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Stith Thompson Motif Index
About this index and how to read it
Stith Thompson's Motif-Index of Folk-Literature classifies recurring narrative elements in folktales, myths, legends, ballads and related traditional narratives. Each entry below gives Thompson's motif reference and the description recorded in the index.
The index is large, so this browser displays 250 entries per page. You can search by motif reference or by words in the description, restrict the results to one of Thompson's main letter categories, and click motif references mentioned inside descriptions to follow cross-references. Individual motif pages also show any ATU tale types whose concordance explicitly cites that Thompson reference.
All
A
Mythological Motifs
B
Animal Motifs
C
Motifs of Tabu
D
Magic
E
The Dead
F
Marvels
G
Ogres
H
Tests
J
The Wise and the Foolish
K
Deceptions
L
Reversals of Fortune
M
Ordaining the Future
N
Chance and Fate
P
Society
Q
Rewards and Punishments
R
Captives and Fugitives
S
Unnatural Cruelty
T
Sex
U
The Nature of Life
V
Religion
W
Traits of Character
X
Humor
Z
Miscellaneous Groups of Motifs
| Thompson reference | Description ▲ |
|---|---|
| A2512.1 | Why dog can follow animal's scent. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2545.3 | Why dog eats first. |
| A2335.4.3 | Why dog has black muzzle. (See A2229.1.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2375.2.3 | Why dog has hairy paws. Stole from rabbit. (See A2245.) |
| A2326.2.2 | Why dog has no horns: they were stolen by deer (goat). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2427.2 | Why dog howls at night. |
| A2471.6 | Why dog is always looking. Jamaica negro: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 259 No. 48. |
| A2524.6 | Why dog is bold. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2526.1 | Why dog lacks restraint. Ojibwa: Jones JAFL XXIX 369. |
| A2471.6.1 | Why dog looks back at person who has beaten him. Liberian: Bundy JAFL XXXII 421. |
| A2422.1 | Why dog lost his power of speech. Bulu: Krug. |
| A2479.8 | Why dog snaps every fly. Fly laughed at dog's (feigned) death. Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield 227. |
| A2422.1.1 | Why dogs do not speak. Dh III 232. (See A2237.1.)—Benga: Nassau 163 No. 22; Zuсi: Handy JAFL XXXI 467; Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 243; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2496.1 | Why dogs get stuck in copulation. (Cf. A2236.3, A2236.5.) —Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2427.2.1 | Why dogs howl when man is dying. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2471.6.2 | Why dogs howl, looking at sky. Joshua: Frachtenberg JAFL XXVIII 225. |
| A2452.1 | Why dogs hunt. Sébillot RTP II 437. |
| A2473.1.1 | Why dogs leave droppings at crossroads. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2473.1 | Why dogs lift their legs. Dh III 261.—Sébillot RTP II 436; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| A2471.1 | Why dogs look at one another under tail. (See A2275.5.5, A2232.8; also *Dh IV 129ff.)—Sébillot RTP ii 433; England, U.S.: Baughman. |
| A2471.1.1 | Why dogs sniff at one another. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *202; Prussian: Plenzat 10. |
| A2444.2 | Why dolphins swim up and down. (See A2275.5.4.) |
| A2365.2.1.3 | Why donkey's penis is large. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2495.3 | Why donkeys always urinate when others begin. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2426.2.8 | Why dove coos. *Dh III 554 s.v. "Taube".—Finnish: Aarne FFC IX 12 No. 57; Angola: Chatelain 153 No. 16; Jamaica negro: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 259 No. 50; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A2486.3 | Why dove lays but two eggs. (See A2247.4.) |
| A2330.7 | Why dove's head is marked as it is. Korean: Zong in-Sob 32 No. 15. |
| A2468.3 | Why dragon dies by means of fire. Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 379 No. 4. |
| A2426.2.10 | Why duck quacks. Fb "and". |
| A2385.1 | Why dung of ass is triangular. Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 86 No. 58d. |
| A1567.1 | Why dust is strewn on wound at circumcision. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F451.9.1 | Why dwarfs emigrate. |
| A2578.2 | Why eagle has long life. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2351.2 | Why eagle-owl's head turns on its neck. Type 230.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 18 No. 100. |
| A2356.3.1 | Why eagle's back is brown. Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 38 No. 48. |
| A1319.3 | Why ear-wax is inside the ear. Cameroons: Gantenbein 69ff., Lederbogen Mitt. d. Sem. f. orient. Spr. IV 175f. No. 11. |
| A857.1 | Why earth becomes warm and wet: two huge copper vessels steaming over fire are underneath earth.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2411.5.5 | Why earthworm is red at one end. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1599.6 | Why earthworms are killed whenever earth is dug. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2772.4 | Why ebony tree has black wood and smoke-colored leaves. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2751.4.2 | Why ebony tree is black. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2344.2.2 | Why eel has no tongue. Dh III 27. |
| A2306.1 | Why eel is slippery. Marshall Is.: Davenport 226. |
| A1689.12 | Why Egyptians are fond of asses. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2766.1 | Why elder tree bleeds when cut. (A2721.2.1.4.)—England: Baughman. |
| A2433.3.15 | Why elephant does not live in town. Yoruba: Ellis 267 No. 3. |
| A2531.3.1 | Why elephant flees when cock crows. Africa (Dinka): Casati I 49. |
| A2365.1.1 | Why elephant has testicles inside. Persuaded to eat them. (See A2284.4.) |
| A2412.1.5 | Why elephant has white marks on its body. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2239.10 | Why elephant hurts himself when running through the grass: mouse's curse. Africa (Sandeh): Casati I 221. |
| A2531.3 | Why elephant is peaceable. Congo: Weeks 214 No. 10. |
| A2434.3.3 | Why elephant lives in Nigeria. Gold Coast: Barker and Sinclair 153 No. 29. |
| A2332.6.7 | Why elephant sees half-blindly. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2365.2.1.2 | Why elephant's penis is large. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2433.3.13 | Why elk lives in woods. Quileute: Farrand JAFL XXXII 259. |
| A2377.1 | Why emu has no wings. (See A2284.1.) |
| A2378.8.1.1 | Why end of fox's tail is black. Central American: Krickeberg Märchen der Azteken und Inkaperuaner 282. |
| A2378.8.1 | Why end of fox's tail is white. (See A2215.5.) |
| A2772.2 | Why end of rush is black. (See A2721.1.) |
| A1667.1 | Why Europeans know more than natives. Marquesas: Handy 138. |
| A1275.8 | Why Eve was not made at first along with Adam. Irish myth: Cross. |
| J2274.1 | Why everyone doesn't live in the same place. The earth would become unbalanced. *Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin I 245 No. 140. |
| A2777.1 | Why fig tree is chief priest of the trees. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2465.1 | Why fish are caught in nets. (Cf. Type 253.)—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 21 No. 118, XXXIII 55 No. 118. |
| A2524.4 | Why fish attack anything they find. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2484.1 | Why fish come in seasonally. New Guinea: Ker 25; Tonga: Gifford. |
| A2537.1 | Why fish is stupid. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2330.5 | Why flea's face is red. Korean: Zong in-Sob 36 No. 20. |
| A2511 | Why flesh of animal is good. |
| A2479.9 | Why flies fly around ox's eyes. Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield 230. |
| A2378.2.8 | Why flies lack tail. Africa (Duala): Ebding 142ff. |
| A2545.1 | Why flies may eat anywhere. (See A2221.2.1, A2229.4.) |
| A2354.1 | Why flounder is flat-bellied. (See A2231.9.) |
| A2341.1 | Why flounder's mouth is crooked. (See A2252.4, A2231.1.2.) —Irish: Beal XXI 327. |
| A2422.5 | Why fly has no voice. Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 384. |
| A2317.2 | Why fly is bald. Dh III 11. |
| A2522.7 | Why fly is hated. Africa (Fang): Tressman 79ff. |
| A2433.5.2 | Why fly lives amid filth. (See A2239.2.) |
| A2432.9 | Why fly lives on dung heap. Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield 229. |
| A1518 | Why food is cooked. New Guinea: Ker 97. |
| A2433.4.6 | Why fowls never shut their doors at night. Africa (Congo): Weeks Jungle 379ff. |
| A2378.6.1 | Why fox has bushy tail. Virginia (negro): Smiley JAFL XXXII 361. |
| A2378.3.4 | Why fox has long tail. (See A2213.4.2.) |
| A2525.3 | Why fox is sly. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2371.4.2 | Why fox's legs are black. Am. Negro (Georgia): Harris Friends 10. |
| A2434.2.2 | Why foxes do not live on a certain island: driven out by a god. Japanese: Anesaki Japanese Myth. 252. |
| A2426.4.1.2 | Why frog croaks in wet weather. Korean: Zong in-Sob 35 No. 18. |
| A2356.2.1 | Why frog has hunchback. Dh III 42ff.—Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2345.7.2 | Why frog has no teeth. (Cf. A2239.8.)—Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2311.8 | Why frog has rough skin. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A2412.5.2.1 | Why frog is spotty all over. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2332.4.3 | Why frog's eyes bulge out. Africa (Congo): Weeks Jungle 459. |
| A2422.7 | Why frogs cannot speak. Dh III 232. |
| A2791.11 | Why fruit of date palm looks like breasts of old woman. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2791.9 | Why fruit of sago palm looks like an eye. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2552 | Why game animals are elusive. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 59, (Cavina, Tumapasa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 448. |
| A2551 | Why game is easy to hunt. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 218. |
| A2332.6.2 | Why giant lizard is blind. Chose poison instead of eyes. Dh III 21.—Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2344.2.1 | Why gnat has no tongue. (See A2236.1.) |
| K475.3 | Why go all the way to fair? Man robbed of his plate of cakes half way to fair asks another vendor, "Why go to the fair, when half way up people come demanding your plate?" Vendor goes on and meets with same fate. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2513.4 | Why goat lives with man. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2433.3.8 | Why goat lives with men. Gold Coast: Barker and Sinclair 153 No. 29; Benga: Nassau 100 No. 7. |
| A2365.2.0.1 | Why goat's and cat's members are as they are. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1311.2 | Why God changed right hand into left. Man loses hand with which he gives devil a box on ears.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 6 No. 19. |
| J1261.1.2 | Why God has few friends. Priest consoles sick man by saying that God chastens those whom he loves. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 778. |
| A153.6 | Why gods only accept blood. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1373.1 | Why good-looking but soft, useless women attract men. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 220; cf. Kaska: Teit JAFL XXX 456. |
| A2426.2.9 | Why goose quacks. Finnish: Aarne FFC IX 6 No. 31. |
| A2345.9 | Why gorilla and chimpanzee have large teeth in mouth: punishment for neglecting possessions. Bulu: Krug 111f. |
| A2433.2.1.2 | Why gorilla and chimpanzee live in forests: punishment for neglecting their possessions. Bulu: Krug 111f. |
| A2793.5 | Why grain grows only at top of stalk (punishment for men's sinfulness). Grimm No. 194; BP III 417ff.; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3220, Legends Nos. 305—313; Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| A2793.2 | Why grain of wheat is divided. Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII. 90 No. 126b. |
| A2332.6.3 | Why grasshopper is born blind. (See A2233.4.) |
| A2491.5 | Why grasshoppers and locusts hide in day. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J25 | Why great man plays with children. This is to be learned only when one has children himself. Anecdote of Agesilaus. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 738. |
| A2531.2 | Why grizzly bear is peaceable. Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 95, (Joshua): Frachtenberg JAFL XXVIII 241. |
| A2524.1 | Why grizzly bears are pugnacious. Kaska: Teit JAFL XXX 448. |
| A2367.2.1 | Why grizzly bears have three stripes on inside of stomach. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 208. |
| X1863 | Why gypsies have no churches. They ate up their churches made of cheese and bacon. (First ed. X953.) (Cf. X650.) Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. IX 85. |
| A2532.2 | Why hairy caterpillar is venomous. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2332.4.1 | Why hare has deep-set eyes. (See A2239.1.) |
| A2371.2.11 | Why hare has short pair of legs. Dh III 23.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 13 No. 73. |
| A2378.4.1 | Why hare has short tail. (See A2215.2, A2262.)—Dh III 47ff.—Japanese: Ikeda; Virginia (negro): Smiley JAFL XXXII 361; Antigua: Johnson JAFL XXXIV 67. |
| A2525.1 | Why hare is deceptive. Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 375 No. 1. |
| A2411.1.4.4.1 | Why hare is grey in summer. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges (A2411.1.22). |
| A2433.3.3 | Why hare lives in bush. (See A2282.) |
| A2435.3.12.1 | Why hare never drinks from rivers or streams. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2474.2 | Why hare shakes head. Bushman: Bleek and Lloyd 65. |
| A2479.2 | Why hare skips about like a leaf. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A2325.2 | Why hare's ears are black. (See A2212.1.) |
| A2342.1 | Why hare's lip is split. (See A2234.4, A2216.3, A2211.2.)—Dh III 22f.; BP III 75 n. 1; Fb "hare" IV 201a; Types 47, 70.—Micmac: Speck JAFL XXVIII 65; Chitimacha: Swanton JAFL XXX 476. |
| A2335.2.4 | Why hare's nose is closed during sowing season. (See A2238.1.) |
| A2378.9.3 | Why hares have cotton tail. Deity rubs cotton on hare. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A2471.3 | Why hawk (vulture) hovers over camp-fire: seeks grandmother. (See A2275.5.2.) |
| A2378.5.2 | Why hawk has forked tail. (See A2216.5.) |
| A2452.3 | Why hawks put heads of mice, etc. on pile of stones. Zuсi: Handy JAFL XXXI 455. |
| W111.3.4 | Why he beats her. Lazy wife beaten by husband maintains that she has done nothing. That is why he is beating her. Wesselski Bebel I 206 No 90. |
| J2721 | Why he couldn't see. One fool to another: "What would happen if you cut off your nose?" "I couldn't smell." "What would happen if you cut off your ears?" "I couldn't see." "Why couldn't you see?" "My hat would fall down over my eyes." U.S.: *Baughman. |
| J1345 | Why he did not eat the bread. When host inquires, he replies, "If thou be the son of God, command that these stones be made bread." Mensa Philosophica No. 171. |
| J1452 | Why he was thin. Philosopher explains that with his own blood he was nourishing as large a population as that of the Roman Emperor (lice). *Wesselski Bebel II 145 No. 140. |
| A2371.2.8 | Why he-goat has shaggy legs. Braved the wolf, who tore his legs. Dh III 46. |
| A2356.2.10 | Why helldiver has flat stern. Culture hero kicked him. Menomini: Skinner and Satterlee PaAM XIII 269. |
| A2455.4 | Why hen does not know how to steal. Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 88 No. 98a. |
| A2345.8 | Why hen has no teeth. Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield 233. |
| A2477.2 | Why hen scratches in ground. Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield 233. |
| A2431.2.2 | Why heron has no nest. Congo: Weeks 220 No. 15. |
| A2332.5.8 | Why herring's eyes are red. Fb "sild". |
| A2416.7 | Why herrings have bad odor. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| A2426.1.3 | Why hog grunts. Finnish: Aarne FFC IX 4 No. 13.—Jamaica Negro: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 259 No. 51; Angola: Chatelain 215. |
| A2371.2.2 | Why hog has "toes" on back of foreleg. Mark of devil's teeth. (See A2287.1.1.) |
| A2523.1 | Why hog has evil spirit. (See A2287.1.) |
| A2381.1 | Why hog has good flesh. (See A2221.1.)—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2335.4.2 | Why hog has round snout. Creation of hog incomplete since God had to go to fire. (See A2286.1.1.) |
| A2335.4.1 | Why hog has short snout. (See A2287.1.)—Africa (Fang): Trilles 179. |
| A2433.3.6 | Why hog lives in sty. Angola: Chatelain 215 No. 36; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2477.1 | Why hog roots in ground. (See A2236.3, A2275.5.1.)—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2471.2 | Why hogs inspect one another: seek pancake. (See A2275.5.1.) |
| A2423.1.5 | Why hornbill speaks through his nose. Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield 234. |
| A2371.2.7 | Why horse has eye-like marks on forelegs. (See A2262.1.) —Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 162. |
| A2332.2.1 | Why horse has only two eyes. (See A2286.2.2.) |
| A2365.2.1.1 | Why horse's penis is long. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1571.1 | Why husband and wife shall not exchange hats. Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 117. |
| A2378.2.5 | Why hydrax has no tail. (See A2235.) |
| A2375.2.5 | Why hyena has short left hind foot. Deceived into jumping by jackal. (See A2284.6.) |
| A2433.3.4 | Why hyena stays in burrow. (See A2282.) |
| J1263.1.1 | Why ignorant priests are favored. They can always find patrons as ignorant as they are. *Wesselski Bebel II 100 No. 4. |
| A2433.6.4 | Why iguana lives in stream. Benga: Nassau 106 No. 8. |
| A1599.5 | Why in addressing anyone the second plural should be used. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3072. |
| A1526 | Why Indians cache their meat. Chitimacha: Swanton JAFL XXX 467. |
| A1681.1 | Why Indians chew spruce gum. Loucheux: Barbeau JAFL XXVIII 256. |
| J1291.1.1 | Why is it that black cow eats green grass, gives white milk and yellow butter? Answer: The same reason blackberries are red when they are green. U.S.: Baughman. |
| A1674.1 | Why it is not a sin for a Gypsy to steal: helpful at crucifixion. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *1638, Balys Legends No. 102. |
| A1131.0.2 | Why it rains most in the hills. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2427.1 | Why jackal cries in the night. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2317.12.2 | Why jackal has bare tail. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2356.3.2 | Why jackal has black back. (See A2218.2.) |
| A2434.1.5 | Why jackal may go everywhere. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2378.4.5 | Why jackal's tail is short. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2492.1 | Why jackals do not go in herds. Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 368 No. 18. |
| A2479.3 | Why jackals make noise at night when seeking food. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2435.3.16.1 | Why jaguars eat men. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 83. |
| A1681.2 | Why Jews do not eat pork. Jaworskij Der Urquell II 196; Fb "svin" III 676b.—Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 142 No. 23; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 1867A; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 85 No. 42; Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 85 No. 43c. |
| A1544.0.1 | Why Jews do not worship idols. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1689.13 | Why Jews keep aloof from other peoples. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1689.6 | Why Jews read and write from right to left: because of the ugly name of the king of the Jews. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *1867C. |
| A1662.1 | Why Jews smell bad. They rubbed Christ's body with garlic. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *1867A. |
| A2317.11 | Why john-crow has bald head. Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS 259 No. 47. |
| A2371.2.10 | Why kangaroo has short front legs. (See A2284.1.) |
| A2412.1.4 | Why kangaroo-rat has white band around his body. (See A2218.4.) |
| A2317.12.1 | Why kangaroo-rat's tail is not bushy. Salinan: Mason UCal XIV 83. |
| A2751.4.6 | Why kava plant is grey. Tonga: Gifford 72. |
| A2741.5 | Why khijur leaves are long and narrow: split with an arrow. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2378.9.1 | Why king-salmon is thick around root of tail. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 242. |
| A2433.4.5 | Why kingfisher lives in the air. Africa (Togo): Einstein 7. |
| A2442.2.3 | Why lapwing flies in curves. Sébillot RTP III 160. |
| A2771.8.2 | Why laurel tree is bitter. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2765 | Why leaves are evergreen. (See A2711.4.) |
| A2768 | Why leaves hang head downward. Maori: Clark 96. |
| A2435.6.3 | Why leech feeds on human blood. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2332.6.8 | Why leech is blind. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2433.6.5 | Why leeches live in water. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2332.3.1 | Why lemur has big eyes. (See A2234.3.) |
| A2463.1 | Why leopard cannot capture animal who passes him on right side. Gold Coast: Barker and Sinclair 146 No. 28. |
| A2528.1 | Why leopard is strong. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2433.3.18 | Why leopard lives where he does. Gold Coast: Barker and Sinclair 143 (woods), ibid. 153 (desert). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2433.2.3.1 | Why leopard walks alone. He killed treacherously his saviors and all animals deserted him. Milligan Jungle 99. |
| A2435.3.17.1 | Why leopards eat men. Africa (Cameroon): Rosenhuber 79. |
| A2791.2 | Why lightning spares the nut-tree. Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 91 No. 132e. |
| A2464.1 | Why lion does not attack dog. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2524.5 | Why lion is brave. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2433.3.16 | Why lion stays away from settlement. Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 382. |
| E489.8 | Why living cannot go to land of the dead. Chinese: Graham. |
| A2474.1 | Why lizard bobs head up and down. (See A2255.2, A2211.9.) |
| A2305.1.3 | Why lobster is flat. (Cf. A2213.2.4.).—Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 13 No. 2. |
| A2213.2.4 | Why lobster is shallow: insulted cattle step on it. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 13, No. 2. |
| A2434.3.1 | Why locusts live in certain Pueblo towns. Pueblo: Parsons JAFL XXXI 225. |
| A2343.1.3 | Why loon has big beak. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 209. |
| A2412.3.1 | Why louse has mark on his back. Korean: Zong in-Sob 36 No. 20. |
| A2335.2.2 | Why lynx has short, blunt nose. Kaska: Teit JAFL XXX 455. |
| A2471.5 | Why lynx squints: is looking afar at view. Ojibwa: Jones JAFL XXIX 378. |
| A2351.4.2 | Why magpie has long neck. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2344.2.6 | Why magpie has no tongue. (See A2236.4.) |
| A2317.6 | Why magpie is bald. Dh III 14. |
| A2542.1 | Why magpie is cursed. (See A2231.)—Sébillot RTP III 159. |
| A2378.7.2 | Why magpie's tail is like a chisel. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 262. |
| A1319.12.1 | Why man does not change his skin: ancient contest lost by toad, representing man, won by lizard. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1376 | Why man excels woman. Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield 236. |
| A1382.1 | Why man is fearful in the jungle. Africa: Stanley 78. |
| A1319.13 | Why man's neck is its present size. Marshall Is.: Davenport 231. |
| A2378.4.3 | Why marmot has short tail. Dh III 51. |
| A2471.8 | Why mason-wasp looks for fireplace. Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 346 No. 1. |
| A1310.3 | Why men are clothed in skin. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1315.1 | Why men become gray-headed. Dh I 314.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 6 No. 18. |
| A2861 | Why men become old. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1316.2 | Why men blink. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1319.2 | Why men lack tails. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 117 No. 72; Piegan: Michelson JAFL XXIX 409. |
| A2854 | Why men like tobacco, but spit when smoking. Adam in paradise spat upon the tobacco plant. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3242, Legends No. 338f. |
| A1422.1 | Why men may eat hares. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A1593 | Why men no longer know time of death. Custom changed when men began to repair fences with stalks when they knew they were to die the next day.—Irish myth: Cross; *Babler Sudetendeutsche Zs. f. Vksk. VII (1934) 171ff.; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3062, Legends Nos. 115-120.—Esthonian: Aarne FFC XXV 142 No. 19; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 84 No. 37. |
| A2496.3 | Why men, fish and serpents face each other in copulation. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2435.3.7.1 | Why mice eat grease and salmon. Joshua: Frachtenberg JAFL XXVIII 231. |
| P443.1 | Why millers are thieves. Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 84 No. 27e. |
| A2793.8 | Why millet is red on top. Chinese: Graham. |
| A2378.8.5 | Why minivet has red tail. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2491.3 | Why mole burrows underground. Dh III 267.—Cherokee: Alexander N. Am. 64. |
| A2375.2.6 | Why mole has hand like man. Dh I 156. |
| A2332.6.5 | Why mole is blind.—(See A2239.8, A2247, A2378.1.4.) —Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 38 No. 287; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2433.3.20 | Why mole lives underground. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 38 No. 287. |
| A2375.2.7 | Why mole's "hands" are turned backward. Sinkyone: Kroeber JAFL XXXII 349. |
| A2433.3.19.1 | Why monkey has first fruits of harvest in every field. India: Thompson-Balys. |
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