James Callow Folklore Archive
Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Whip-poor-wills
In an area where whip-poor-wills live, they will gather around the house of a dying person in order to catch his soul. If he escapes them, they will slowly fall silent, but if they catch him they will all burst into song at once and will not grow quiet before morning. What they do with the captured soul is open to conjecture.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; MCKENZIE
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird |