Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Prey returned 2 results.
Belief: Animal
How Snakes Eat Eggs:
The snake, which has no teeth with which to chew, will swallow an egg whole, climb a tree, and then fall out of it to break the egg.
Submitter comment:
Informant was told this by the family's cleaning woman who firmly believed it to be true.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
Keyword(s): Consume ; Egg ; FOOD ; Hunt ; Prey ; Serpent ; Snake ; Tree
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief BELIEF -- Animal |
Superstition: Animals
La Cicilia (Snake Belief):
This is a little short snake (type of viper) which is blind and hisses. It comes out once a year on the feast of the Madonna degli Angeli. On this feastday no child is left alone for the people believe that these vipers seek babies and small children. The vipers are believed to have the spirit of the devil within them and seek little children's souls.
Submitter comment:
My mother really believes this story and claims to have seen them.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Written on the right hand side of the card: Date? Unknown.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Babies ; CHILDREN ; Feast ; FESTIVAL ; holiday ; Holy Day ; Prey ; Serpent ; Snake ; Soul ; Viper
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Mammal |