ANIMAL PROVERBS BEASTS There is no beast so savage but it sports with its The APE claspeth her young so long that at last she killeth them. (English). ASSES sing badly because they pitch their voices too high. (German). For every fruit consumed by a BAT a hundred are spoiled. (Tamil). If the BANDICOOT could see behind her she would break her heart and die. (Marathi). If the BEAR will learn to dance he must go to school early. (German). He feeds like a BOAR in a frank. (English). It will rain seventy times before a BUFFALO's horns will be wet. (Tamil). It is easy to threaten a BULL from the window. (Italian). Are you to ask the BULLOCK before you put on the pack saddle? (Telugu). A gude CALF is better than a calf o' a gude kind. (Scotch). If the CAMEL gets his nose in the tent his body will soon follow. (Arabian). He who plays with a CAT must bear its scratches. (Arabian). A COLT is worth nothing if it does not break its halter. (French). A cow is not called dapper unless she has a spot. (Danish). More beautiful than the eye of a DEER; more rapid than its speed. (Tamil). Although a DOG may go to sea the water must be lapped. (Tamil). If a DONKEY bray at you don't bray at him. (English). Only an ELEPHANT can carry an elephant's load. (Marathi). The EWE that doth bleat doth lose the most of her meat. (English). The Fox goes at last to the shop of the furrier. (Turkish). The GOAT that climbs up the rocks must climb down again. (French Guyana-Creole). In small woods may be caught large HARES. (Dutch, Danish). HEDGEHOGS are not to be killed with a fist. (Portuguese). A HOG that's bemired endeavours to bemire others. (English). A golden bit does not make the HORSE any better. (Italian, German). The GREYHOUND that starts many hares kills none. (Spanish, Portuguese). Incredible news-a JACKAL gone on a pilgrimage. (Marathi). When the tree falls the KID can climb it. (Louisianian Creole). Death devours LAMBS as well as sheep. (English). The LEOPARD is absent so they play with the cubs. (African). The LION is not half so fierce as he's painted. (Spanish). He that lacks my MARE may buy my mare. (Scotch). When MASTIFFS fight, little curs will bark. (English). (Chinese). A MOLE can undermine the strongest rampart. What need is there of a king in a country where there is no work, or of a MONGOOSE where there are no snakes? (Tamil). A MONKEY never watches his own tail; he watches his neighbour's. (Mauritius Creole). It is a bold MOUSE that makes her nest in the cat's ear. (Danish). Cutting off a MULE's ears won't make him a horse. (Louisianian Creole). Art thou worn out and become a MUSKRAT; hast thou cast thy horns? (Tamil). The ox is never weary of carrying its horns. (Haytian Creole). PIGS may whistle but they hae an ill mouth for't. (Scotch). It is bad for PUPPIES to play with cub bears. (Danish). RABBIT says: "Drink everything, eat everything, but don't tell everything." (Martinique Creole). He is in search of a RAM with five feet. (Italian). Like excavating a mountain and catching a RAT. (Tamil). Let ilka SHEEP hang by its ain shanks. (Scotch). The full sow knows not the squeak of the empty one. (Welsh). A SQUIRREL ascends by climbing. (Tamil). The still SWINE eats the mesh; the wild ones run past it. (Danish). He sits like a TIGER withdrawing his claws. (Malay). The breath o' a fause friend's waur, than the fuff (threat) o' a WEASEL. (Scotch). He who goes with WOLVES learns to howl. (Spanish, Italian, German, Danish). BIRDS God gives every bird its food but they must fly The FOWL knows the serpent's sneezing. (Bengalese). Cherries are bitter to the glutted BLACKBIRD. (French). CHICKENS are slow in coming from unlaid eggs. (Ger man). Though the COCK crows not morning will come. (Afghan). When the CRANE attempts to dance with the horse she gets broken bones. (Danish). If you put a CROW in a cage will it talk like a parrot? (Urdu). He hasna the gumshion o' the CUCKOO. (Scotch). He who makes himself a DOVE is eaten by hawks. (Italian). Like a conversation of DUCKS-nothing but wah-wah. (Turkish). The old age of an EAGLE is as good as the youth of a spar(Greek). row. It is not every man that can carry a FALCON on his hand. (Danish). A wild GOOSE never laid a tame egg. (English). He that will meddle with all things must go shoo the GOSLINGS. (English). Mother, marry me, marry me, or the GULL will fly away with me. (Spanish). It is hard to lure HAWKS with empty hands. (Danish). The HEN cackles in one place and lays eggs in another. (Modern Greek). The HERON'S a saint when there are no fish in sight. (Bengalese). A JACKDAW is ever found near to a jackdaw. (Greek). A hungry KITE sees a dead horse afar off. (English). He expects that LARKS will fall ready roasted into his mouth. (French). The MAGPIE cannot leave her hopping. (Dutch). Only the NIGHTINGALE can understand the rose. (Marathi). I have lived too near a wood to be frightened by OWLS. (English). Speech like that of a PARROT; gait like that of a peacock. (Tamil). The PARTRIDGE loves peas, but not those that go into the pot with it. (African). The sluggard, like the PEACOCK, is afraid of rain. (Karanese). The voice of the PIGEON in the spit is not like the voice of the pigeon in the tree. (African). |