s 



SWALLOW LORE 



WALLOWS in antiquity were deemed lucky on land 

 but unlucky at sea. Cleopatra abandoned a voyage on 

 seeing one of these birds on the masthead of her ship. 



The killing of a swallow makes the cows give bloody 

 milk. 



Swallows building under the eaves bring good luck to 

 a house. 



To kill a swallow brings misfortune, in Germany, and 

 there no one dares to destroy her nest. 



Possessing weather intelligence, swallows tell us, when 

 they fly high, that the day will be clear; when low, that it 

 will be cloudy or stormy. 



In Norway it is said that when the Saviour hung on 

 _|^,the cross a pitying swallow, perching there, peered sorrow- 

 I fully down and twitted "Hugsvala, svala, svala. Honom!" 

 ("Console, console, console Him!") 



The Russian peasant believes that on the 25th of March 



the swallow comes flying from Paradise to bring warmth to 



( the earth, while other Europeans believe that she comes before 



"\ Maundy Thursday to be present at the commemoration of the 



crucifixion. 



214 



