SUPERSTITIONS REGARDING THE CUCKOO. 347 



in my parish are much afraid of the cry of certain birds, for 

 that of the cuckoo in particular. They conceive it to cause 

 them to he Ddrade, or charmed ; and for this reason, in the 

 month of April and May, they never go from home fasting. 

 Should a maiden, a widow, or a bachelor, be Darade, it is 

 believed they will be wedded that year; and should this 

 happen to old or married people, heavy sicknesses or mis- 

 fortunes are anticipated." 



Another common belief among the peasantry is, that the 

 fate of an individual for the current year depends on the 

 direction in which he first hears the cry of the cuckoo in the 

 spring. If it proceeds from the north, for instance, it is a 

 lucky omen ; but if from the south, on the contrary, it por- 

 tends death. It is, besides, considered particularly fortunate 

 to stand under a tree where a cuckoo is crying ; for if one 

 then embraces the trunk three several times, one acquires the 

 power of ensuring an easy delivery to a pregnant woman, 

 always provided one embraces her, or ties one's garter round 

 her waist. Then again it is said that if one imitates the 

 melancholy cry of the cuckoo, the bird itself is seized with 

 excruciating pains, and utfrustar, or vomits forth, its heart's 

 blood ; and hence the red spots often observable on the leaves 

 of certain trees. 



It is moreover said that the cuckoo is so lazy, that it must 

 always have another bird in its company to bring it victuals ; 

 and that it is not only carnivorous, but that the young 

 one, when grown, will eat up its foster-parents. Hence the 

 saying, common in Sweden, en otacksam gok implying an 

 ungrateful fellow. 



Again : from the resemblance that the cuckoo, in regard 

 to size, colour, and form, bears to the sparrow-hawk, the 



