The Phœnix has appeared five times in Egypt: (1) in the reign of Sesostris; (2) in the reign of Amasis; (3) in the reign of Ptolemy Philadelphos; (4) a little prior to the death of Tiberius; and (5) during the reign of Constantine. Tacitus mentions the first three (Annales, vi. 28).
(44) Pig. In the fore feet of pigs is a very small hole, which may be seen when the pig is dead and the hair carefully removed. The legend is that the devils made their exit from the swine through the fore feet, and left these holes. There are also six very minute rings round each hole, and these are said to have been made by the devils’ claws (Mark v. 11–13). When pigs carry straw in their mouths, rain is at hand. When swine carry bottles of hay or straw to hide them, rain is at hand.—The Husbandman’s Practice, 137 (1664).
When young pigs are taken from the sow, they must be drawn away backwards, or the sow will be fallow.
The bacon of swine killed in a waning moon will waste much in the cooking.
When hogs run grunting home, a storm is impending.—The Cabinet of Nature, 262 (1637).
It is unlucky for a traveller if a sow crosses his path.
If, going on a journey on business, a sow cross the road, you will meet with a disappointment, if not an accident, before you return home.—Grose.
To meet a sow with a litter of pigs is very lucky.
If a sow is with her litter of pigs, it is lucky, and denotes a successful journey.—Grose.
Langley tells us this marvellous bit of etymology: “The bryde anoynteth the poostes of the doores with swynes grease, … to dryve awaye misfortune, wherefore she had her name in Latin uxor, ‘ab ungendo’ [to anoint].”—Translation of Polydore Vergil, 9.
(45) Pigeon. If a white pigeon settles on a chimney, it bodes death to some one in the house.
No person can die on a bed or pillow containing pigeons’ feathers.
If anybody be sick and lye a-dying, if they [sic] lie upon pigeons’ feathers they will be languishing and never die, but be in pain and torment.—British Apollo, ii. No. 93 (1710).
The blue pigeon is held sacred in Mecca.—Pott.
(46) Porcupine. When porcupines are hunted or annoyed, they shoot out their quills in anger.
(47) Rat. Rats forsake a ship before a wreck, or a house about to fall.
A rotten carcass of a boat; the very rats
Instinctively had quit it.
—Shakespeare: The Tempest act i. sc. 2 (1609).
If rats gnaw the furniture of a room, there will be a death in the house ere long.—Grose.
(The bucklers at Lanuvium being gnawed by rats, presaged ill fortune, and the battle of Marses, fought soon after, confirmed the superstition.)
The Romans said that to see a white rat was a certain presage of good luck. —Pliny: Natural History, viii. 57.
(48) Raven. Ravens are ill-omened birds.
—Spenser.
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