You are the naughtiest creature I ever
had. As a punishment, you and your children shall remain the same size
as you are now." And all of Bathala's words have turned out to be true.

TALE 78

WHY COCKS HAVE COMBS ON THEIR HEADS.

Narrated by Rosita Nieva, a Tagalog from Boac, Marinduque. She heard
the story from her grandmother.

Once upon a time there was a magician named Pablo, who had a son
called Juan. Pablo was very industrious, but Juan was lazy and
disobedient. Juan cared for nothing but fine clothes and his own
appearance; he would not help his father. One day Pablo went into his
son's room to find out what he was doing. There he was, standing before
a mirror, and combing his hair. Pablo was so angry at his son, that he
immediately snatched the comb from his hand. Then he angrily struck
the boy's head with the comb, and spoke these harsh words: "Since
you always want to use the comb, let it be on your head forever! I
prefer to have no son at all. I would rather see you changed into a
bird than to remain such a disobedient, worthless boy." The father
struck his son's head so hard, that the comb stuck deep into the
skull. By Pablo's magic power, Juan was immediately changed into a
cock, and the comb on his head was changed into flesh. We can see it
to-day on the heads of all the descendants of Juan.

Note.

I know of no variants of stories Nos. 76-78.

TALE 79

HOW THE CROW BECAME BLACK.

Narrated by Vicente L. Neri, a Visayan from Cagayan, Misamis. He was
told the story by his grandmother.

A long time ago, when Bathala, the god of the land, was peacefully
ruling his dominions, he had many pets. Among these, his two favorites
were the dove and the crow. The crow was noted for its bright,
pretty plumage.

One day Bathala had a quarrel with Dumagat, the god of the
sea. Bathala's subjects had been stealing fish, which were the subjects
of Dumagat. When Dumagat learned of this, and could get no satisfaction
from Bathala, he retaliated. He opened the big pipe through which
the water of the world passes, and flooded the dominions of Bathala,
until nearly all the people were drowned. When the water had abated
somewhat, Bathala sent the crow, his favorite messenger, to find out
whether all his subjects had been killed. The crow flew out from the
palace where the god lived, and soon saw the corpses of many persons
floating about. He descended, alighted on one, and began to eat the
decayin