The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-04-26
BIRD SUpsRSTITIONS.



been regarded as Gods messengers
creatures conveying warnings by their
appearances and departures. and gifted
with prophetic instincts, says House
hold Words.
According 10 Scandinavian tradition.
the swallow hovered over the cross of
our Lord, crying ."Svala, svala." (con-
sole, console). Hence comes its name.
swallow" the bird of consolation. We
still tell our neighbors that 1t is
lucky" for swallows to build about
their houses. The cross-bill circled al
so about the dying Savior, so lengend-
airy lore tells US, prior TO which act of
reverence its beak was straight as that
of other birds, while the room 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 swal-'
low was sacred 10 the penates or house
hold gods, and, therefore, to injure one
would be to bring down Judgment up
on the home. 1oGay there are many
persons, sailors especially, who are
firmly OF opinion that lit is unlucky
TO Kill a swallow"
In Scotland il is still common To hear
the expression, faithful as a swallow.
and when person is lazily sparIng Of
exertion the proverbs The snail is as
sure at its rest as swallow" This
signifies the crawler reaches the rest
of death as soon as the swift flyer"
To dream OF these harbingers OF SUM-
mer was considered a very favorable
omen, denoting success In trade TO the
dreamer, or 10 lover speedy mar
a.. A. hi t.4..
The swan was long used as an Illus
tration OF kingly or royal grace.f 1t
was also the emblem OF chivalry adorn-
ing the shields of knights, when the
taunt OF being false 10 the swan"
amounted to "A deadly injury. Anne OF
Cleves, who possessed a lily-lke skin
tand was descended from the Knight Of
the swami, was known from TO courts
as The White swan; the memory Of
which compliment is recorded upon
many public house signs.
The swans q proud bird, yet he
I keeps his head bent; Through look
ing backward the swan dies sweetly,"
are two little known proverbs. one OF
the poets writes OF maiden who was
vPensive as a swan in sudden shade.
Nor knew his skill in wooing suns to
shine:
An allusion TO the belief that swans
and angels have the. ear OF God"
There are. perhaps, more superstl-
tions 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- a cry OF
Cain" yet their presence nesting near
a village is some times regarded as ad-
vantagcous. on the principle that the
ills all been done when the crows
gather
The contradictory nature of beliefs
respecting them arises from the wrong
use of the terms crow. rook and corbe.
"Corbics dinna pike out cOrbie's cen"
signifies plainly "thicve sare kind to
thieves" Every Craw THINKS his ain
brood whitest." implies n regard for
heredity: while "Gin ye hadna' been
amo' the crawsi ye wadna been shot. E"
cont aims moral warning.
some UNPLEASANT subject is always
threatene1 by the words: n have "A
crow 10 pluck with him" but they're
n bonny pair as the crnw said o. his
feet" seems merely 20 make fun OF the
hated bird. Hes but the tail of the
craw." Is equivalent 10 describing the
accomniice of some evil-dOer. Manv n
superstition-ridden country person has
grieved for fear % coming alversity.
for no other reason than because of a
dream ~ crows fving md rrOaklng.
TO dream of hearing y lark Is. ON the
contrary. a prophecy NJ futurr wealth.
health and firhes won bv indu-try. ~
b. dOubi ful ~ any search among re-
cords o. the past would result in The
discovery of slngln 0mrn lpgrnl or
prnverh disf rspertful % This hohorcd
bird. 'Fle 1pran foth rhi hatch -
1aIk." wrote shei-aenefYe. while two OH
s1tfnus ara. ''rha is~t sings hn t1
BE heaven fnd - nis. h0me." ami
"Lsrks mount singing