μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Animal characteristics caused by animal's lateness at distribution of qualities. (Cf. A2378.2.5.)

Mythological motifs. · Animal characteristics. · Various causes of animal characteristics. · Animal characteristics as punishment. · view the constellation · filed as A2235

Filed across the traditions
  • Mpongwe Nassau No. 11 (hog lacks horns)
  • Gold Coast Barker and Sinclair 145 No. 28 (leopard cannot catch game that passes him on right side)
  • Congo Weeks 213 No. 9 (water snake lacks poison): Zulu: Callaway 355 (hydrax lacks tail)
  • Ila (Rhodesia) Smith and Dale 368 No. 19 (zebra lacks horns)
  • general Dh III 182ff. – India: Thompson-Balys
  • general Marshall Islands: Davenport 222.
Within the index

Filed under Animal characteristics as punishment.

Filed beside it
Animal characteristics: punishment for impiety. (Cf. A2221, A2311.8, A2422.2, A2302.2, A2355.1.2, A2542.1.) Animal characteristics: punishment for immoderate request. Dissatisfied animal finds that when his request is granted he is worse off than before Animal characteristics: punishment for laziness Animal characteristics: punishment for disobedience Animal characteristics: punishment for planning man's downfall Animal characteristics punishment for meddling Animal characteristics: punishment for greed Animal characteristics from miscellaneous punishments
Travels with (Thompson’s cf.)
Why hydrax has no tail. (Cf. A2235.) Why snakes are venomous. (Cf. A2235.)

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