842 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEItm, 1807. 



point, though in some hx-alities a difTcrcncc is lecognized and th(^ hitter 

 are called "elf darts," etc. 



It is no uncommon thing to hear older i)easants in rural districts in 

 France deny all knowledge of stone hatchets or arrowpoints or spear- 

 heads, for the sole reason that they do not recognize the objects by 

 these names. Let one ask for pierre de foudre or pierre de tonnerre, 

 and he Avonld receive an aftirniative answer at once, (lonseiller For- 

 nier, of Rennes, tells of a peasant wlio ])ossessed one of these stone 

 implements that he had seen come from the heavens in a Hash of light- 

 ninj;-. It struck in a neighboring field and, on his going to the i)hxce, 

 he found the hole from which he extracted this implement still hot, 

 and he had kept it ever since. 



The belief is that these objects are protection against fire, especially 

 lightning, and they are kept as protective amulets, some of the hatchets 

 being drilled, while the arrowpoints are set sometimes in silver, some- 

 times in gold. When thus arranged they are more or less ornamental 

 and are intended for j^ersonal use, though occasionally they are hung 

 at the bed head, or near it, to guard the owner during sleep. The 

 undriiled ones are placed about the house, inserted in any ledge in the 

 stones of the fireplace, on or over the mantel, or in a crack near the 

 door. 



The terms elf bolt, elf shot, or elfin arrow are applied throughout the 

 Scottish lowlands to the flint arrowhead. The Gaelic name, sciathee, 

 is sjnionymous. In Shetland and Orkney the same idea, suggested 

 there by the corresponding term, thunderbolt, is more frequently 

 api)lied to the stone hatchet. 



The elf arrow continued until a recent period to be esteemed through- 

 out Scotland as a charm against the malice of elfin Sjiirits and the 

 spells of witchcraft. Sewed in the dress or worn on the person it was 

 available for the i)rotection of the individual, and is occasionally to be 

 met with perforated or set in gold and silver, to be worn as an amulet. 



The collection of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland contains an 

 "elf dart" set in silver, which has been worn as an amulet. A flint 

 arrowhead forms the central pendant of a Greek or Etruscan gold 

 ne(;klace in the British Museum. Like other weapons of elfin artillery, 

 it was sup])osed to retain its influence at the will of the possessor, and 

 thus became the most effective talisman against elfish malice, witch- 

 craft, or the evil eye. It is popularly believed when cattle are sick 

 that they have been stricken by these fairy or elfin weapons. 



There ev'ry herd bj^ sad experience knows 



How, winged with fate, their elf-shot arrows fly, 



When the sick ewe her summer food foregoes, 

 Or streteh'd on earth the heart-smit heifers lie 



Old country people tell odd stories of this distemper among cows. 

 When elf-shot the cow falls down suddenly as if dead; no part of the 

 skin is pierced, but often a little triangular flat stone is found near the 



