perhaps, slightly flatter feet" than those of the South, spoils my suggestion as to race. This struck me as rather strange, as I flattered myself that Dr. Blind's words were entirely on my side. The explanation is that I took for granted that nobody now regards the bulk of the South Germans as of the same race as the tall, light-haired people of North Germany, or the Teutonic element of a somewhat similar type in this country. If, therefore, Dr. Blind's words have been accurately reported, I claim the benefit of them for my suggestion as to a race-distinction underlying the Manx superstition concerning the qualtagh; but as to that suggestion itself, I must confess that I attach but little importance to it. It is gratifying to me, however, that it is likely to lead to an exhaustive discussion of the subject on the basis of an ampler collection of facts.
Oxford, April 18th, 1892.
Notes on the First-Foot Superstition.
It has generally been considered that the first-foot superstition originated in the warfare of races, and that race is the distinctive feature. May it not be sex?
There are no superstitions apart from this one which imply that it is unlucky to meet an enemy on New Year's Day. There are superstitious reasons why a woman should not be met.
We should not dissociate this superstition from others connected with New Year's Day.
We find that a great many customs and superstitions connected with New Year's Day are also observed on May Day.—A.
The ceremiony of the Claivie-burning (Folk-Lore, 1891, p. 19) belongs to a cycle of superstitious customs common to both days.—A. B.
Some of the details of these ceremonies find parallels in
