H. F. Feilberg, in _Folk-lore_, vi. (1895) pp. 194 _sq._ Footnote 335: See above, p. 65. Footnote 336: L. Lloyd, _Peasant Life in Sweden_, p. 257. Footnote 337: Mr. W. C. Crofts, in a letter to me dated February 3, 1901, 9 Northwich Terrace, Cheltenham. Footnote 338: For details see _Adonis, Attis, Osiris_, Second Edition, pp. 202 _sq._ Footnote 339: This custom was told to W. Mannhardt by a French prisoner in the war of 1870-71 (_Baumkultus_, p. 434). Footnote 340: W. Mannhardt, _Baumkultus_, pp. 434 _sq._ Footnote 341: _Ibid._ p. 435. Footnote 342: See above, pp. 76 _sq._ Footnote 343: M. Martin, _Description of the Western Islands of Scotland_ (London, 1673 [1703]), p. 119; _id._ in Pinkerton’s _Voyages and Travels_, iii. 613; W. Mannhardt, _Baumkultus_, p. 436. According to Martin, the ceremony took place on Candlemas Day, the second of February. But this seems to be a mistake. See J. G. Campbell, _Witchcraft and Second Sight in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland_, pp. 247 _sq._ The Rev. James Macdonald, of Reay in Caithness, was assured by old people that the sheaf used in making Briid’s bed was the last sheaf cut at harvest (J. Macdonald, _Religion and Myth_, p. 141). Later on we shall see that the last sheaf is often regarded as embodying the spirit of the corn, and special care is therefore taken of it. Footnote 344: John Ramsay of Ochtertyre, _Scotland and Scotsmen in the Eighteenth Century_, edited by Alex. Allardyce (Edinburgh, 1888), ii. 447. At Ballinasloe in County Galway it is customary to fasten a cross of twisted corn in the roof of the cottages on Candlemas Day. The cross is fastened by means of a knife stuck through a potato, and remains in its place for months, if not for a year. This custom (of which I was informed by Miss Nina Hill in a letter dated May 5, 1898) may be connected with the Highland one described in the text. Footnote 345: J. Train, _Historical and Statistical Account of the Isle of Man_ (Douglas, Isle of Man, 1845), ii. 116. Footnote 346: See below, pp. 240 _sqq._ Brigit is the true original form of the name, which has been corrupted into Breed, Bride, and Bridget. See Douglas Hyde, _A Literary History of Ireland_ (London, 1899), p. 53, note 2. Footnote 347: A. Kuhn, _Märkische Sagen und Märchen_, pp. 318 _sqq._; W. Mannhardt, _Baumkultus_, p. 437. Footnote 348: W. Mannhardt, _Baumkultus_, p. 438. Footnote 349: R. Andree, _Braunschweiger Volkskunde_ (Brunswick, 1896), p. 248. Footnote 350: D. Monnier, _Traditions populaires comparées_, pp. 283 _sq._; E. Cortet, _Fêtes religieuses_, pp. 162 _sq._; W. Mannhardt, _Baumkultus_, pp. 439 _sq._ CHAPTER XI THE INFLUENCE OF THE SEXES ON VEGETATION