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h them； it was the figure of a wolf about two feet long and half a foot high； the legs of the animal being represented by stiff stalks and its tail and mane by wheat…ears。 This Wheat…wolf she carried back at the head of the harvesters to the village； where it was set up on a high place in the parlour of the farm and remained there for a long time。 In many places the sheaf called the Wolf is made up in human form and dressed in clothes。 This indicates a confusion of ideas between the corn…spirit conceived in human and in animal form。 Generally the Wolf is brought home on the last waggon with joyful cries。 Hence the last waggon…load itself receives the name of the Wolf。
Again； the Wolf is supposed to hide himself amongst the cut corn in the granary； until he is driven out of the last bundle by the strokes of the flail。 Hence at Wanzleben； near Magdeburg； after the threshing the peasants go in procession； leading by a chain a man who is enveloped in the threshed…out straw and is called the Wolf。 He represents the corn…spirit who has been caught escaping from the threshed corn。 In the district of Treves it is believed that the Corn…wolf is killed at threshing。 The men thresh the last sheaf till it is reduced to chopped straw。 In this way they think that the Corn…wolf； who was lurking in the last sheaf； has been certainly killed。
In France also the Corn…wolf appears at harvest。 Thus they call out to the reaper of the last corn； You will catch the Wolf。 Near Chambéry they form a ring round the last standing corn； and cry； The Wolf is in there。 In Finisterre； when the reaping draws near an end； the harvesters cry； There is the Wolf； we will catch him。 Each takes a swath to reap； and he who finishes first calls out； I've caught the Wolf。 In Guyenne； when the last corn has been reaped； they lead a wether all round the field。 It is called the Wolf of the field。 Its horns are decked with a wreath of flowers and corn…ears； and its neck and body are also encircled with garlands and ribbons。 All the reapers march； singing； behind it。 Then it is killed on the field。 In this part of France the last sheaf is called the coujoulage； which； in the patois； means a wether。 Hence the killing of the wether represents the death of the corn…spirit； considered as present in the last sheaf； but two different conceptions of the corn…spiritas a wolf and as a wetherare mixed up together。
Sometimes it appears to be thought that the Wolf； caught in the last corn； lives during the winter in the farmhouse； ready to renew his activity as corn…spirit in the spring。 Hence at midwinter； when the lengthening days begin to herald the approach of spring； the Wolf makes his appearance once more。 In Poland a man； with a wolf's skin thrown over his head； is led about at Christmas； or a stuffed wolf is carried about by persons who collect money。 There are facts which point to an old custom of leading about a man enveloped in leaves and called the Wolf； while his conductors collected money。
3。 The Corn…spirit as a Cock。
ANOTHER form which the corn…spirit often assumes is that of a cock。 In Austria children are warned against straying in the corn…fields； because the Corn…cock sits there； and will peck their eyes out。 In North Germany they say that the Cock sits in the last sheaf； and at cutting the last corn the reapers cry； Now we will chase out the Cock。 When it is cut they say； We have caught the Cock。 At Braller； in Transylvania； when the reapers come to the last patch of corn； they cry； Here we shall catch the Cock。 At Fürstenwalde； when the last sheaf is about to be bound； the master releases a cock； which he has brought in a basket； and lets it run over the field。 All the harvesters chase it till they catch it。 Elsewhere the harvesters all try to seize the last corn cut； he who succeeds in grasping it must crow； and is called Cock。 Among the Wends it is or used to be customary for the farmer to hide a live cock under the last sheaf as it lay on the field； and when the corn was being gathered up； the harvester who lighted upon this sheaf had a right to keep the cock； provided he could catch it。 This formed the close of the harvest…festival and was known as the Cock…catching； and the beer which was served out to the reapers at this time went by the name of Cock…beer。 The last sheaf is called Cock； Cock…sheaf； Harvest…cock； Harvest…hen； Autumn…hen。 A distinction is made between a Wheat…cock； Bean…cock； and so on； according to the crop。 At Wünschensuhl； in Thüringen； the last sheaf is made into the shape of a cock； and called the Harvest…cock。 A figure of a cock； made of wood； pasteboard； ears of corn； or flowers； is borne in front of the harvest…waggon； especially in Westphalia； where the cock carries in his beak fruits of the earth of all kinds。 Sometimes the image of the cock is fastened to the top of a May…tree on the last harvest…waggon。 Elsewhere a live cock； or a figure of one； is attached to a harvest…crown and carried on a pole。 In Galicia and elsewhere this live cock is fastened to the garland of corn…ears or flowers； which the leader of the women…reapers carries on her head as she marches in front of the harvest procession。 In Silesia a live cock is presented to the master on a plate。 The harvest…supper is called Harvest…cock； Stubble…cock； etc。； and a chief dish at it； at least in some places； is a cock。 If a waggoner upsets a harvest…waggon； it is said that he has spilt the Harvest…cock； and he loses the cock； that is； the harvest…supper。 The harvest…waggon； with the figure of the cock on it； is driven round the farmhouse before it is taken to the barn。 Then the cock is nailed over or at the side of the house…door； or on the gable； and remains there till next harvest。 In East Friesland the person who gives the last stroke at threshing is called the Clucking…hen； and grain is strewed before him as if he were a hen。
Again； the corn…spirit is killed in the form of a cock。 In parts of Germany； Hungary； Poland； and Picardy the reapers place a live cock in the corn which is to be cut last； and chase it over the field； or bury it up to the neck in the ground； afterwards they strike off its head with a sickle or scythe。 In many parts of Westphalia； when the harvesters bring the wooden cock to the farmer； he gives them a live cock； which they kill with whips or sticks； or behead with an old sword； or throw into the barn to the girls； or give to the mistress to cook。 It the Harvest…cock has not been spiltthat is； if no waggon has been upsetthe harvesters have the right to kill the farmyard cock by throwing stones at it or beheading it。 Where this custom has fallen into disuse； it is still common for the farmer's wife to make cockie…leekie for the harvesters； and to show them the head of the cock which has been killed for the soup。 In the neighbourhood of Klausenburg； Transylvania； a cock is buried on the harvest…field in the earth； so that only its head appears。 A young man then takes a scythe and cuts off the cock's head at a single sweep。 If he fails to do this； he is called the Red Cock for a whole year； and people fear that next year's crop will be bad。 Near Udvarhely； in Transylvania； a live cock is bound up in the last sheaf and killed with a spit。 It is then skinned。 The flesh is thrown away； but the skin and feathers are kept till next year； and in spring the grain from the last sheaf is mixed with the feathers of the cock and scattered on the field which is to be tilled。 Nothing could set in a clearer light the identification of the cock with the spirit of the corn。 By being tied up in the last sheaf and killed； the cock is identified with the corn； and its death with the cutting of the corn。 By keeping its feathers till spring； then mixing them with the seed…corn taken from the very sheaf in which the bird had been bound； and scattering the feathers together with the seed over the field； the identity of the bird with the corn is again emphasised； and its quickening and fertilising power； as an embodiment of the corn…spirit； is intimated in the plainest manner。 Thus the corn…spirit； in the form of a cock； is killed at harvest； but rises to fresh life and activity in spring。 Again； the equivalence of the cock to the corn is expressed； hardly less plainly； in the custom of burying the bird in the ground； and cutting off its head （like the ears of corn） with the scythe。
4。 The Corn…spirit as a Hare。
ANOTHER common embodiment of the corn…spirit is the hare。 In Galloway the reaping of the last standing corn is called cutting the Hare。 The mode of cutting it is as follows。 When the rest of the corn has been reaped； a handful is left standing to form the Hare。 It is divided into three parts and plaited； and the ears are tied in a knot。 The reapers then retire a few yards and each throws his or her sickle in turn at the Hare to cut it down。 It must be cut below the knot； and the reapers continue to throw their sickles at it； one after the other； until one of them succeeds in severing the stalks below the knot。 The Hare is then carried home and given to a maidservant in the kitchen； who places it over the kitchen…door on the inside。 Sometimes the Hare used to be thus kept till the next harvest。 In the parish of Minnigaff； when the Hare was cut； the unm