speck) 



A MOHEGAN-PEQUOT DIARY 273 



Itching in the pahn of the right hand indicates that you will shake 

 hands with a stranger; in the left hand, that you will receive a 

 present. 



A stone bruise will appear on the hand of a person who kills a toad. 



If you kill a bat — you Idll your brother. 



^Vhen a screech-owl is heard it is a sign of death m the village. 



A dog howling is also a sign of death. 



If a snake crosses your path it is an evil omen. 



If a bird flies in through an open wmdow and flies out again with- 

 out touching the walls or furniture it brings good news. Should it 

 seem confused in attempting to fuid its way out again it brings news 

 of the death of a relative. (Also Rappahannock.) 



A bee flying through an open window brings a stranger. 



Some mformants say that to see a shootmg star indicates that there 

 will be a death in the village within a short time. Others say that it is 

 good luck to see a shooting star. If j-ou wish on it your wish will 

 come true. 



You will have bad luck if you sing at the table. 



If you sing before breakfast j'ou will cry before night. 



If you put your clotliing on wrong side out you will have good luck 

 if you wear it that way all day. 



If a hen crows it is an evil omen. (Also Xanticoke.) 



If you wish on the new moon your wish will be granted. 



To see the new moon over your right shoulder indicates good luck; 

 over the left, ill luck. (Also Virginia Powhatan.) 



If a hunter can hang his powder horn on the points of the new 

 moon it is called a wet moon. It is full of water and he can not go 

 hunting. If the ends point downward the hunter knows that the 

 water has all run out and the weather conditions will be more favorable. 



To see the new moon through glass is a sign of disappointments. 



The best time to dig clams is when tixe moon is full. 



Clipping the ends of the hair when the moon is waning not only 

 strengthens the hair but makes it grow more luxuriant^. 



It is believed that births are controlled by the moon's phases. 

 Several informants stated that births usually occur either in the new or 

 the full of the moon. (Also Iroquois.) 



If hogs are butchered when the moon is waning the pork will 

 shrink. It is customary to butcher when the moon is full. 



Whatever you are doing when j'ou hear the fii'st "peep-frogs" 

 (Hylas) in the spring, you will continue to do throughout the year. 



If you throw combings out-of-doors you will suffer from frequent 

 headaches. (Also Chickahominy.) 



If you burn the bones of animals your bones will ache. 



Never cut the finger nails of a baby. The nails should l)c bitten 

 ofl UDtn the child is one year old. (Also Virginia Powhatan.) 



