Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 20, 1909.djvu/398

344 A rose of which the flower has any green sepals mixed with the red petals is called a "death rose," and is an omen of death to one of the family. The same omen is derived from a tree bearing ripe apples and blossoms at the same time.

The following are other death omens:—A white bird flying against or in front of a window; a cat dying in the house (1897); a bat flying against a window; a mole coming near a house; and rats nibbling furniture.

It is an extremely bad omen if a ringer "throws" a bell when ringing a wedding peal, or if a bell rope breaks.

If a bell is rung while the clock is striking you will shortly hear of a death.

A clock falling is a sign that the death of some one belonging to the family has taken place at the same moment.

If you drop a pair of scissors and they stand up on their double point, you will hear of a wedding, but, if only on one point, it is a sign of a death.

A humble bee flying towards the house is a sign of a stranger coming, or of a death.

A robin looking into a room causes good luck.

A cat scratching the leg of a table is a sign of rain, and, if she washes her face with her left paw over her left ear, it is a certain sign of snow.

A toad crossing the road is a sign of rain.

To kill a beetle will cause rain.

If the crust of a boiled apple pudding breaks when being turned out of the basin, it is a sign of a wet week. (I think this applies especially to a Sunday pudding.)

i.e. that the next morning will be wet.

If the moon is either new or full on a Saturday it always brings bad weather, and often a flood.