Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-08
BIRDS PLAY BIC PART
IN FAMOUS LEGENDS
Dove and Pigeon Prominent in
Folklore Since Olive Branch
Was Brought to Ark.

Nature played a prominent part in
the beliefs handed down from the earliest
times concerning the history Of the life
of Christ
The dove or pigeon has occupied u
prominent place in folklore, legend and
history SINCE the bird brought the olive
branch to Noah The earlier artists
used the dove frequently in their re-
igious paintings The Madonna and
Child, and the angles arc shown with
white pigeons huttcriDg about them.
The bird was made the symbol Of di-
vine spirit. II appears in pictures OF
Christ life and baptism st John r..
81 says: Il saw the spirit descending
from Heaven like dove
The people Of Northern Europe used
10 say that the ring dove r. partly do
mesticated bird well known TO them
pcrched near the cross when Jesus was
dying, and walled out its sorrow. to ale
viatc the sufferings of Him who was
cruciiied. 4 dove with SIX wings IS one
of the types Of the church Of Christ
The cuckoo is also bird that comes
down TO rs ia legend. In America we
have two species black and yellow
billed. The belief Is accord ing to o Bo-
hefnan legend. that the festivals nf the
Virgin used to bc held sacred even bv
the dumb animals. and on these sacred
DAYS the bids stopped building their
nests until the festival day vas over
The cuckoo. however, kept on with her
OF his work and ia consequence the
cuckoo was doomed henceforth TO wan
der about homeless In this country our
cuekoos do noe lay their eggs in other
birds nests On the contrary. thev build
for themselves and rear their hroods Just
like the rest Of the fcathered tribe
The cowbird, however, docs not build
a nest, and when you see . speckled egg 10
aHest of blue or W1itc dainty little eggs
YOU may be sure that the cowblrd has
been at work. But do. not blame this on
our cuckoos. They lay pale-green eggs.
rather larger and not so round as the
robin :
The robin plays his part in legend
was said that the red Of the robins breast
was produced by the blood Of Jesus
The story Vas that while Jesus was on his
sad journey TO Calvary 4 robin piucked
a thorn from his brow and that the blood
that flowed from the wound made bv the
crLcl thorn stained the BIRDS breast red.
The ~candinavlans have 4 pretty
legend about the swallow Il is called
the bird of consultations The story
runs that while Christ vas being cruci-
fed on the cross a swallow few over
the awful scene. crying. Svale, svaIe'
Hence the name svale or swallow
The word a>vale means ''cheSs up.
other legends about this bird. 50 swift
OF wing are that i brings stone from
the seaShorc and tile stone gives the
baby swallows their sight. that 1 swal-
low nest on house brings good luck
TO the dWellerS herein. and that when
the birds fly high. its sign IT good
weather Il j. considered uni4ckv to
XIII one Of these ln0ffeg>.ye insect de-
stroyers nj il ought to bc.
fhe SWedes have legend similar 10
the one about the swallow, but using the
stork instead The sfork cried .Strvke.
tryke strengthen yci ard hence vas
called The strgk ke or 9torh Af'ey the
blrd had called - the savior II forever
after lost its Yoiee 50 runs tho legend
Detroit Frec Press