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dorned with ribbons； flowers； and ears of corn is led all round the field； followed by the whole troop of reapers dancing。 Then a man disguised as the Devil cuts the last ears of corn and immediately slaughters the ox。 Part of the flesh of the animal is eaten at the harvest…supper； part is pickled and kept till the first day of sowing in spring。 At Pont à Mousson and elsewhere on the evening of the last day of reaping； a calf adorned with flowers and ears of corn is led thrice round the farmyard； being allured by a bait or driven by men with sticks； or conducted by the farmer's wife with a rope。 The calf chosen for this ceremony is the calf which was born first on the farm in the spring of the year。 It is followed by all the reapers with their tools。 Then it is allowed to run free； the reapers chase it； and whoever catches it is called King of the Calf。 Lastly； it is solemnly killed； at Lunéville the man who acts as butcher is the Jewish merchant of the village。
Sometimes again the corn…spirit hides himself amongst the cut corn in the barn to reappear in bull or cow form at threshing。 Thus at Wurmlingen； in Thüringen； the man who gives the last stroke at threshing is called the Cow； or rather the Barley…cow； Oats…cow； Peas…cow； or the like； according to the crop。 He is entirely enveloped in straw； his head is surmounted by sticks in imitation of horns； and two lads lead him by ropes to the well to drink。 On the way thither he must low like a cow； and for a long time afterwards he goes by the name of the Cow。 At Obermedlingen； in Swabia； when the threshing draws near an end； each man is careful to avoid giving the last stroke。 He who does give it gets the Cow； which is a straw figure dressed in an old ragged petticoat； hood； and stockings。 It is tied on his back with a straw…rope； his face is blackened； and being bound with straw…ropes to a wheelbarrow he is wheeled round the village。 Here； again； we meet with that confusion between the human and animal shape of the corn…spirit which we have noted in other customs。 In Canton Schaffhausen the man who threshes the last corn is called the Cow； in Canton Thurgau； the Corn…bull； in Canton Zurich； the Thresher…cow。 In the last…mentioned district he is wrapt in straw and bound to one of the trees in the orchard。 At Arad； in Hungary； the man who gives the last stroke at threshing is enveloped in straw and a cow's hide with the horns attached to it。 At Pessnitz； in the district of Dresden； the man who gives the last stroke with the flail is called Bull。 He must make a straw…man and set it up before a neighbour's window。 Here； apparently； as in so many cases； the corn…spirit is passed on to a neighbour who has not finished threshing。 So at Herbrechtingen； in Thüringen； the effigy of a ragged old woman is flung into the barn of the farmer who is last with his threshing。 The man who throws it in cries； There is the Cow for you。 If the threshers catch him they detain him over night and punish him by keeping him from the harvest…supper。 In these latter customs the confusion between the human and the animal shape of the corn…spirit meets us again。
Further； the corn…spirit in bull form is sometimes believed to be killed at threshing。 At Auxerre； in threshing the last bundle of corn； they call out twelve times； We are killing the Bull。 In the neighbourhood of Bordeaux； where a butcher kills an ox on the field immediately after the close of the reaping； it is said of the man who gives the last stroke at threshing that he has killed the Bull。 At Chambéry the last sheaf is called the sheaf of the Young Ox； and a race takes place to it in which all the reapers join。 When the last stroke is given at threshing they say that the Ox is killed； and immediately thereupon a real ox is slaughtered by the reaper who cut the last corn。 The flesh of the ox is eaten by the threshers at supper。
We have seen that sometimes the young corn…spirit； whose task it is to quicken the corn of the coming year； is believed to be born as a Corn…baby on the harvest…field。 Similarly in Berry the young corn…spirit is sometimes supposed to be born on the field in calf form； for when a binder has not rope enough to bind all the corn in sheaves； he puts aside the wheat that remains over and imitates the lowing of a cow。 The meaning is that the sheaf has given birth to a calf。 In Puy…de…D？me when a binder cannot keep up with the reaper whom he or she follows； they say He （or she） is giving birth to the Calf。 In some parts of Prussia； in similar circumstances； they call out to the woman； The Bull is coming； and imitate the bellowing of a bull。 In these cases the woman is conceived as the Corn…cow or old corn…spirit； while the supposed calf is the Corn…calf or young corn…spirit。 In some parts of Austria a mythical calf （Muhk？lbchen） is believed to be seen amongst the sprouting corn in spring and to push the children； when the corn waves in the wind they say； The Calf is going about。 Clearly； as Mannhardt observes； this calf of the spring…time is the same animal which is afterwards believed to be killed at reaping。
8。 The Corn…spirit as a Horse or Mare。
SOMETIMES the corn…spirit appears in the shape of a horse or mare。 Between Kalw and Stuttgart； when the corn bends before the wind； they say； There runs the Horse。 At Bohlingen； near Radolfzell in Baden； the last sheaf of oats is called the Oats…stallion。 In Hertfordshire； at the end of the reaping； there is or used to be observed a ceremony called crying the Mare。 The last blades of corn left standing on the field are tied together and called the Mare。 The reapers stand at a distance and throw their sickles at it； he who cuts it through has the prize； with acclamations and good cheer。 After it is cut the reapers cry thrice with a loud voice； I have her！ Others answer thrice； What have you？ A Mare！ a Mare！ a Mare！ Whose is she？ is next asked thrice。 A。 B。's； naming the owner thrice。 Whither will you send her？ To C。 D。； naming some neighbour who has not reaped all his corn。 In this custom the corn…spirit in the form of a mare is passed on from a farm where the corn is all cut to another farm where it is still standing； and where therefore the corn…spirit may be supposed naturally to take refuge。 In Shropshire the custom is similar。 The farmer who finishes his harvest last； and who therefore cannot send the Mare to any one else； is said to keep her all winter。 The mocking offer of the Mare to a laggard neighbour was sometimes responded to by a mocking acceptance of her help。 Thus an old man told an inquirer； While we wun at supper； a mon cumm'd wi' a autar ＇halter＇ to fatch her away。 At one place a real mare used to be sent； but the man who rode her was subjected to some rough treatment at the farmhouse to which he paid his unwelcome visit。
In the neighbourhood of Lille the idea of the corn…spirit in horse form in clearly preserved。 When a harvester grows weary at his work； it is said； He has the fatigue of the Horse。 The first sheaf； called the Cross of the Horse； is placed on a cross of boxwood in the barn； and the youngest horse on the farm must tread on it。 The reapers dance round the last blades of corn； crying； See the remains of the Horse。 The sheaf made out o