μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Why bat flies by night. (Cf. A2275.5.3.)

Mythological motifs. · Animal characteristics. · Causes of animal characteristics: appearance and habits. · Other habits of animals. · view the constellation · filed as A2491.1

Filed across the traditions
  • Japanese Ikeda.
  • general Dh III 267. – Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3170
  • general Legends No. 271
Within the index

Filed under Why certain animals avoid light.

1 finer motif beneath it
Why bat sleeps by day. (Cf. A2236.3.)
Filed beside it
Why owl avoids daylight Why mole burrows underground Tiger cursed with short sight in day time: good sight only at night Why grasshoppers and locusts hide in day
Travels with (Thompson’s cf.)
Bat, diver, and thornbush shipwrecked. Bat brought money, bush put on clothes, and diver brought leather. All shipwrecked. Diver is looking for his leather. Bush looks for his clothers and holds fast to all passers-by. Bat is abroad only at night to escape creditors. (Cf. A2471.4, A2491.1.)
Carried in tale types

ask the rhapsode about this motif · search the shelf for “flies” · wander