Note 156.2 — Chapter XV · THE COUVADE AND OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE STRENGTH OF THE BLOOD-TIE—CONCLUSION OF THE INQUIRY INTO THE THEORY OF THE LIFE-TOKEN.

Grimm, Teut. Myth., 1813; Von Wlislocki, in iv. Am Urquell, 70; iii., 11; Siebenb. Sachs., 67, 86, 201; Volksgl. Mag., 140; Krauss, Sitte und Brauch, 534. The German settlers in the Land beyond the Forest forbid a child’s bath-water to be thrown out of doors at night; nor may it be thrown where it may be trodden on, else the child will lose its sleep, or, as some say, die. Nor must it have been boiled, else the child will get pimples. Hillner, 51, 52. Why must water that has been used for bathing the feet, in the west of Ireland, be put outside the door at night “for fear of the fairies”? Prof. Haddon, in iv. Folklore, 351. Apparently the fairies here are the house-spirits. Might they otherwise tumble in? Is the water to be thrown away or put outside in the tub?