28 DORSETSHIRE FOLK-SPEECH AND SUPERSTITIONS. 



if they happened to be cross- ways with the bed they turned the 

 person round so that he would go with the boards. 



Cups-and-Saucers : The leaves of the navel-wort (cotyledon 

 umbilicus) ; found in profusion in the crevices of old walls. 



Cut : Cutty (Cutty-icren) : The kitty-wren (troglodytes vulgaris). 



It is considered a sign of good luck if a " cutty " or " cuddy " 

 builds in your hayrick, though if it is heard to sing or cry very 

 much it is held to be a sign of rain. 



In conjunction with the robin, the wren is always looked upon 

 with affection, and treated as a friend by the poor, who often 

 repeat the following verses : 



" If 'twere not for the robin and the wran, 

 A spider would overcome a man." 



Again, the particular providence which is supposed to watch over 

 them is testified by the lines often heard : 

 " The robin and the wren, 



Are God Almighty's cock and hen," 

 to which are sometimes added 



" The martin and the swallow, 



Are God Almighty's bow and arrow." 



[See note to " Reddick."~\ I trust but of this I am not certain 

 that the barbarous custom of " hunting the wren " at Christmas- 

 tide was never popular in Dorset. 



Daffidowndilly : The daffodil (narcissus pseudo-narcissus). 



You should always take care when daffodils or Lent lilies are 

 brought into the house for the first time in the season that they 

 should consist of a good quantity, for otherwise something would 

 be sure to go wrong with your poultry. 



DeviVs cow : A flat kind of beetle. 



Devil's snujf-box : The puff-balL 



Deic-berr^y : A large kind of blackberry. 



Die-dapper : A dabchick. 



Dill-cup : The butter cup (ranunculus bulbosus). 



Disli-waslier : The water- wagtail. (See Polly-Wash-Dish). 



Dock : The plant ruinex. Children rub dock leaves on their 



