The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1878-07-09
Rir(l Lore.

honey and young bees, as well as val
liable lot of wax.-Appleton's Journal.
Bird Lore.
In olden days, at the time when the
swallows were expected, solemn pro-
ccssion was formed by the whole house
hold to the gate of the farm; then, at
the first glimpse of the welcome visitors,
the barn door was joyfully thrown open
for them. Itwas believed that the swal-
lows took great interest in domestic at
fairs, and examined everything closely
on their arrival. If they found untidi-
ness and acknowledgement, they sang:
"Boxes and chests were full when away we went,
Now we are back, they are empty all is spent
Various ceremonies must be performed
the first time of beholding swallow.
In the Neumark, the person must wash
his face to preserve it from sunburn dur
ing the year. In Tyrol, ne must stop
directly and dig with his knife below his
left foot; he will then find coal in the
ground which will cure ague. When the
swallows have been constant to one nest
for seven years, they leave behind them
a small stone of great healing properties,
especially for diseases of the eyes.
& Killing a swallow is crime which
brings its own punishment; but the pen
atty varies. In the pusterthal, Swabia,
and the Lechrain, the slayer will have
misfortunes with his cattle, for the cows
will give red milk. At Nauders, in
TyrOl, the criminal will lose his father or
mother, and in the neighboring Tells
"tbe heavens will open," i. e., it will
tighten. Id the ODER Inn Valley the
murderer's house will be burned down;
and at. Sarsans, in the Oetz Valley, the
destruction Or removal Of a swallows
nest will cost the life of the best COW of
the herd. The Westphalians say that
the slaughter of a swallow causes four
weeks rain; and if they are driven
away all the vegetables in the garden
will be cut off by the frost.
Whoever bids farewell to the swallows
at their autumnal departure will be free
from chilblains through the winter.
Swallows, also, have the gift of
prophecy. In some parts of Westphalia
the peasants tell you to look under your
feet on the appearance of the first swal-
low, for if there should chance to be
hair, it vii! be Of the same color as that
Of your future wife. A flight of swal-
lows over a house in the Inter Inn Val
ley signifies death.
The cross-bill and the robin are like
wise looked on as lucky birds. Every
body knows the pretty legends concern
ing both birds, and how the one is sup
posed to have crossed his bill, and the
other Redeemed his breast, by endeavoring
to pluck out the nails which fastened
our Lord to the cross. In Spain some
what similar act Of piety is attributed to
the nightingale and goldfnch:
"When Christ for us on Golgotha
Gave up His latest breath,
The nightingale and goldfnch sang
The mournful song OF death"
In the Harz Mountains and in Tyrol
the cross-bill is highly valued, as it is be-
lieved that this bird will take to itself
diseases which would otherwise befall the
family. He has possessed this virtue
ever since his efforts to release our Lord
from the cross. The presence of cross
bill drives away govt and rheumat ism,
and even the water which he drinks or
in which he bathes is used as remedy
for these complaints. Moreover, the
Tyrolese cross-bill counteracts witchcraft
and protects home from evil spells and
lightning. ..." II.
The robin is likewise a protection
against lightning, but woe betide the
rash person who ventures to modest the
robin or it's nest. He will either be
struck by lightning, or, as in the FILLER
thai, he will become epileptic, or, in the
ODER Inn Thai, his cattle will all give
red milk, and even the water in his
house will assume ruddy hue. The
despoiler of a robins nest will lose as
many relatives in the course of the year
as the number of young birds stolen.
Absam and Schivaz are the only TyroIese
exceptions to the universal estimation in
which this bird is held. At Absam it is
said that the nest attracts the lightning,
and at Schwaz a robin flying over a
house foretells death.-Harper's Weekly.