The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-02
BIRD sUPERsTITIONs.
Strange Doings Which Are Attribut-
ed to the Feathered Creatures.


ed to the Feathered Creatures.
From Household Words.
In all lands birds have, at some time,
been regarded as Gods messengers-crea-
lures conveying warnings by their appear
ances and departures, and gifted with pro-
phetlc instincts.
According to Scandinavian traditions, the
swallow lowered over the cross of our
Lord, crying "Svala, svala" Console, con-
SOLE. Hence comes its name, Swallow"
the bird of consolation. We still tell our
neighbors that it is lucky for swallows
to build about their houses. The cross-bil
circled also about the dying Savior, SO
lengendary lore tells us, prior TO which act
of reverence its beak was straight as that
of other BIRDS while thv robin gained its
red breast through being sprinkled by the
blood of Christ. A red-breast always sings
from crossed branches, If he can, say
Lancashire folk.
The Romans believed that the swallow
b was sacred to the penates or household
GODS and, therefore, to injure one would
be to bring down a judgment upon the
home. To-day, there are many persons,
sailors, especially, who are firmly of opin-
ion that sit is unlucky to kill swallow"
In Scotland it is still common to hear
the expression, faithful as a swallow"
and when person is lazlly sparing of ex-
ertion the proverb, THE snail is as sure
at its rest as a swallow" This signifies
1.-The crawler reaches the rest of death
as soon as the swift flyer"
To dream of thee harbngers of sum-
+ mer was considered a very favora Bile
omen, denoung success in trade to the
dreamer, or 90 lover speedy marriage
with the object of his affections.
The swan was long used as an illustra-
ton of kingly or royal grace. 1t was also
the emblem of chivalry. adjoining the
shields OF knights, when tle taunt of be-
ing false to the swan amounted to A
deadly injury. Anne o Cloves, who pos
sessed a liiy-lil1e skir and was descend
ed from the Knigh' Of the Swami. was
known to courts p THE White Swan"
the memory of W lch compliment is re-
corded upon many public house signs.
'The swans a proud bird. yet he keeps
his head bent;" Through looking back
ward the swan dies sweetly," are two lit
tle-known proverbs. One of the poets
writes of a maiden who was
Pensive as swan in sudden shade,
Nor knew his skill in wooing suns to
shine;
an illusion to the belief that Swans and
angels have the ear of God"
There are perhaps more superstitons
dealing with crows than with any other
birds They are known as 'the devils
own" in many counties; their cav has
been declared to be cry of Cain" yet
their presence nesting near village IS
sometimes regarded as advantageous, on
the principle that 1.-THE ills all been done
when the crows gather
The contradictory nature of beliefs re-
specting them arises from the wrong use
of the terms crow, rock and corble.
"Corbie dinna pike out corbie's Gen."
signifies plainly. ''thieves are kind to
thieves" Every craw thinks his ain
brood the whitest,' implies a regard for
heredity; while Gin We hadna' been amo
the craws We wadna hae been shot" con-
tains a moral warning.
Some unpleasant subject is always
threatened by the words, II have a crow 10
pluck with him. but They're a bonny
pair as the craw said O. his feet" seems
merely to make fun of the hated bird
"He's but the tail Of the craw.". is equiv
alent to describing the accomplice of some
evil-doer Many a superstitious-ridden
country person has grieved for fear Of
coming adversely, for no other reason than
because of a dream of crows flying and
croaking
To dream of hearing a lark is, on the
contrary. a prophecy of future wealth,
health and riches won by industry. 1t IS
doubtful II any search among records of
the past would result in the discovery of a
single omen, legend or proverb disrespect-
full to this honored bird. THE raven doth
not hatch lark" wrote Shakespeare
while two old sayings are; THE lark sings
but TO his heaven and 10 his home" and
"LarlIs mount singing"