Preface 



As soon as the bird or beast became hu- 

 manized, many other influences began their 

 play ; reactions took place which sometimes 

 ended in a total forgetfulness, on the part 

 of worshippers, as to the origin of the god 

 or hero, and the relegation of the bird to a 

 symbol, or adjunct, the meaning of which had 

 become completely lost. So remote might 

 the connection become, that near and obvi- 

 ous explanations were cast aside for strained, 

 fantastic etymologies. Such was the fate of 

 the hero-demigod Cuchullaind, a form of Fion 

 of Ireland and of Vainamoinen of Finland. 

 Amongst other curious developments in forms 

 like these I offer an explanation of that 

 strangest of fancies among savage and primi- 

 tive men, the couvade ; I am not aware that 

 its origin has ever been satisfactorily pointed 

 out before. 



While a realization of the presence in the 

 ethnic mixtures of Europe and America of 



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