26o 



Bird Legends. 



some parts of Westphalia to leave the whi- 

 tlows open day and night in summer, in 

 order that the birds may have undisturbed 

 access. 



In olden days, at the time when the 

 swallows were expected, a solemn proces- 

 sion was formed by the whole household 

 to the gate of the farm; then, at the first 

 glimpse of the welcome visitors, the barn 

 door was joyfully thrown open for them. 

 It was believed that the swallows took a 

 great interest in domestic affairs, and ex- 

 amined everything closely on their arrival. 

 If they found untidiness and mismanage- 

 ment, they sang: 



" Boxes and chests were full when away we went, 

 Now we are back, they are empty; all is spent." 



Various ceremonies must be performed 

 the first time of beholding a swallow. In 

 the Neu Mark, the person must wash his 

 face, to preserve it from sunburn during 

 the year. In Tyrol, he must stop directly, 

 and dig with his knife below his left foot; 

 he will then find a coal in the ground which 

 will cure ague. When the swallows have 

 been constant to one nest for seven years, 

 they leave behind them a small stone of 

 great healing properties, especially for dis- 

 eases of the eyes. 



Tyrolese peasants of the Unter Valley 

 say that the wondrous magic root which 

 opens all doors and fastenings, may be ob- 

 tained as follows: A swallow's nest is bound 

 round with strong string, so as effectually 

 to close the opening. Then the old swal- 

 low comes with the root, opens the nest, 

 and lets the root fall. In another part of 

 Tyrol the same story is told of the wood- 

 pecker. 



The natives of Lippe Detmold have not 

 quite such a favorable opinion of the swal- 

 lows as their neighbors. They hold that 

 no calves can be reared where swallows 

 build; and in Westphalian villages one 

 sometimes hears that a cow gives blood 

 instead of milk, if a swallow chances to fly 

 under her. 



Killing a swallow is a crime which brings 

 its own punishment; but the penalty varies. 

 In the Pusterthal, Swabia, and the Lech- 

 rian, the slayer will have misfortunes with 

 his cattle, for the cows will give red milk. 

 At Nauders, in Tyrol, the criminal will 

 lose his father or mother, and in the neigh- 

 boring Telfs, "the heavens will open," /. c, 

 it will lighten. In the Ober Inn Valley, 

 the murderer's house will be burned down; 

 and at Sarsans, in the Oetz Valley, the de- 

 struction or removal of a swallow's nest 

 will cost the life of the best cow of the 

 herd. The Westphalians say that the 

 slaughter of a swallow causes four weeks' 

 rain; and, if they are driven away, all the 

 vegetables in the garden will be cut off by 

 the frost. 



Whoever bids farewell to the swallows 

 at their autumnal departure will be free 

 from chilblains through the winter. 



Swallows also have the gift of prophecy. 

 In some parts of Westphalia, the peasants 

 tell you to look under your feet on the ap- 

 pearance of the first swallow, for if there 

 should chance to be a hair, it will be of the 

 same color as that of your future wife. A 

 flight of swallows over a house in the Un- 

 ter Inn Valley signifies a death. 



The crossbill and the robin are likewise 

 looked on as lucky birds. Everybody 

 knows the pretty legends concerning both 

 birds, and how the one is supposed to have 

 crossed his bill, and the other reddened his 

 breast, by endeavoring to pluck out the 

 nails which fastened our Lord to the Cross. 

 In Spain a somewhat similar act of piety is 

 attributed to the nightingale and goldfinch: 



" When Christ for us on Golgotha, 

 Gave us His latest breath, 

 The nightingale and goldfinch sang 

 The mournful song of death." 



In the Harz Mountains, and in Tyrol, 

 the crossbill is highly valued, as it is be- 

 lieved that this bird will take to itself dis- 

 eases which would otherwise befall the 

 family. He has possessed this virtue ever 



