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Introduction 1

I.

Why is the Bee black, and why is it making Honey? How did the Bee outwit the Devil? 61

I. B.

How did the Bee outwit the Mole? 67

II.

Why is the Bee busy and the Spider sullen? 69

III.

Why is the Bee black, and why has it a Narrow Waist? 71

IV.

Why does the Little Worm glow? 73

V.

Why does the Little Worm glow? 75

VI.

Why does the Little Worm glow? 76

VII.

Why is the Wolf ferocious? 79

VIII.

Why do the Eyes of the Wolf glow and his Hair bristle? 82

IX.

Why does the Wolf run after the Devil? 84

X.

Why the Goat’s Knees are bare 86

XI.

Why did Noah get drunk? 90

XII.

God and the Lamb 94

XIII.

The Hart and the making of the World 95

XIV.

Why is the Fly called the Devil’s Horse? 97

XV.

The Devil stealing the Sun 99

XVI.

Why is it called the Bull-Fly? 102

XVII.

Why is the Saw-Fly red? 104

XVIII.

Why does the Saw-Fly live in Stables? 108

XIX.

Why is the Lady-Bird dainty? 110

XX.

Why does the Gad-Fly sting the Cattle? 114

XXI.

Why does the Fly of Kolumbatsh poison the Cattle? 117

XXII.

Why is there a Worm in the Apple? 122

XXIII.

Why are the Locusts voracious? 124

XXIV.

Why does the Grasshopper run to and fro? 127

XXV.

Another Story of the Grasshopper 129

XXVI.

Why does the Nun Beetle cover its Face? 130

XXVII.

Why is the Beetle called the Nun? 134

XXVIII.

Why is the Wasp the Gipsies’ Bee? 135

XXVIII. A.

Another Version of the Wasp Legend 137

XXIX.

Why does the Hornet live in Smoky Places? 138

XXX.

Why is the Hornet so spiteful? 139

XXX. A.

Hornet Charm 140

XXXI.

Why has the Woodpecker such a Long Beak and why does it peck at the Trees? 141

XXXII.

Why has the Pelican a Big Pouch under its Beak? 143

XXXIII.

Why does the Titmouse get into the Pumpkin? 146

XXXIV.

Why has the Nightingale a Drab Colour? 148

XXXV.

Why has the Nightingale Twelve Tunes and why does the Turtle-Dove coo? 149

XXXVI.

Why is the Nightingale the Songster of the King? 151

XXXVII.

Why does the Thrush hide in the Tree? 153

XXXVIII.

Why has the Partridge a Mottled Colour? 155

XXIX.

Why has the Thistle-Finch Ruffled Feathers? 156

XL.

Why has the Bullfinch a Red Breast and a Big Mouth? 158

XLI.

Why does the Hoopoe feed on Droppings? 160

XLII.

Why is the Wagtail called the Gipsies’ Bird? 161

XLIII.

Why is the Hoopoe such a Dirty Bird? 162

XLIV.

Why does the Cuckoo lead a Restless Life? 164

XLV.

Why is the Cuckoo silent in the Winter? 168

XLVI.

The Story of the Crow and its Ugly Fledglings 170

XLVII.

Why is there enmity between the Crow and the Hawk? 172

XLVII. A.

Crow Charms 175

XLVIII.

Why does the Heron drink only Rain-Water? 176

XLIX.

Why does the Kite cry in Dry Weather? 178

L.

Why can the Mole not come out on the High Road? 179

LI.

Why has the Tortoise a Round Back? 180

LII.

Why have the Fish no Feet? 182

LIII.

Why do the Plover fly singly? 183

LIV.

Why does the Spider hang on a Thread? 184

LIV. A.

Why are the Spider and the Mouse accursed? 186

LV.

Why has the Swallow a Forked Tail and a Red Spot on its Breast? 188

LVI.

Why does the Frog shrivel up at Death? 190

LVII.

Why does the Silkworm spin a Thin Thread? 192

LVIII.

Why is it right to kill a Sparrow? 195

LIX.

Why should the Oak Tree not boast? 196

LX.

Why does the Mosquito live in the Well? 199

LXI.

Why does the Mosquito feed on Blood? 200

LXII.

Why does the Fly eat the Cherry? 202

LXIII.

Why has the Butterfly Rings on its Wings? 203

LXIV.

Why does the Cricket chirp? 205

LXV.

Why do the Ants feed the Cricket? 206

LXVI.

Why do Cats and Dogs fight? 208

LXVII.

Why do Cats eat Mice? 210

LXVII. A.

Another Version 213

LXVIII.

Why does a Cat sit on the Doorstep in the Sun? 214

LXIX.

Why does the Fly settle on the Dead? 215

LXX.

Why is the Foot of Man arched? 216

LXXI.

Why has a Snake no Tail? and why do Fleas suck Human Blood? 218

LXXII.

Charms against Fleas and other House Vermin 221

LXXIII.

Charms against Bugs 223

LXXIV.

Why does the Cuckoo call “Cuckoo”? 225

LXXV.

Why does a Wagtail wag its Tail? 228

LXXVI.

Why has the Hoopoe a Tuft? 229

LXXVII.

Why does the Eagle live on Raw Meat? 231

LXXVIII.

Why has the Lark a Tuft? 236

LXXIX.

Why is the Tuft of the Lark dishevelled? 238

LXXX.

Why do Larks fly towards the Sun? 240

LXXX. A.

The Story of the Lark 243

LXXXI.

The Wooing of the Sister of the Sun 245

LXXXII.

The Wooing of a Fairy 247

LXXXIII.

Where did the Swan come from? 249

LXXXIV.

The Swan Maiden, the Bird of Heaven and the Crown of Paradise 256

LXXXV.

Why does the Duck feed on Refuse? 259

LXXXVI.

Why has the Stork no Tail? 263

LXXXVII.

Why has the Swallow a Forked Tail and a Red Spot on its Breast? 267

LXXXVIII.

Why does the Swallow live in Hot Places? 273

LXXXIX.

Why is the Dove a Homing Bird? 275

XC.

Why does the Raven feed on Carcases? 278

XCI.

Why is the Ant cut in the Middle? 281

XCII.

Why does the Cuckoo call “Cuckoo”? 284

XCIII.

Why does the Armenian love the Dirty Hoopoe? 288

XCIV.

The Story of the Partridge, the Fox and the Hound 290

XCV.

The Story of the Partridge and her Young 294

XCVI.

The Story of the Lark and the taming of Women 296

XCVII.

The Story of the Turtle Dove and its love for its Mate 299

XCVIII.

Why does the Wren hide himself? 300

XCIX.

Why is there no King over the Birds? 302

C.

The Story of King Log and King Stork 304

CI.

The Story of the Stork and Little Tomtit 305

CII.

The Story of the Flea and the Gnat 306

CIII.

The Story of the Gnat, the Lion, and the Man 307

CIV.

The Story of the Gnat and the Buffalo 310

CV.

The Story of the Town Mouse and the Field Mouse 311

CVI.

The Story of the Hare and the Frogs 314

CVII.

Why does the Buffalo walk slowly and tread gently? 315

CVIII.

The Story of the Pointer and the Setter 317

CIX.

The Story of the Rat and his Journey to God 318

CX.

The Story of the Seven-Witted Fox and the One-Witted Owl 320

CXI.

The Story of the Fox and his Bagful of Wits and the One-Witted Hedgehog 322

CXII.

The Story of the Peasant, the Snake, and King Solomon 325

CXIII.

The Story of the Dog and the Snake and the cure of Headache 327

CXIV.

The Story of the Horse, the Lion, and the Wolf 329

CXV.

The Marriage of Tom and the Vixen 332

CXVI.

The Story of Man and his Years 336

CXVII.

The Judgment of the Soul of Man, accused and defended by Beast and Birds 339

CXVIII.

The Pilgrimage of the Soul after Death 341

CXIX.

The Reward of the Good Man 346

APPENDIX I.

RUMANIAN INCANTATIONS AGAINST THE ILLNESSES OF ANIMALS.

I.

Against the Illness of Poultry 349

II.

Charm for a Cow against the Evil Eye 350

III.

Charm for a Suckling Calf 350

IV.

Charm for a Cow against Snake-Bite 351

V.

Charm against Evil Eye 351

VI.

Charm against Evil Eye 351

VII.

Charm against Worms in Beasts 352

VIII.

Against Worms 353

IX.

Charm against Snake-Bite 353

X.

Charm if bitten by a Weasel 354

APPENDIX II.

THREE STORIES FROM ARKIR.

The Rumanian Version of the Story of Ahikar 355

APPENDIX III.

ANIMAL STORIES FROM THE HEBREW ALPHABET OF BEN SIRA.

I.

Why were Flies created which live only One Day? 357

II.

Why did God create Wasps and Spiders which are of no use? 357

III.

Why has the Ox no Hair on his Nose? 359

IV.

Why does the Cat eat Mice more than any other Creeping Thing? 359

V.

Why does the Ass mix his Water with that of other Asses, and smell the Dung? 360

VI.

Why does the Dog fight the Cat? 360

VII.

Why is it that the Dog recognises his Master and the Cat does not? 362

VIII.

Why is there a Seam in the Mouth of the Mouse? 362

IX.

Why does the Raven hop in its Walk? 363

X.

Why does the Raven mate differently from any other Bird? 364

XI.

Why are there no Counterpart to the Fox and the Weasel among the Creatures of the Sea? and the Story of the Fox’s Heart and the Fishes 365

Index 369