[9] The divination by the running brook has been known in other lands. The Highlanders when they consulted an oracle took their seer, wrapped him in the hide of a newly-killed ox or sheep, and left him in some wild ravine by a roaring torrent to pass the night. From such sights and sounds there resulted impressions which were reflected in his dreams (Vide Scott, "Lady of the Lake," and notes). The fact that running water often makes sounds like the human voice has been observed by the Algonkin Indians of Maine and Nova Scotia (Vide "The Algonkin Legends of New England," by Charles G. Leland). [10] "Südslavische Hexensagen, Mittheilungen der Anthropologischen Gesellschaft in Wien." xiv. Bande, 1884. "Medizinische Zaubersprüche aus Slavonien, Bosnien, der Hercegovina und Dalmatien." Wien, 1887. "Sreca, Glück und Schicksal im Volksglauben der Südslaven." Wien, 1886. "Südslavische Pestsagen." Wien, 1883. [11] "Witch. Mediæval English wicche, both masculine and feminine, a wizard, a witch. Anglo-Saxon wicca, masculine, wicce, feminine. Wicca is a corruption of wítga, commonly used as a short form of witega, a prophet, seer, magician, or sorcerer. Anglo-Saxon witan, to see, allied to wítan, to know. Similarly Icelandic vitki, a wizard, is from vita, to know. Wizard, Norman-French wischard, the original Old French being guiscart, sagacious. Icelandic, vizkr, clever or knowing, ... with French suffix ard as German hart, hard, strong" (Skeat, "Etymol. Dictionary"). That is wiz-ard, very wise. Wit and wisdom here are near allied to witchcraft, and thin partitions do the bounds divide. [12] For a very interesting account of the mysterious early dwarfs of Great Britain the reader may consult "Earth Houses and their Inhabitants," by David MacRitchie, in "The Testimony of Tradition." London: Trübner and Co., 1890. [13] The many superstitions relating to cutting nails may be referred in part to the very wild legend of the ship Naglfara given in Sturleson's "Edda." "Then in that Twilight of the Gods (the Norse Day of Judgment) will come the ship Naglfara, which is made of dead men's nails. In that sea it will go forth. Hrymer steereth it. And for this cause no man should die with his nails unshorn, for so the ship is made, and the gods would fain put that off as long as possible" ("Edda, Gylfesgynning," 26th tale). [14] "Geit suer Heidrun heitr stendr uppi a Valholl.... En or spenum hennar rennr moilk ... tháer ero sva miklar at allir einheria verda fuldrucknir af." ("A ewe named Heidrun stands up in Valhalla. And from her udders runs milk; there is so much that all the heroes may drink their fill of it"). (Snorro Sturleson's "Edda," 20th tale).