Sailors’ omens

Hone gathered notes on the fears of seamen, bold as they were. Common sailors of his day thought it very unlucky to lose a bucket or a mop, and just as unlucky to throw a cat overboard or drown one at sea. Children on board were thought lucky to a ship. Whistling was supposed to raise the wind and so was disliked at sea, though sailors whistled themselves in a dead calm, and Sir Thomas Browne recorded the opinion that a kingfisher hung up by its bill would turn its breast to the wind.