Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-27
sUNDRY sUPERsTITIoNs.
A Collection Of Odd and Humorous
Fancies About Animals.

From the Pail Mall Gazette.
There are many superstitions in regard
to animals, some of which can with little
thought easily be accounted for but there
are also many more which, Of course, are
merely traditional. Several animals are
supposed to be able to foresee changes in
the weather. Swallows, for instance, fly
close to the ground before rain; so do
gnats; the inference is obvious. Hedge
hogs are said to be able to foresee com
ing storm, and 1t is an old saying in some
parts Of the country, before rain hogs run
grunting home"
1t is an old superstition that II a crow
croaks an odd number Of times in the
morning it will be a wet day; If even num-
Der 1t will be fine Frogs are supposed to
than usual, and a storm may also be ex-
pected when dogs wallow in the dust.
There is probably some sound and easily
explained reason for the idea that ants be-
come unusually busy before rain, but 1t is
difficult to find any origin of the old super
stition that the eggs of these animals are
an antidote for love. 1t is curious thing
that the hairs Of certain animals are sup
posed by some superstitious persons to pos
sess curative propensities; for instance ii is
4 believed by some that three hairs taken
from the back of an ass will cure the
whooping cough, but the ass from which
the hairs are taken will die; again. there
is belief that If dog bites you any evil
consequences may be prevented by apply
ing three of the dogs hairs to the wound
A fried mouse is considered specific for
smallpox, while, on the other hand, to eat
food which mouse has nibbled is said to
give a sore throat.
Another certain cure for whooping cough
believed in is to ask a man riding piebald
horse for advice, and to do whatever that
man may advice. Piebald horses figure in
great number of superstitions.
H.
stitious consider 1t unlucky to KILL Among
them may be mentioned ladybird a mar
tin, robin, Stork and a money spider,
while to kill wren means that you will
break a bone. before the year is out. Many
animals are also supposed to herald death,
and superstitions in this direction are so
numerous that only a few can be men,
toned here. The most commonly known is
the clicking or tapping of the beetle called
a death watch, which is reckoned as an
omen Of death to some one in the house.
Swift dispels this superstition with:
Chambermaids christen this worm death
watcn,
Because like a watch 1t always cries
Then woe be to those in the house that are
sick,
For sure as gun they viii give up the
ghost.
But kettle of scalding hot water injected
Infallibly cures the timber infected;
The omen Is broken. the danger is over
The maggot will die and the sick will re-
cover.
The bowling of a: dog. at night near a
house Is supposed to predict the death of
sick inmate, as also the setting of a white
pigeon on house bodies death to some one
In the house; Wills. again. an old saying
among the superstitious runs No person
can die on a bed or. pillow containing the
fea theirs of a white pigeon,
That the gnawing of furniture by rats
presages death IS also common supersti-
ton To meet certain animals is consid-