SUPERSTITIONS OF THE FRENCH CANADIANS. 521 



the traditionary beliefs existing in French Canada. The story of 

 a human being assuming a wolf's shape is certainly one of the 

 most generally diffused throughout the world, and the werewolf 

 story comes down to us from old Roman times. The French Ca- 

 nadian believes that if a person does not partake of the sacra- 

 ment for seven years, he will turn into a loup-garou a shapeless 

 animal without head or limbs ; the loup-garou might also appro- 

 priate the form of a wild cat, a hare, a fox, or even a black hen, 

 but at night he was obliged to range through woods and desert 

 places. At dead of night the loup-garou steals from his bed ; 

 climbing the highest tree in the neighborhood, he hides in its 

 branches, and is instantly transformed into bestial shape. He is 

 endowed with supernatural speed and strength. A fierce creature, 

 with appetites exaggerating those of the animal he resembles, his 

 especial delight is in slaughtering and devouring little children. 

 When he returns to human semblance he may be recognized by 

 his excessive leanness, wild eyes, and haggard countenance. In 

 order to regain his estate of humanity, it is necessary that the 

 blood of the monster should be shed. This kindly office being per- 

 formed by a friend, a complete restoration results. 



The wandering Jew legend in various forms was also very 

 popular in Canada. In many parts of the country cats of three 

 colors were considered lucky, therefore the fortunate possessor of 

 a puss mottled with black, white, and gray should preserve the 

 animal carefully. When a Canadian lumberman is sufficiently 

 fortunate to shoot a deer, he wraps himself at night in the skin, 

 in order to keep off witches. 



The souls of the lost, or spirits in purgatory, naturally occu- 

 pied a prominent position in Canadian folklore. The dead fre- 

 quently returned to the world ; among old-fashioned persons there 

 were few who had not held converse with a spirit or revenant. 

 In punishment for sin, the dead were often detained on the scene 

 of their past misdeeds. One dead person could not help or relieve 

 another ; the wrong committed on earth could only be righted by 

 the intervention of a living being. The evil spirits were unable 

 to cross the blessed waters of the river St. Lawrence without the 

 help of a Christian. These haunting spirits were numerous, and 

 of various descriptions. 



The aurora borealis, called les marionnettes, les eclairons, les 

 lustrions, are supposed to be lost souls. It is a common habit 

 among the country people to sing aloud to keep off evil spirits 

 as they express it, " Lorsqu'ils ne sont pas trop assures." They 

 believe that the sound of an instrument, or the human voice raised 

 'in song, will cause the marionnettes to dance. However, dire mis- 

 fortune threatens the reckless being who adopts this method of 

 amusing himself : unless the precaution is taken of touching him 



VOL. XLIV. 40 



