Rumanian Bird and Beast Stories

About this eBook

Translator

Gaster, Moses, 1856-1939

Title

Rumanian Bird and Beast Stories Rendered into English

Credits

Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net/ for Project Gutenberg (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)

Language

English

LoC Class

GR: Geography, Anthropology, Recreation: Folklore

Subject

Folklore -- Romania

Category

Text

eBook-No.

43059

Project Gutenberg

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/43059

Release Date

June 29, 2013

Copyright

Public domain in the USA.

Contents

1. 1.Untitled
2. 2.PREFACE.
3. 3.CONTENTS.
4. 4.INTRODUCTION.
5. 5.WHY IS THE BEE BLACK, AND WHY IS IT MAKING HONEY? HOW DID THE BEE OUTWIT THE DEVIL?
6. 6.HOW DID THE BEE OUTWIT THE MOLE?
7. 7.WHY IS THE BEE BUSY AND THE SPIDER SULLEN?
8. 8.WHY IS THE BEE BLACK, AND WHY HAS IT A NARROW WAIST?
9. 9.WHY DOES THE LITTLE WORM GLOW?
10. 10.WHY DOES THE LITTLE WORM GLOW?
11. 11.WHY DOES THE LITTLE WORM GLOW?
12. 12.WHY IS THE WOLF FEROCIOUS?
13. 13.WHY DO THE EYES OF THE WOLF GLOW AND HIS HAIR BRISTLE?
14. 14.WHY DOES THE WOLF RUN AFTER THE DEVIL?
15. 15.WHY THE GOAT’S KNEES ARE BARE.
16. 16.WHY DID NOAH GET DRUNK?
17. 17.GOD AND THE LAMB.
18. 18.THE HART AND THE MAKING OF THE WORLD.
19. 19.WHY IS THE FLY CALLED THE DEVIL’S HORSE?
20. 20.THE DEVIL STEALING THE SUN.
21. 21.WHY IS IT CALLED THE BULL-FLY?
22. 22.WHY IS THE SAW-FLY RED?
23. 23.WHY DOES THE SAW-FLY LIVE IN STABLES?
24. 24.WHY IS THE LADY-BIRD DAINTY?
25. 25.WHY DOES THE GAD-FLY STING THE CATTLE?
26. 26.WHY DOES THE FLY OF KOLUMBATSH POISON THE CATTLE?
27. 27.WHY IS THERE A WORM IN THE APPLE?
28. 28.WHY ARE THE LOCUSTS VORACIOUS?
29. 29.WHY DOES THE GRASSHOPPER RUN TO AND FRO?
30. 30.ANOTHER STORY OF THE GRASSHOPPER.
31. 31.WHY DOES THE NUN BEETLE COVER ITS FACE?
32. 32.WHY IS THE BEETLE CALLED THE NUN?
33. 33.WHY IS THE WASP THE GIPSIES’ BEE?
34. 34.ANOTHER VERSION OF THE WASP LEGEND.
35. 35.WHY DOES THE HORNET LIVE IN SMOKY PLACES?
36. 36.WHY IS THE HORNET SO SPITEFUL?
37. 37.HORNET CHARM.
38. 38.WHY HAS THE WOODPECKER SUCH A LONG BEAK AND WHY DOES IT PECK AT THE TREES?
39. 39.WHY HAS THE PELICAN A BIG POUCH UNDER ITS BEAK?
40. 40.WHY DOES THE TITMOUSE GET INTO THE PUMPKIN?
41. 41.WHY HAS THE NIGHTINGALE A DRAB COLOUR?
42. 42.WHY HAS THE NIGHTINGALE TWELVE TUNES AND WHY DOES THE TURTLE-DOVE COO?
43. 43.WHY IS THE NIGHTINGALE THE SONGSTER OF THE KING?
44. 44.WHY DOES THE THRUSH HIDE IN THE TREE?
45. 45.WHY HAS THE PARTRIDGE A MOTTLED COLOUR?
46. 46.WHY HAS THE THISTLE-FINCH RUFFLED FEATHERS?
47. 47.WHY HAS THE BULLFINCH A RED BREAST AND A BIG MOUTH?
48. 48.WHY DOES THE HOOPOE FEED ON DROPPINGS?
49. 49.WHY IS THE WAGTAIL CALLED THE GIPSIES’ BIRD?
50. 50.WHY IS THE HOOPOE SUCH A DIRTY BIRD?
51. 51.WHY DOES THE CUCKOO LEAD A RESTLESS LIFE?
52. 52.WHY IS THE CUCKOO SILENT IN THE WINTER?
53. 53.THE STORY OF THE CROW AND ITS UGLY FLEDGLINGS.
54. 54.WHY IS THERE ENMITY BETWEEN THE CROW AND THE HAWK?
55. 55.CROW CHARMS.
56. 56.WHY DOES THE HERON DRINK ONLY RAIN-WATER?
57. 57.WHY DOES THE KITE CRY IN DRY WEATHER?
58. 58.WHY CAN THE MOLE NOT COME OUT ON THE HIGH ROAD?
59. 59.WHY HAS THE TORTOISE A ROUND BACK?
60. 60.WHY HAVE THE FISH NO FEET?
61. 61.WHY DO THE PLOVER FLY SINGLY?
62. 62.WHY DOES THE SPIDER HANG ON A THREAD?
63. 63.WHY ARE THE SPIDER AND THE MOUSE ACCURSED?
64. 64.WHY HAS THE SWALLOW A FORKED TAIL AND A RED SPOT ON ITS BREAST?
65. 65.WHY DOES THE FROG SHRIVEL UP AT DEATH?
66. 66.WHY DOES THE SILKWORM SPIN A THIN THREAD?
67. 67.WHY IS IT RIGHT TO KILL A SPARROW?
68. 68.WHY SHOULD THE OAK TREE NOT BOAST?
69. 69.WHY DOES THE MOSQUITO LIVE IN THE WELL?
70. 70.WHY DOES THE MOSQUITO FEED ON BLOOD?
71. 71.WHY DOES THE FLY EAT THE CHERRY?
72. 72.WHY HAS THE BUTTERFLY RINGS ON ITS WINGS?
73. 73.WHY DOES THE CRICKET CHIRP?
74. 74.WHY DO THE ANTS FEED THE CRICKET?
75. 75.WHY DO CATS AND DOGS FIGHT?
76. 76.WHY DO CATS EAT MICE?
77. 77.ANOTHER VERSION.
78. 78.WHY DOES A CAT SIT ON THE DOORSTEP IN THE SUN?
79. 79.WHY DOES THE FLY SETTLE ON THE DEAD?
80. 80.WHY IS THE FOOT OF MAN ARCHED?
81. 81.WHY HAS A SNAKE NO TAIL? AND WHY DO FLEAS SUCK HUMAN BLOOD?
82. 82.CHARMS AGAINST FLEAS AND OTHER HOUSE VERMIN.
83. 83.CHARMS AGAINST BUGS.
84. 84.WHY DOES THE CUCKOO CALL “CUCKOO”?
85. 85.WHY DOES A WAGTAIL WAG ITS TAIL?
86. 86.WHY HAS THE HOOPOE A TUFT?
87. 87.WHY DOES THE EAGLE LIVE ON RAW MEAT?
88. 88.WHY HAS THE LARK A TUFT?
89. 89.WHY IS THE TUFT OF THE LARK DISHEVELLED?
90. 90.WHY DO LARKS FLY TOWARDS THE SUN?
91. 91.THE STORY OF THE LARK.
92. 92.THE WOOING OF THE SISTER OF THE SUN.
93. 93.THE WOOING OF A FAIRY.
94. 94.WHERE DID THE SWAN COME FROM?
95. 95.THE SWAN MAIDEN, THE BIRD OF HEAVEN AND THE CROWN OF PARADISE.
96. 96.WHY DOES THE DUCK FEED ON REFUSE?
97. 97.WHY HAS THE STORK NO TAIL?
98. 98.WHY HAS THE SWALLOW A FORKED TAIL AND A RED SPOT ON ITS BREAST?
99. 99.WHY DOES THE SWALLOW LIVE IN HOT PLACES?
100. 100.WHY IS THE DOVE A HOMING BIRD?
101. 101.WHY DOES THE RAVEN FEED ON CARRION?
102. 102.WHY IS THE ANT CUT IN THE MIDDLE?
103. 103.WHY DOES THE CUCKOO CALL “CUCKOO”?
104. 104.WHY DOES THE ARMENIAN LOVE THE DIRTY HOOPOE?
105. 105.THE STORY OF THE PARTRIDGE, THE FOX AND THE HOUND.
106. 106.THE STORY OF THE PARTRIDGE AND HER YOUNG.
107. 107.THE STORY OF THE LARK AND THE TAMING OF WOMEN.
108. 108.THE STORY OF THE TURTLE DOVE AND ITS LOVE FOR ITS MATE.
109. 109.WHY DOES THE WREN HIDE HIMSELF?
110. 110.WHY IS THERE NO KING OVER THE BIRDS?
111. 111.THE STORY OF KING LOG AND KING STORK.
112. 112.THE STORY OF THE STORK AND LITTLE TOMTIT.
113. 113.THE STORY OF THE FLEA AND THE GNAT.
114. 114.THE STORY OF THE GNAT, THE LION, AND THE MAN.
115. 115.THE STORY OF THE GNAT AND THE BUFFALO.
116. 116.THE STORY OF THE TOWN MOUSE AND THE FIELD MOUSE.
117. 117.THE STORY OF THE HARE AND THE FROGS.
118. 118.WHY DOES THE BUFFALO WALK SLOWLY AND TREAD GENTLY?
119. 119.THE STORY OF THE POINTER AND THE SETTER.
120. 120.THE STORY OF THE RAT AND HIS JOURNEY TO GOD.
121. 121.THE STORY OF THE SEVEN-WITTED FOX AND THE ONE-WITTED OWL.
122. 122.THE STORY OF THE FOX AND HIS BAGFUL OF WITS AND THE ONE-WITTED HEDGEHOG.
123. 123.THE STORY OF THE PEASANT, THE SNAKE, AND KING SOLOMON.
124. 124.THE STORY OF THE DOG AND THE SNAKE AND THE CURE OF HEADACHE.
125. 125.THE STORY OF THE HORSE, THE LION, AND THE WOLF.
126. 126.THE MARRIAGE OF TOM AND THE VIXEN.
127. 127.THE STORY OF MAN AND HIS YEARS.
128. 128.THE JUDGMENT OF THE SOUL OF MAN, ACCUSED AND DEFENDED BY BEAST AND BIRDS.
129. 129.THE PILGRIMAGE OF THE SOUL AFTER DEATH.
130. 130.THE REWARD OF THE GOOD MAN.
131. 131.RUMANIAN INCANTATIONS AGAINST THE ILLNESSES OF ANIMALS. — I. — AGAINST THE ILLNESS OF POULTRY. — II. — CHARM FOR A COW AGAINST THE EVIL EYE. — III. — CHARM FOR A SUCKLING CALF. — IV. — CHARM FOR A COW AGAINST SNAKE-BITE. — V. — CHARM AGAINST EVIL EYE. — VI. — CHARM AGAINST EVIL EYE. — VII. — CHARM AGAINST WORMS IN BEASTS. — VIII. — AGAINST WORMS. — IX. — CHARM AGAINST SNAKE-BITE. — X. — CHARM IF BITTEN BY A WEASEL.
132. 132.THREE STORIES FROM ARKIR, THE RUMANIAN VERSION OF THE STORY OF AHIKAR. — I. — II. — III.
133. 133.ANIMAL STORIES FROM THE HEBREW ALPHABET OF BEN SIRA. — I. — WHY WERE FLIES CREATED WHICH LIVE ONLY ONE DAY? — II. — WHY DID GOD CREATE WASPS AND SPIDERS WHICH ARE OF NO USE? — III. — WHY HAS THE OX NO HAIR ON HIS NOSE? — IV. — WHY DOES THE CAT EAT MICE MORE THAN ANY OTHER CREEPING THING? — V. — WHY DOES THE ASS MIX HIS WATER WITH THAT OF OTHER ASSES, AND SMELL THE DUNG? — VI. — WHY DOES THE DOG FIGHT THE CAT? — VII. — WHY IS IT THAT THE DOG RECOGNISES HIS MASTER AND THE CAT DOES NOT? — VIII. — WHY IS THERE A SEAM IN THE MOUTH OF THE MOUSE? — IX. — WHY DOES THE RAVEN HOP IN ITS WALK? — X. — WHY DOES THE RAVEN MATE DIFFERENTLY FROM ANY OTHER BIRD? — 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.
134. 134.INDEX. — A — B — C — D — E — F — G — H — I — J — K — L — M — N — O — P — Q — R — S — T — U — V — W — Y — Z
135. 135.Colophon — Corrections

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