8 BIRDS IN LEGEND 



no such irregular habits as gave rise to the myths and 

 superstitions clustering about that bird in Europe. 



We saw a moment ago that the negro farmer estimated 

 what the yield of his field would be by the direction from 

 which the dove's message came to his ears. I have an- 

 other note that if one hears the first mourning-dove of 

 the year above him he will prosper: if from below him 

 his own course henceforth will be down hill. 



This matter of direction whence (and also of number) 

 is of vital importance in interpreting bird-prophecy the 

 world over, as will be fully shown in a subsequent 

 chapter. Even in parts of New England it is counted 

 "unlucky" to see two crows together flying toward the 

 left — a plain borrowing from the magpie-lore of Old 

 England. In the South it is thought that if two quails 

 fly up in front of a man on the way to conclude a bargain 

 he will do well to abandon the intended business. Break 

 up a killdeer's nest and you will soon break a leg or arm 

 — and so on. 



There always have been persons who were much dis- 

 turbed when a bird fluttered against a closed window. 

 A rooster crowing into an open house-door foretells a 

 visitor. The plantation darkies of our Southern States 

 believe that when shy forest-birds come close about a 

 dwelling as if frightened, or, wandering within it, beat 

 their wings wildly in search of an exit, so some soul will 

 flutteringly seek escape from that house — and "right 

 soon." Similar fears afflict the timid on the other side 

 of the globe. On the contrary, and more naturally, it is 

 esteemed among us an excellent omen when wild birds 

 nest fearlessly about a negro's or a mountaineer's cabin. 



When a Georgia girl first hears in the spring the plain- 

 tive call of returning doves she must immediately attend 



