Occasional Notes. 311 
is ever the case with women accustomed to hard work, 
from child-birth, resumes her ordinary tasks almost simul- 
taneously with the lving-down of her husband. 
Many attempts have been made to explain this most 
curious custom. It is, writes Mr. RuSHTON DORMAN,* 
" a superstition that has come through fear of attacks of evil 
spirits. In the couvade the man takes to his bed . . , 
and kills no animals. This fear of killing animals and 
of carrying on their ordinary avocations arises from the 
supposition that the spirits of the animals will take 
advantage of the helplessness of the child and avenge 
themselves upon it . . Among the Arawaks the father 
can kill little birds and fish, but no large game". In 
short, according to Mr. DORMAN, the essence of the 
matter is that the father avoids enraging any animals 
which might have power to avenge themselves on his 
child. But, if this is the full explanation, why should the 
father take to his hammock and be nursed ; why should 
he abstain from such of his ordinary occupations as can 
not be supposed to enrage other beings ? Mere absten- 
tion from the killing of animals would be sufficient. 
Moreover, for the statement that the Arawaks during 
couvade kill small, powerless animals but not such as 
are large and dangerous, Mr. DORMAN gives no authority, 
nor can I find any, or any ground whatever. Again, 
writing with more especial reference to the Indians of 
Guiana, the Reverend C. D. Dance f gives another, 
and in some ways more probable, explanation. 
* " The Origin of Primitive Superstitions", by Rushton M. DORMAN 
Philadelphia and London, 1881, p. 58, 
\ "Chapters from a Guianese Log-book'*. Demerara, 1881, p. 148, 
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