Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 11, 1900.djvu/328

 3 1 6 Reviews.

the Parrot is an amalgam of two tales in no wise related to one another. The former part of it is identical with that of the Little Red Hen (^Folk-Lore, vol. x., p. 117). The latter part is a variant of the story of the voracious monster, which, after swallowing a number of men and animals, is destroyed, and the objects swal- lowed brought out alive.

E. Sidney Hartland.

Shetland Folk-Lore. By John Spence, F.E.I.S. Lerwick: Johnson D. Greig.

The author of this contribution to our knowledge of the folk- speech, folklore, and folk-customs of Shetland, tells us in the preface to his interesting volume, that he has been for more than forty years collecting sayings and superstitions from the lips of the old Shetlanders amongst whom he dwells.

The book is divided into five parts, under the sub-tides of " The Picts and their Brochs," " Pre-historic Remains," " Folk- lore," " Proverbs and Sayings," and " The Lammas Fog."

It is the section which relates to folklore that I purpose to consider here. Many of the beliefs relating to animals, which Mr. Spence has noted, are not confined to Shetland; but it is quite right that they should be included in the collection. It is, as most students of folklore know, very difficult to meet with a writer who understands the absolute necessity of noting every custom or belief relating to a district, irrespective of the fact that that it may have been recorded dozens of times as prevailing in other places.

Mr. Spence is not a scientific folklorist, but he has set down all the legends, beliefs, and traditions which have come under his notice ; and he gives us a picture of the life led by the fisher folk and husbandmen of Shetland, which could only be drawn by one familiar with their daily life and occupations. He shows us the real inward life of a people still existing in a mist of traditionary beliefs, which escape the notice of all save the few who are able to penetrate behind the cloud for ever hanging between those who believe and those who criticize old traditions.

It would be a gain to anthropology if others would follow the example set by Mr. Spence, and record the simple everyday customs which are perishing around them.

Florence Peacock.