The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-09-29
supsrstitions About Birds.
BY LOUIS =. sEAnrR.

the superstitions and the folk lore of
every nation, civilized or savage.
Among the oldest superstitions are
those relating TO the common cock and
hen. These fowls were carefully
watched and studied by the ancient
augurs, particular notice being taken
OF the time and place of their Growing,
which was interpreted for good or evil
In the Bible the cock is conspicuous at
the time when Peter denied his Master
1t is said its figure on church spires was
placed there TO remind men of this cir
cumstance. In the early hours of the
morning, the cock crows a warning 10
the dead, as well as to the living, and
ali ghosts that are wandering about
the earth must return to the land of
spirits.
Mahomet declared that, in a revela-
ton, he saw in the first heaven a cock
so large that his crest touched the floor
of the second heaven. The growing of
this celestial bird arouses from sleep
every living creature except man.
When this cock ceases to crow the
Judgment day will be at hand.
In Persia the growing of a cock is a
sign of some event affecting the fam
lily, and the master of the house has
tens to feel the birds feet. If they are
cold it is premonition of death; but
if they are warm the sign is propitious,
and the master rejoices in coming good
fortune.
The hen is not so highly respected as
the cock, and her Growing is generally
a thing not TO be tolerated. In many
places it forebodes death.
With the ancient Romans the goose
was sacred bird. During the inva-
sion of Rome by the Gauls a detach-
ment of soldiers in single file proceed
ed up the hill of the Capitol so silently
that the leader reached the top with
out being challenged, but when he was
climbing over the wall the noise dis
turbed the sacred geese i'm the Temple
of Juno. The geese began to cackle
and awakened the garrison, when
Marcus Manlius rushed to the wall and
threw the luckless Gaul back. In
commemoration OF this event the Ro-
mans carried a sacred goose in process
sion to the Capitol each year.
According to Greek mythology Ar
gus was set to watch 10, who had been
changed into cow. Hermes, ordered
to release 10, lulled Argus to sleep with
the music of a shepherds pipe, and
then killed him. Hera Juno set Ar
gus's hundred eyes in the tail of her fi,-
yorite bird, the peacock.
This bird, among the early Chris
tians, was emblematic of a gloriiied
body. Its feathers have adorned many
a throne, and were at one time among
the ornaments oi the kings of Eng
land. They are the insignia of rank
in China, and the wearing Of them is a
charm against the evil spirit. By
some persons they are considered par
ticularly unlucky, but this superstition
Is dying out, and they are regaining
their former popularity.
The sacred ibis of the Egyptians was
supposed, from the color of its feathers,
to symbolic the light and the shade of
the moon. 1t was the incarnation of
the god Thoth, who, in the guise of
this bird, escaped the wrath of Typhon.
Ii is said that its feathers would scare,
and even kill, the crocodile. The bird
was believed to deliver Egypt from
winged and other serpents that came
from Arabia. 1t was celebrated for its
purity and drank only the purest wa
ter. Its love for Egypt was thought to
be so great that the bird would die of
self-starvation if transported elsewhere
1t was so deeply venerated that it en-
tered the most sacred temples with im-
punity, and to kill one, even by acci-
dent, was a crime punishable with
death. After death, its body was en-
balmed, and thousands of their re-
mains have been found at Thebes, at
Memphis and at other Egyptian cities.
The stork was probably considered
more sacred than any other bird, ex-
capt the ibis. 1t was the type Of filial
attachment ar1oDg the Greeks, the RD-
mans and the Hebrews, who believed
that the young repaid the care of their
parents by remaining with them
through life, and attending them in
old age. In Holland boxes are built
for the storks, and it is fortunate
thing to have the box occupied.
The dove has been largely employed
in Christian art, representing peace
and purity. 1t was the dove, you
know, that Noah sent forth from the
Ark to find dry land. 1t has been rep
resented with seven rays proceeding
from ii, terminating in seven stars,
signifying the seven gifts of the holy
spirit. Holding an olive branch, the
dove is emblematic of peace, and when
seen issuing from the lips of dying
saints and martyrs it represents the
human soul purified by suffering.
Mahomet had pigeon that was
taught TO pick grains of wheat from
his ear, that it might be thought that
the bird brought him messages from
heaven. There is a superstition that
anyone sprinkled with the blood of a
pigeon will never die a natural death.
A sculptor carrying home a bust of
Charles l., stopped to rest 10y the way.
At that moment pigeon was struck
by hawk overhead and the blood of
the bird fell upon the neck of the bust.
The incident led to the superstition,
when the unfortunate monarch was be-
headed, shortly afterwards.
In England and America the robin
red breast is welcomed as the harbin-
ger of spring. The joyful melodies that
he pours forth foretell bountiful har-
yest. There is tradition that, when
the Savior was on his way TO Calvary,
robin plucked a thorn from his
own. and the blood that issued from
the wound fell upon the breast of the
bird, and dyed it red. 1t was once a
prevailing belief in England that the
robin will cover with leaves the body
of any de.d person that it may find.