54>6 Some Superstitions appertaining 



these occasions, that " the cat has a gale of wind in her tail." 

 There may, in this, be something better than mere supersti- 

 tion. The fur of the cat is known to be highly electrical : pos- 

 sibly, therefore, the change which takes place in the state of 

 the atmosphere, previously to a storm, may have some power- 

 ful effect on the animal's body, and elate her spirits to a more 

 than usual degree. The playfulness of the cat, therefore, 

 may, perhaps, be a natural sign of the coming weather, and 

 to be accounted for on just and philosophical principles. 



T/ie Horseshoe Superstition, alluded to by Mr. Farmer 

 [V. 212.], as practised by sailors, is not confined to men of 

 that profession ; I believe it obtains universally, more or less. 

 Hence, we continually see horseshoes nailed over the door, 

 threshold, or fireplace, &c., in cottages.* Some years ago, I 

 happened to pick up a spare horseshoe on my premises ; 

 and, thinking that it might possibly be employed again as a 

 useful shoe, I hung it loose over the top bar of a wicket-gate 

 leading from the foldyard to the orchard, in order that it 

 might be seen, and converted to whatever purpose it would 

 serve. In this position (though the gate was constantly used 

 by people passing through it) the horseshoe hung undis- 

 turbed for several years. 1 think I am within compass when 

 I say four or five at the least: indeed, it is only within these 

 few months that I have missed it ; and I dare venture to say, 

 that, had any other article, not regarded with any degree of 

 superstitious veneration, been so deposited, it would scarcely 

 have remained in the same place for as many weeks. 



Weasel. — In some parts of the country, it is looked upon 

 as an unfavourable omen for a weasel to have crossed one's 

 path t ; and ill success, on any particular occasion, is some- 



* See Brand, ii. 379. It is esteemed good luck to find old iron gene- 

 rally; and, in particular, a horseshoe. 



f Brand observes, that the meeting of a weasel is a bad omen ; also, on 

 the authority of older writers, that " it is very ill luck to have 



A Hare cross one in the Highway" 



" Nor did we meet, with nimble feet. 

 One little fearful Lepus; 

 That certain sign, as some divine, 

 Of fortune bad, to keep us." 



See Brand, ii. 518, &c., where several other curious instances of the 

 same kind are recorded ; as, e. g., that " it is accounted good luck if 



A Wolf cross our Way." The following explanation is thus given from 

 A Helpe to Discourse: — "Our ancestors, in times past, as they were 

 merry-conceited, so were they witty : and thence it grew that they held it 

 good lucke if a wolf crost the way, and was gone without any more danger 

 or trouble ; but ill lucke, if a hare crost and escaped them, that they had 

 not taken her." 



