Читать книгу Notes and Queries, Number 62, January 4, 1851 - Various - Страница 4

Hedgehog.—Among other animals looked upon in a superstitious light, we have the hedgehog, who, in addition to his still credited attribute of sucking cows, is looked upon by our rustics as the emblem of craft and cunning; playing the same part in our popular stories as Reynard in the more southern fabliaux. They tell concerning him, the legend given by M.M. Grimm, of the race between the Hare and Hedgehog. The Northamptonshire version makes the trial of speed between a fox and hedgehog. In all other respects the English tale runs word for word with the German.

Hares.—Besides the ancient superstition attached to the crossing of the path by one of these animals, there is also a belief that the running of one along the street or mainway of a village, portends fire to some house in the immediate vicinity.

Toads.—Belief in their venomous nature is yet far from being extinct. This, added to the ill-defined species of fascination which they are supposed to exercise, has caused them here, as elsewhere, to be held in great abhorrence. I have heard persons who ought to have known better, exclaim on the danger of gazing upon one of the harmless reptiles. The idea respecting the fascinating powers of the toad, is by no means confined to our district. Witness the learned Cardan:

"Fascinari pueros fixo intuitu magnorum bufonum et maximè qui è subterraneo specu aut sepulchris prodierint, utque ob id occulto morbo perire, haud absurdum est."—De Rerum Varietate, lib. xvi. c. 90.

Crickets, contrary to the idea prevailing in the western counties, are supposed to presage good luck, and are therefore most carefully preserved. Their presence is believed to be a sure omen of prosperity; while, on the other hand, their sudden departure from a hearth which has long echoed with their cry, betokens approaching misfortune, and is regarded as the direst calamity that can happen to the family.

Magpies.—To see one magpie alone bodes bad luck; two, good luck; three, a "berrin;" four, a wedding. This is our version of the saying: Grose gives it differently.

Spiders.—When a spider is found upon your clothes, or about your person, it signifies that you will shortly receive some money. Old Fuller, who was a native of Northamptonshire, thus quaintly moralises this superstition:

"When a spider is found upon our clothes, we use to say, some money is coming towards us. The moral is this: such who imitate the industry of that contemptible creature may, by God's blessing, weave themselves into wealth and procure a plentiful estate."—Worthies, p.58. Pt. 2. ed. 1662.

Omens of death and misfortune are also drawn from the howling of dogs—the sight of a trio of butterflies—the flying down the chimney of swallows or jackdaws; and swine are sometimes said to give their master warning of his death by giving utterance to a peculiar whine, known and understood only by the initiated in such matters. Gaule, in his Mag-astromancers Posed and Puzzled, Lond. 1652, p. 181, ranks among evil omens "the falling of swallows down the chimney" and "the grunting of swine."

T.S.