380 Cairene Folklore,
It is dangerous to whistle after dark, as it attracts the snakes.
If a snake grows very old, wings develop on its body.
In the month of Amshir (February) the cats go courting : the female says to the tom-cat " Daud !" and he replies " Dawaba ! "
A kitten's ears are slit to prevent its being afraid of people.
Every time a donkey trespasses on a neighbour's crops and eats them^ a piece is cut out of its ear.
If a drop of water enters the ear of a donkey or horse the animal will die.^
An afrit whispered in the ear of the donkey : " All the females are dead!" "Who has said so?" " Hush, hush, hush ! one remains." " All right, all right !" Hence the donkey always brays.'^
Boys say of the water- wagtail {Ahu-fasdda) : Before it is captured, it struts and says : " El-wirk minni yimla ed-dur," (My thigh fills the floor.) After it is captured it says : " Esh minni ? Lo'met esh ahsan minni." (What is there of me ? A morsel of bread is better than me.)
If a man drinks of the water of the Nile when it is smooth, he will become perfectly strong and free from disease.
If the horn of a rhinoceros is rubbed against the inside of a glass or cup, the water poured into the latter becomes an antidote to all kinds of poison.
Whoever sees the new moon for the first time should look at a piece of money, a pretty face, the river, or some- thing that is similarly bright and pleasant, if he wishes to have good luck.
' Cf. p. 456. Ed.
" Wahid 'afrit wash wash fi widn el-homar: "kul en-nitayat matumi" " Min 'al?" " Eskut, eskut, eskut : fadlet wahida." "Tayyib, tayyib ! " Alashan di el-homar daiman yi'ayyat.
