The Traditional Children's Games of England Scotland
& Ireland In Dictionary Form - Volume 1

With Tunes(sheet music), Singing-rhymes(lyrics), Methods Of Playing with diagrams and illustrations.

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	I 6 2                                  CAT'S CRADLE The different orders or arrangements must be taken from the hands of one player by another without disturbing the arrangement.—A. B. Gomme. (b) Nares suggests that the proper name is "Cratch Cradle," and is derived from the archaic word cratch, meaning a manger. He gives several authorities for its use. The first-made form is not unlike a manger. Moor (Suffolk Words) gives the names as cat's cradle, barn-doors, bowling-green, hour-glass, pound,
	Cat's Cradle                                                                    Soldier's Bed
	Taking off"                          Candles                           "Taking off"
	net, diamonds, fish-pond, fiddle. A supposed resemblance originated them. Britton (Beauties of Wiltshire, Glossary) says the game in London schools is called " Scratch-scratch " or " Scratch-cradle." The game is known to savage peoples. Professor Haddon noted it among the Torres Straits people, who start the game in the same manner as we do, but continue it differently (Journ. Anthrop. Inst., p. 361); and Dr. Tylor has pointed out