SUPERSTITION

A CAT WILL CLIMB INTO THE CRIB OF A NEW BABY AND TRY TO STEAL ITS
BREATH AWAY.

Submitter comment: THIS SUPERSTITION, TRADITIONAL IN THE LUCCI FAMILY, WAS MENTIONED
IN THE ELEMENTARY EDUCATION 31 CLASS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT,
WHICH IS TAUGHT BY MR. LUCCI. HE SAYS THAT HE LEARNED IT FROM HIS
MOTHER, WHO IN TURN HAD LEARNED IT FROM HER MOTHER. MR. LUCCI
SAW THIS HAPPEN WITH HIS OWN CHILD, BUT HE OFFERED TWO MORE-SCIEN-
TIFIC EXPLANATIONS: 1) THE CAT WAS MERELY CURIOUS AT THIS NEW
ADDITION AND WAS SNIFFING AROUND; OR 2) THE CAT COULD SMELL THE
MILK ON THE BABY'S BREATH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT