72 THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
Another inhabitant of Yell, eighty years of age, confirmed this
and described how her grandfather warned her never to touch
the nest of the "Lady Hen," as the bird is called, for as it rose
it sang the praises of heaven. I introduce this because I found
that it had not been recorded and so demonstrates that even
in these days the store of folk lore may be increased. A similar
story affects the Stonechat and comes from Galloway, Scotland.
The nest is never taken in the district because of the curse it is
supposed to deliver, running thus :
" Stane chack
Deevil tak'
They who harry my nest
Will never rest,
Will meet the pest
De'il break their lang back
Wha my eggs wad tak', tak'."
Stories of a similar nature regarding the Robin have been
handed down. In Tyrol the robber of the nest of this bird was
rewarded with an attack of epilepsy and in Bohemia it is
believed that he will always have trembling hands. The same
idea prevails in this country. In one locality it is accepted
that a broken leg follows the taking of Robins' eggs, while on
Dartmoor the penalty for the foul deed is the smashing, not of
a limb, but of all the crockery in the house. The respect in
which the Robin is held throughout Europe is attributed to its
colour. The red breast, like the red of the woodpeckers and
the chestnut of the Swallow, classed it among what are described
as fire-bringing birds, all sacred to Donar, one of whose titles
was Rothbart, the redbearded, referring to the fiery lightning
flash. From this ancient story arises the belief in Scotland,
Yorkshire and Germany that if a Robin is killed a cow belonging
to the slayer or a member of his family will give bloody milk.
Further protective folk lore of the Robin exists.
Veneration was also of advantage to species which were
fortunate enough to bear its mantle. Titmice were held to be
sacred and inviolable by the ancient Germans and severe penalties
were imposed on those who caught them. However, although
one type of bird might be venerated in one locality, it might
be held in disrepute in another. So we find that a different
idea existed regarding Tits round Valenciennes, where these