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Rumanian Bird and Beast Stories

by Moses Gaster

133 sections · Download EPUB

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  1. 1Epigraph
  2. 2Dedication — Preface
  3. 3Rumanian Incantations Against the Illnesses of Animals
  4. 4Introduction
  5. 5I — Why is the Bee black, and why is it making Honey? How did the B…
  6. 6I. B.
  7. 7II — Why is the Bee busy and the Spider sullen?
  8. 8III — Why is the Bee black, and why has it a Narrow Waist?
  9. 9IV — Why does the Little Worm glow?
  10. 10V — Why does the Little Worm glow?
  11. 11VI — Why does the Little Worm glow?
  12. 12VII — Why is the Wolf ferocious?
  13. 13VIII — Why do the Eyes of the Wolf glow and his Hair bristle?
  14. 14IX — Why does the Wolf run after the Devil?
  15. 15X — Why the Goat’s Knees are bare
  16. 16XI — Why did Noah get drunk?
  17. 17XII — God and the Lamb
  18. 18XIII — The Hart and the making of the World
  19. 19XIV — Why is the Fly called the Devil’s Horse?
  20. 20XV — The Devil stealing the Sun
  21. 21XVI — Why is it called the Bull-Fly?
  22. 22XVII — Why is the Saw-Fly red?
  23. 23XVIII — Why does the Saw-Fly live in Stables?
  24. 24XIX — Why is the Lady-Bird dainty?
  25. 25XX — Why does the Gad-Fly sting the Cattle?
  26. 26XXI — Why does the Fly of Kolumbatsh poison the Cattle?
  27. 27XXII — Why is there a Worm in the Apple?
  28. 28XXIII — Why are the Locusts voracious?
  29. 29XXIV — Why does the Grasshopper run to and fro?
  30. 30XXV — Another Story of the Grasshopper
  31. 31XXVI — Why does the Nun Beetle cover its Face?
  32. 32XXVII — Why is the Beetle called the Nun?
  33. 33XXVIII — Why is the Wasp the Gipsies’ Bee?
  34. 34XXVIII. A.
  35. 35XXIX — Why does the Hornet live in Smoky Places?
  36. 36XXX — Why is the Hornet so spiteful?
  37. 37XXX. A.
  38. 38XXXI — Why has the Woodpecker such a Long Beak and why does it peck…
  39. 39XXXII — Why has the Pelican a Big Pouch under its Beak?
  40. 40XXXIII — Why does the Titmouse get into the Pumpkin?
  41. 41XXXIV — Why has the Nightingale a Drab Colour?
  42. 42XXXV — Why has the Nightingale Twelve Tunes and why does the Turtle…
  43. 43XXXVI — Why is the Nightingale the Songster of the King?
  44. 44XXXVII — Why does the Thrush hide in the Tree?
  45. 45XXXVIII — Why has the Partridge a Mottled Colour?
  46. 46XXXIX — Why has the Thistle-Finch Ruffled Feathers?
  47. 47XL — Why has the Bullfinch a Red Breast and a Big Mouth?
  48. 48XLI — Why does the Hoopoe feed on Droppings?
  49. 49XLII — Why is the Wagtail called the Gipsies’ Bird?
  50. 50XLIII — Why is the Hoopoe such a Dirty Bird?
  51. 51XLIV — Why does the Cuckoo lead a Restless Life?
  52. 52XLV — Why is the Cuckoo silent in the Winter?
  53. 53XLVI — The Story of the Crow and its Ugly Fledglings
  54. 54XLVII — Why is there enmity between the Crow and the Hawk?
  55. 55XLVII. A.
  56. 56XLVIII — Why does the Heron drink only Rain-Water?
  57. 57XLIX — Why does the Kite cry in Dry Weather?
  58. 58L — Why can the Mole not come out on the High Road?
  59. 59Li — Why Has the Tortoise a Round Back?
  60. 60LII — Why have the Fish no Feet?
  61. 61LIII — Why do the Plover fly singly?
  62. 62LIV — Why does the Spider hang on a Thread?
  63. 63LIV. A.
  64. 64LV — Why has the Swallow a Forked Tail and a Red Spot on its Breast?
  65. 65LVI — Why does the Frog shrivel up at Death?
  66. 66LVII — Why does the Silkworm spin a Thin Thread?
  67. 67LVIII — Why is it right to kill a Sparrow?
  68. 68LIX — Why should the Oak Tree not boast?
  69. 69LX — Why does the Mosquito live in the Well?
  70. 70LXI — Why does the Mosquito feed on Blood?
  71. 71LXII — Why does the Fly eat the Cherry?
  72. 72LXIII — Why has the Butterfly Rings on its Wings?
  73. 73LXIV — Why does the Cricket chirp?
  74. 74LXV — Why do the Ants feed the Cricket?
  75. 75LXVI — Why do Cats and Dogs fight?
  76. 76LXVII — Why do Cats eat Mice?
  77. 77LXVII. A.
  78. 78LXVIII — Why does a Cat sit on the Doorstep in the Sun?
  79. 79LXIX — Why does the Fly settle on the Dead?
  80. 80LXX — Why is the Foot of Man arched?
  81. 81LXXI — Why has a Snake no Tail? and why do Fleas suck Human Blood?
  82. 82LXXII — Charms against Fleas and other House Vermin
  83. 83LXXIII — Charms against Bugs
  84. 84LXXIV — Why does the Cuckoo call “Cuckoo”?
  85. 85LXXV — Why does a Wagtail wag its Tail?
  86. 86LXXVI — Why has the Hoopoe a Tuft?
  87. 87LXXVII — Why does the Eagle live on Raw Meat?
  88. 88LXXVIII — Why has the Lark a Tuft?
  89. 89LXXIX — Why is the Tuft of the Lark dishevelled?
  90. 90LXXX — Why do Larks fly towards the Sun?
  91. 91LXXX. A.
  92. 92LXXXI — The Wooing of the Sister of the Sun
  93. 93LXXXII — The Wooing of a Fairy
  94. 94LXXXIII — Where did the Swan come from?
  95. 95LXXXIV — The Swan Maiden, the Bird of Heaven and the Crown of Paradise
  96. 96LXXXV — Why does the Duck feed on Refuse?
  97. 97LXXXVI — Why has the Stork no Tail?
  98. 98LXXXVII — Why has the Swallow a Forked Tail and a Red Spot on its B…
  99. 99LXXXVIII — Why Does the Swallow Live in Hot Places?
  100. 100LXXXIX — Why is the Dove a Homing Bird?
  101. 101XC — Why Does the Raven Feed on Carrion?
  102. 102XCI — Why is the Ant cut in the Middle?
  103. 103XCII — Why does the Cuckoo call “Cuckoo”?
  104. 104XCIII — Why does the Armenian love the Dirty Hoopoe?
  105. 105XCIV — The Story of the Partridge, the Fox and the Hound
  106. 106XCV — The Story of the Partridge and her Young
  107. 107XCVI — The Story of the Lark and the taming of Women
  108. 108XCVII — The Story of the Turtle Dove and its love for its Mate
  109. 109XCVIII — Why does the Wren hide himself?
  110. 110XCIX — Why is there no King over the Birds?
  111. 111C — The Story of King Log and King Stork
  112. 112CI — The Story of the Stork and Little Tomtit
  113. 113CII — The Story of the Flea and the Gnat
  114. 114CIII — The Story of the Gnat, the Lion, and the Man
  115. 115CIV — The Story of the Gnat and the Buffalo
  116. 116CV — The Story of the Town Mouse and the Field Mouse
  117. 117CVI — The Story of the Hare and the Frogs
  118. 118CVII — Why does the Buffalo walk slowly and tread gently?
  119. 119CVIII — The Story of the Pointer and the Setter
  120. 120CIX — The Story of the Rat and his Journey to God
  121. 121CX — The Story of the Seven-Witted Fox and the One-Witted Owl
  122. 122CXI — The Story of the Fox and his Bagful of Wits and the One-Witte…
  123. 123CXII — The Story of the Peasant, the Snake, and King Solomon
  124. 124CXIII — The Story of the Dog and the Snake and the cure of Headache
  125. 125CXIV — The Story of the Horse, the Lion, and the Wolf
  126. 126CXV — The Marriage of Tom and the Vixen
  127. 127CXVI — The Story of Man and his Years
  128. 128CXVII — The Judgment of the Soul of Man, accused and defended by Be…
  129. 129CXVIII — The Pilgrimage of the Soul after Death
  130. 130CXIX — The Reward of the Good Man
  131. 131Appendix I
  132. 132Appendix II
  133. 133Appendix III

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