | Birds protect saint and serve him. *Loomis White Magic 68. |
| B256.6 | Boar serves saint. (Cf. B183.)—Irish myth: Cross. |
| B256.6.1 | Boar guards holy man's swine. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B256.6.2 | Boar makes music for holy man. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B256.6.3 | Boar acts as physician for holy man: licks his wounded feet. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B256.7 | Tiger sweeps temple for saint. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B256.8 | Saint's prayer causes wolf to bring back child. Saintyves: Saints Successeurs 129. |
| B256.9 | Stags plow for saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B256.10 | Fly, wren, fox live with cleric. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B256.11 | Wolf returns sheep stolen from saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B256.12 | Whale raises back so that voyaging clerics can land to celebrate. Easter Irish myth: Cross. |
| B257 | Animal funeral. *Type 2021; *BP II 146 (Gr. No. 80). |
| B259 | Miscellaneous religious animals. |
| 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. |
| B259.2 | Sabbath-keeping cow. Refuses to work on Sabbath.—Jewish: Bin Gorion Born Judas II 92, *342; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B259.3 | Hog will not accept food from excommunicated men. Alphabet No. 312. |
| 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. |
| B259.4.1 | Animals refrain from spoiling consecrated food. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B259.5 | Bird's wings drip blood when birds hear of Day of Judgment. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B260 | Animal warfare. Wienert FFC LVI 48 (ET 64—68). |
| B260.1 | Two groups of animals make peace treaty. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 213 No. 1 (18); Shuswap: Teit JE II 658f. |
| B261 | War of birds and quadrupeds. *Type 222; BP II 435 (Gr. No. 102); *Dh III 3ff., 226, IV 197ff.—Crane Vitry No. 153; Scala Celi No. 417. Japanese: Ikeda. —Africa: Frobenius Atlantis VIII 253, IX 115, XI 128. |
| 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. |
| B261.1.1 | Tame elephant not accepted by wild brethren. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B262 | War between domestic and wild animals. *Type 104; *BP I 425.—Japanese: Ikeda. |
| B263 | War between other groups of animals. |
| B263.1 | War between toads and frogs. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "crapauds". |
| B263.2 | War between elephants and ants. Indonesian: De Vries's list No. 132. |
| B263.3 | War between crows and owls.—Spanish Exempla: Keller; Hindu: Penzer V 98—113.—Panchatantra III intr. (tr. Ryder) 291ff; Bødker Exempler 293 No. 52. |
| B263.4 | War between birds and reptiles. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B263.5 | War between groups of birds. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B263.5.1 | War between birds and eagle. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B263.6 | War of monkeys and grasshoppers. Chinese: Graham. |
| B263.7 | War between serpents and storks. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B263.8 | War between lion and other animals. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B264 | Single combat between animals. Wienert FFC LVI 48.—Indonesia: De Vries's list No. 116.—Icel.: *Boberg; Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B264.1 | Fight between animal and houndpack. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B264.2 | Fight between eagle and fish. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B264.3 | Duel of buffalo and tiger. Buffalo arms self.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B264.4 | Fight between snake and millipede. Chinese: Eberhard 32 No. 18. |
| B264.5 | Fight between ape and tortoise. Africa (Togo): Einstein 15f. |
| B265 | Animals continually rend each other. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B266 | Animals fight. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B266.1 | Thirsty cattle fight over well. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B267 | Animal allies. (Cf. A2493.) |
| B267.1 | Alliance of dog and wolf. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B267.2 | Alliance of sheep and dog. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B267.3 | Alliance of raven and crow. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B267.4 | Alliance of cock and seafowl. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B268 | Animal soldiers. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B268.1 | Army of apes. Hindu: Keith 128; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Werner 328 (monkeys). |
| B268.2 | Cavalry of dogs. Chauvin VII 40 No. 153. |
| B268.2.1 | War-dogs. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B268.3 | War-elephants. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B268.4 | Sorcerer's army of magic animals. Icel.: Þiðriks saga II 271, *Boberg. |
| B268.5 | Army of birds. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B268.5.1 | Army of quails. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B268.6 | Army of mice. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B268.7 | Army of snakes. India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Upoto): Einstein 121. |
| B268.7.1 | Army of snakes and scorpions. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B268.8 | Insect army. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B268.8.1 | Army of hornets. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B268.8.2 | Army of locusts. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B268.8.3 | Army of wasps. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B268.9 | Army of tigers. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B268.10 | Army of cows. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B268.11 | Army of cats. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B268.12 | Army of boars. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 819. |
| B268.13 | Army of hyenas. Africa: Stanley 261. |
| 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. |
| B270.1 | Lawsuit between the owl and kite. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B270.2 | Lawsuit between owl and mouse. Africa. (Wakweli): Bender 38. |
| B271 | Animals as plaintiffs. |
| B271.1 | Parrot and sparrow argue right to inherit property left by man. Sparrow says his interests are the same as man's; parrot says that he caused all man's wealth, since man sold his feathers. People's decision for parrot.—Africa (Fang): Nassau 237 No. 5. |
| B271.2 | Grain as damages for injury to cat. Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 294 No. 10. |
| 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. |
| B272 | Animals as defendants in court. **Jacoby Zs. f. Vksk. XXIII (1913) 184. |
| B272.1 | Lawsuit against animals. *Saintyves RTP XXVII 155. |
| B272.2 | Animal tried for crime. *Evans (E.P.) The criminal Prosecution and Capital punishment of Animals (New York 1926), von Amira (K). Tierstrafen und Tierprozesse (Innsbruck, 1891); *Mittheilungen d. Instituts f. öster. Geschichtsforsch. XII (1891) 545; *H. A. Berkenhoff Tierstrafe, Tierbannung und rechtsrituelle Tiertötung im Mittelalter (Strassburg 1937, diss.); Fb "stævne". |
| B272.2.1 | Horse tried for crime. *Howey Horse in Magic and Myth 215ff. |
| B274 | Animal as judge. Africa: Milligan 98. (See all references to J1172.3. and J1130. Cleverness in law court.) |
| B275 | Animal punished. Wesselski Nasreddin I 208 No. 11, II 186 No. 356.—*Von Amira Tierstrafen und Tierprozesse (Innsbruck, 1891); Jewish: Neuman. |
| B275.1 | Animal executed for crime. *Frazer Old Testament III 415—445; *Wesselski Märchen 231; **Evans The Criminal Prosecution and Capital Punishment of Animals (New York, 1906); Grimm Rechtsaltertümer II 235; Sébillot France III 27; Wilken Verspreide Geschriften IV 181ff.; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B275.1.1 | Horse executed for crime. *Howey Horse in Magic and Myth 215ff. |
| B275.1.2 | Fox executed for thefts. Nouvelles Récréations No. 29. |
| B275.1.3 | Wolf executed for thefts. |
| B275.1.3.1 | Man hangs wolf who has eaten sheep left in his charge. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| B275.1.3.2 | Wolves and wild pigs condemned to death in lion's court for killing and eating sheep. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| B275.2 | Excommunication of animal. *Saintyves RTP XXVII 155. |
| B275.3 | Animals eating corpse of holy man die. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B275.4 | Animal's revenge for being criticized by a bird: nest destroyed. —India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B276 | Animal jury. Africa (Baukon): Ittman 89f. |
| B278 | Captured animal ransoms self. *Type 159; Chauvin VI 147 No. 304, VIII 148 No. 146 note 1.—India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B279 | Covenant with animals. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B279.1 | Saint makes covenant with wolves. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B279.2 | Attitudes of animals toward oath. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B280 | Animal weddings. RTP V 16, VIII 552, JAFL XXXV 392ff.—Japanese: Anesaki 334f.; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B281 | Beast wedding. |
| B281.1 | Wedding of fox and hyena. Fox refuses to marry hyena, since, according to belief, hyena yearly changes sex.—Wienert FFC LVI 62 (ET 251), 131 (ST 376, 401); Halm Aesop No 405. |
| B281.2 | Wedding of mouse. (See B284.1.1.) |
| B281.2.1 | Wedding of mouse and weasel. Estonian: Neus Esthnische Volkslieder 352 No. 98C; Greek: Passow Pop. Carmina Graeciae Recentioris 458 No. 623. |
| B281.2.2 | Wedding of mouse and cockroach. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B281.3 | Wedding of wolf. Slavic: Wenzig Westslavischer-Märchenschatz 242ff. (goat); Wendish: Haupt-Schmaler Volkslieder der Wenden I 386 (goat); Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *91; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B281.4 | Wedding of lynx. Lettish: Ulmann Lettische Volkslieder 136 No. 431 (marten), Baton Chansons nationales latviennes I (Riga 1922) No. 2685 (marten). |
| B281.5 | Wedding of marten. (See B281.4.) |
| B281.6 | Wedding of pig. Rhaetian: Decurtins "Eine rätoromanische Ballade" Schweizerisches Archiv f. Vksk. XX 93f. (mole). |
| B281.7 | Wedding of ass. French: Arnaudin Chants pop. de la Grande-Lande I 365ff. |
| B281.8 | Wedding of squirrel. French: Mélusine I (1878) 287 (ant). |
| B281.9 | Wedding of cat. (See B282.4.2.) |
| B281.9.1 | The cat as vixen's husband. Frightens the other wild animals invited by the vixen. (Cf. K2324.)—Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *103A. |
| B281.10 | Wedding of monkey. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B281.11 | Wedding of rat. |
| B281.11.1 | Wedding of rat and cockroach. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B282 | Bird wedding. *RTP V 15; *Fb "ørn" III 1183b; *Hdwb. d. Aberglaubens s.v. "Vogelhochzeit"; Mélusine I 193, 287, 553; Missouri-French: Carrière. |
| B282.1 | Wedding of turkey and peacock. All birds invited except eagle. This omission starts great conflict.—*Type 224; *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XII 169. |
| B282.2 | Wedding of eagle with another bird. Wendish: Haupt-Schmaler Volkslieder der Wenden II 144 No. 194 (kite). |
| B282.2.1 | Wedding of eagle and kite. Kite promises to secure ostrich as attendant. Fails and is put to shame.—Wienert FFC LVI 62 (ET 250), 100 (ST 139); Thiele Der lateinische äsop des Romulus 96. |
| B282.3 | Wedding of lark and another bird. |
| B282.3.1 | Wedding of lark and nightingale. German: Wossidlo Mechlenbürgische Volksüberlieferungen II (1) 255 No. 1675; Lettish: Baton Chansons nationales latviennes (Riga 1922) No. 2696. |
| B282.3.2 | Wedding of lark and cuckoo. French: Perroud RTP V 15. |
| B282.3.3 | Wedding of lark and sparrow. French: Tiersot RTP I 3f. |
| B282.3.4 | Wedding of lark and pigeon. French: Lembert Chants et Chansons du Languedoc I 332. |
| B282.3.5 | Wedding of lark and spotted woodpecker. Lettish: Andrejanoff Lettische Volkslieder 45 No. 134. |
| B282.3.6 | Wedding of lark and finch. French: Daymard Vieux chants recueilles en Quercy 106ff., Kuhff Les Enfantines 178, Lambert Chants et Chansons du Languedoc I 327ff.; Catalonian: Mila y Fontanals Romancerillo Catalán 398f. |
| B282.4 | Wedding of owl. |
| B282.4.1 | Wedding of owl and another bird. French: Arnandin Chants pop. de la Grande-Lande I 350ff. (goat-sucker); Slavic: Herder Stimmen der Völker (Slavische Lieder No. 23) (wren). |
| B282.4.2 | Wedding of owl and cat. English: Mother Goose rhymes. |
| B282.5 | Wedding of finch with another bird. (Cf. B285.1.)—French: Rolland Faune Populaire de la France II 180ff. (greenfinch), 182ff. (goldfinch); Canadian: Gagnon Chansons pop. du Canada 279ff. |
| B282.6 | Wedding of goldfinch with another bird. French: Rolland Faune pop. de la France II 182ff. (finch), Bladé poésies pop. de la Gascogne III 104ff. (finch); Ukranian: Chodzko Les chants historiques de l'Ukraine 12f. No. 10. |
| B282.7 | Wedding of bullfinch with another bird. Russian: Ralston Songs of the Russian People 11f. (quail). |
| B282.8 | Wedding of titmouse with another bird. French: Wallonia V (1897) 138f. (cuckoo); Prussian: Frischbier Zehn Masurische Volkslieder 69. |
| B282.9 | Wedding of wren with another bird. Slavic: Herder Stimmen der Völker (Slawische Lieder No. 23) (owl); English: FLJ I 166 (robin), Eckenstein Comparative Studies in Nursery Rhymes (London 1906) (robin); French: Kuhff Les Enfantines 345ff., Mélusine I (1878) 193f. |
| B282.10 | Wedding of sparrow and another bird. French: Tiersot RTP I 3f. (lark); Bukovina: Kaindl Zs. f. Vksk. VII (1897) 427 (jackdaw).—Waldbrühl Slawische Balalaika 302.—Japanese: FLR I 131ff. |
| B282.11 | Wedding of blackbird with another bird. German: Grüner Uber die ältesten Sitten u. Gebräuche der Egerländer (ed. A. John) 82f., (starling), Vorpahl Deutsche Volkslieder zur Guitarre (Sammlung I, 1915) (bullfinch), Deutsche Volkslieder Archiv (MS. Freiburg im Breisgau and University of Chicago) Nos. A74020, A72356, A63272, A93372. |
| B282.12 | Wedding of thrush with another bird. German: Hainhoferi Lautenbücher II 130ff., Norrenberg Beiträge zur Localgeschichte des Niederrheins IV 102, Frischbier-Sembrzychi Hundert ostpreussische Volkslieder 52f. No. 32. |
| B282.13 | Wedding of woodpecker with another bird. Estonian: Neus Esthnische Volkslieder 351f. No. 98B. |
| B282.14 | Wedding of magpie with another bird. German: Hoffman-Richter Schlesische Volkslieder 75f., Haupt-Schmaler Volkslieder der Wenden (Pt. I) 256 No. 273 (raven); Lettish: Baton Chansons nationales latviennes (Riga 1922) No. 2684 (wagtail). |
| B282.15 | Wedding of heathcock with another bird. German: Blätter für pommersche Volkskunde IX (1901) 42f.; Lettish: Baton Chansons nationales latviennes (Riga 1922) No. 2691. |
| B282.16 | Wedding of raven with another bird. Danish: Nyerups Udvalg II 97ff.; Grüner-Nielsen Danske Skæmteviser I 34f. No. 15 (crane); Wendish: Haupt-Schmaler Volkslieder der Wenden I 256f. No. 273 (magpie). |
| B282.17 | Wedding of quail with another bird. Russian: Ralston Songs of the Russian People 11f. (bullfinch). |
| B282.18 | Wedding of hoopoe with another bird. Slavic: Wenzig Westslav. Märchenschatz 241; Czech.: Walda Böhmische Granaten 132 No. 163 (jay). |
| B282.19 | Wedding of cuckoo with another bird. French: Perroud RTP V 15 (lark), Wallona (V 1897) 138f. (titmouse). |
| B282.20 | Wedding of pigeon with another bird. French: Lambert Chants et Chansons de Languedoc I 332 (lark), Soleville Chants pop. du Bas-Quercy 303ff. (falcon). |
| B282.21 | Wedding of cock and hen. German: Blätter für pommersche Volkskunde IX (1901) 43ff. |
| B282.22 | Wedding of crow and titmouse. |
| B282.22.1 | Crow refuses to marry titmouse, since she is 100 years old. Type 244**. |
| B282.23 | The courtship of the stork and the crane. Go a-courting one another across the marshes but never come to an understanding, as each time either one or the other changes his mind. (Cf. T91.)—Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *223; Russian Andrejev No. *244 I. |
| B283 | Wedding of fish. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B283.1 | Wedding of crab. Bulgarian: Rosen Bulgarische Volksdichtungen 232 (frog); Roumanian: Schuller Romänische Volkslieder 34ff. (toad). |
| B283.2 | Wedding of carp. Chinese: JAFL VIII 189f. |
| B284 | Wedding of amphibians. |
| B284.1 | Wedding of frog. (See B283.1.) |
| B284.1.1 | Wedding of frog and mouse. ("Frog went a-courtin'").—United States: JAFL XXVI 134f., XXV 392—399 No. 138, Cox Folksongs of the South 470ff. No. 162, Scarborough On the Trail of Negro Folksongs 46ff., Pub. Texas Folklore Soc. V 5—48; English: Williams Folksongs of the upper Thames 133f.; Welsh: Journ. Welsh Folksong Soc. I (IV) 178 No. 18. |
| B284.2 | Wedding of toad. Bulgarian: Rosen Bulgarische Volksdichtungen 233. (See also B283.1.) |
| B285 | Wedding of insects. |
| B285.1 | Wedding of ant. (See B281.8.)—Revue des Langues Romanes 2e Ser. IV (1877) 27ff. (louse); Rhaetian: Decurtins "Rätoromanische Christomatie" Romänische Forschungen XXVII (1910) 182f. (grasshopper); French: Arnaudin Chants pop. de la Grande-Lande I 345ff. (finch); Italian: Nigra Canti pop. de Piemonte No. 127 (cricket), *Zs. f. Vksk. XII 167f., 169n. 2 (grasshopper). |
| B285.2 | Wedding of cricket. (See B285.1.)—Lettish: Andrejanoff Lettische Volkslieder 39 No. 115. |
| B285.3 | Wedding of grasshopper. (See B285.1.) |
| B285.4 | Wedding of fly. Danish: Abrahamson, Nyerup, og Rahbek Udvalgte Danske Viser (II) 104f. No. 40 (horsefly); German: Hoffmann-Richter Schlesische Volkslieder 71f., Jungbauer Bibliographie d. deutschen Volksliedes in Böhmen 31 (beetle); Zs. f. Vksk. XXII 421. |
| B285.5 | Wedding of flea. French: Bladé Poésies pop. de la Gascogne III 291ff., Soleville Chants pop. du Bas-Quercy 310ff.; Spanish: Marín Cantos pop. Espaсoles I 74ff. |
| B285.6 | Wedding of butterfly. French: Kuhff Les Enfantines 174, RTP V 16f, Bujeaud Chants de l'Ouest I 38. |
| B285.7 | Wedding of wasp. RTP VIII 552 (hornet). |
| B285.8 | Wedding of cockroach and rat. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B286 | Plant wedding. |
| B286.1 | Wedding of garlic and onion. Lettish: Andrejanoff Lettische Volkslieder 39 No. 116. |
| B290 | Other animals with human traits. |
| B290.1 | Swine march like soldiers. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| B291 | Animal as messenger. Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: Koch-Grünberg Indianermärchen aus N. A. No. 33.—African: de Clerq Anthropos IV 451, (Fjort) Dennett 123. |
| B291.0.1 | Animal tried out as messenger. Hen (cock) the only one successful.—Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 188. No. 27, (Kaffir): Theal 63. |
| B291.0.2 | Unwelcome bird (insect) proves to be messenger. *Jochelson JE VI 373 No. 16. |
| 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. |
| B291.1.0.1 | Bird as letter carrier. (Cf. K131.)—India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B291.1.1 | Raven as messenger. |
| B291.1.1.1 | Ravens carry message to enemies. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B291.1.1.2 | Raven as devil's messenger. *Fb "ravn" III 21b. |
| B291.1.2 | Crow as messenger. India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 567. |
| B291.1.3 | Dove as messenger. Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 76. |
| B291.1.4 | Falcon as messenger. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B291.1.5 | Goose as messenger. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B291.1.6 | Parrot as messenger. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B291.1.7 | Heron as messenger. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 630. |
| B291.1.8 | Vulture as messenger. Africa (Upoto): Einstein 144; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B291.1.9 | Eagle as messenger. Africa (Upoto): Einstein 144; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B291.1.10 | Hawk as messenger. Africa (Pooloki): Einstein 105. |
| B291.1.11 | Swallow as messenger. Chinese: Eberhard 58. |
| B291.1.12 | Pigeon as messenger. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B291.2 | Domestic beast as messenger. |
| B291.2.1 | Horse as messenger. Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B291.2.2 | Dog as messenger. Icel.: ASB XVII 91; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B291.3 | Wild beast as messenger. |
| B291.3.1 | Fox as messenger. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B291.3.2 | Hare (rabbit) as messenger. |
| B291.3.2.1 | Hares carry taxes to court. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B291.4 | Other animals as messenger. |
| B291.4.1 | Bee as messenger from heaven to earth. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B291.4.2 | Snake as messenger. India: Thompson-Balys. |
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.