Rabbit thought to be a cow. Servant sent to bring in cows is found chasing rabbits

Motif

Rabbit thought to be a cow. Servant sent to bring in cows is found chasing rabbits.

The wise and the foolish. · Fools (and other unwise persons). · Absurd misunderstandings. · One thing mistaken for another. · One animal mistaken for another. · view the constellation · filed as J1757

Filed across the traditions

U.S. Baughman.
general BP III 260 (Grimm No. 162) → on our shelf: Grimm's Household Tales: With the Author's Notes, Tale 162

Within the index

Filed under One animal mistaken for another.

Filed beside it

Dungbeetle thought to be bee. "I know you well enough, you have put on a blue coat." Wolf thought to be colt. In the man's absence eats the mare Bear thought to be dog Ass thought to be hare Earthworm thought to be snake (or other monster) Other animals thought to be a giant cat. Hero in search of monster brings home a dog, zebra, etc. thinking it is the animal he seeks Tiger (lion, etc.) mistaken for domestic animal Other mistaken animals

Travels with (Thompson’s cf.)

Household spirit herds sheep, has great trouble coralling the lambs (rabbits). (Cf. J1757.)

Carried in tale types

Mistaking One Animal for Another (previously Rabbit Thought to be a Cow) · ATU 1316 1 recorded variant

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