Numskull thinks fireflies are mosquitoes carrying lanterns to find victims

Motif

Numskull thinks fireflies are mosquitoes carrying lanterns to find victims.

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 J1759.3

Cited in the index

general England, U.S.: *Baughman.

Within the index

Filed under Other mistaken animals.

Filed beside it

Scotsman thinks moose is a mouse, asks what rats look like in this country. (Cf. X1423.) Hunter mistakes louse on his eyelash for game. He shoots several times before he notices the trouble Bull mistaken for horse Cat's tail mistaken for worm

Carried in tale types

Other Mistaken Identities · ATU 1319* 1 recorded variant

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