Drags victims underwater
A motif · Behaviour · Thompson G308, Ogres
4 figures carry it.
Nearby in Thompson's index
Motifs this bestiary also holds from G300 and below. The codes are the index's; the names and counts are ours.
-
G303.3.3.1.3Drowns riders 7 figures -
G303.4.5.3.1Melodic whistle lures prey 1 figure -
G303.4.5.3.1Hooves beneath skirts 3 figures
Carried by
fishermen and travelers who hear her singing from the riverbank or the water are said to fall under an irresistible enchantment, drawn toward the sound until they wade or dive in after her, never to return.
To accomplish this, Ma Da is said to call out, whisper, or cry in a voice resembling someone the living person knows, or to reach up from beneath the surface and pull at the legs of swimmers and waders until they are dragged under.
she is said to hum or sing softly to lure a curious child closer before seizing them and vanishing beneath the water
Its hunting strategy often involves lurking beneath the water's surface, then lunging out with surprising speed to drag its prey into the depths.