“Water be your part of it,” was the common retort. It was supposed that the use of the word would spoil the brewing.(1460) The Highlanders say that when you meet a hobgoblin, and the fiend asks what is the name of your dirk, you should not call it a dirk (_biodag_), but “my father’s sister” (_piuthar m’athar_) or “my grandmother’s sister” (_piuthar mo sheanamhair_) or by some similar title. If you do not observe this precaution, the goblin will lay such an enchantment on the blade that you will be unable to stab him with it; the dirk will merely make a tinkling noise against the soft impalpable body of the fiend.(1461) (M242) Manx fishermen think it unlucky to mention a horse or a mouse on board a fishing-boat.(1462) The fishermen of Dieppe on board their boats will not speak of several things, for instance priests and cats.(1463) German huntsmen, from motives of superstition, call everything by names different from those in common use.(1464) In some parts of Bavaria the farmer will not mention a fox by its proper name, lest his poultry-yard should suffer from the ravages of the animal. So instead of _Fuchs_ he calls the beast _Loinl_, _Henoloinl_, _Henading_, or _Henabou_.(1465) In Prussia and Lithuania they say that in the month of December you should not call a wolf a wolf but “the vermin” (_das Gewürm_), otherwise you will be torn in pieces by the werewolves.(1466) In various parts of Germany it is a rule that certain animals may not be mentioned by their proper names in the mystic season between Christmas and Twelfth Night. Thus in Thüringen they say that if you would be spared by the wolves you must not mention their name at this time.(1467) In Mecklenburg people think that were they to name a wolf on one of these days the animal would appear. A shepherd would rather mention the devil than the wolf at this season; and we read of a farmer who had a bailiff named Wolf, but did not dare to call the man by his name between Christmas and Twelfth Night, referring to him instead as Herr Undeert (Mr. Monster). In Quatzow, a village of Mecklenburg, there are many animals whose common names are disused at this season and replaced by others: thus a fox is called “long-tail,” and a mouse “leg-runner” (_Boenlöper_). Any person who disregards the custom has to pay a fine.(1468) In the Mark of Brandenburg they say that between Christmas and Twelfth Night you should not speak of mice as mice but as _dinger_; otherwise the field-mice would multiply excessively.(1469) According to the Swedish popular belief, there are certain animals which should never be spoken of by their proper names, but must always be signified by euphemisms and kind allusions to their character. Thus, if you speak slightingly of the cat or beat her, you must be sure not to mention her name; for she belongs to the hellish crew, and is a friend of the mountain troll, whom she often visits. Great caution is also needed in