_Source_.--From an eighteenth-century ballad of the Rev. Mr. Lamb of Norham, as given in Prof. Child's _Ballads_; with a few touches and verses from the more ancient version “Kempion.” A florid prose version appeared in _Monthly Chronicle of North Country Lore_ for May 1890. I have made the obvious emendation of O quit your sword, unbend your bow for O quit your sword, and bend your bow. _Parallels_.--The ballad of “Kempe Owein” is a more general version which “The Laidly Worm” has localised near Bamborough. We learn from this that the original hero was Kempe or Champion Owain, the Welsh hero who flourished in the ninth century. Childe Wynd therefore = Childe Owein. The “Deliverance Kiss” has been studied by Prof. Child, _l.c._, i. 207. A noteworthy example occurs in Boiardo's _Orlando Inamorato_, cc. xxv., xxvi. _Remarks_.--It is perhaps unnecessary to give the equations “Laidly Worm = Loathly Worm = Loathsome Dragon,” and “borrowed = changed.” XXXIV. CAT AND MOUSE. _Source_.--Halliwell, p. 154. _Parallels_.--Scarcely more than a variant of the “Old Woman and her Pig” (No. iv.), which see. It is curious that a very similar “run” is added by Bengali women at the end of every folk-tale they tell (Lal Behari Day, _Folk Tales of Bengal_, Pref. _ad fin._) XXXV. THE FISH AND THE RING. _Source_.--Henderson, _l.c._, p. 326, from a communication by the Rev. S. Baring-Gould. _Parallels_.--“Jonah rings” have been put together by Mr. Clouston in his _Popular Tales_, i. 398, &c.: the most famous are those of Polycrates, of Solomon, and the Sanskrit drama of “Sakuntala,” the plot of which turns upon such a ring. “Letters to kill bearer” have been traced from Homer downwards by Prof. Köhler on Gonzenbach, ii. 220, and “the substituted letter” by the same authority in _Occ. u. Or._, ii. 289. Mr. Baring-Gould, who was one of the pioneers of the study of folk-tales in this country, has given a large number of instances of “the pre-ordained marriage” in folk-tales in Henderson, _l.c._ XXXVI. THE MAGPIE'S NEST. _Source_.--I have built up the “Magpie's Nest” from two nidification myths, as a German professor would call them, in the Rev. Mr. Swainson's _Folk-Lore of British Birds_, pp. 80 and 166. I have received instruction about the relative values of nests from a little friend of mine named Katie, who knows all about it. If there is any mistake in the order of neatness in the various birds' nests, I must have learnt my lesson badly. _Remarks_.--English popular tradition is curiously at variance about the magpie's nidificatory powers, for another legend given by Mr. Swainson represents her as refusing to be instructed by the birds and that is why she does _not_ make a good nest. XXXVII. KATE CRACKERNUTS. _Source_.--Given by Mr. Lang in _Longman's Magazine_, vol. xiv. and reprinted in _Folk-Lore_, Sept. 1890. It is very corrupt, both girls being called Kate, and I have had largely to rewrite.