The Traditional Children's Games of England Scotland
& Ireland In Dictionary Form - Volume 2

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

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	44o	ADDENDA
	Leap-Frog. [Vol. i. pp. 133, 327, 328.] The chief rules of this game, obtaining in N.E. Scotland in Dr. Gregor's boyhood, were:—The boy that stooped his back was called " the bull," pronounced " bill." The bull was not to "horn," i.e.j throw up his back when the player placed his hands on it to leap over, or to bend his back down, and that the player was to lay his hands on the bull's back quite flat, and not to "knockle," i.e., drive the knuckles into it. The best way to play was:—A line was drawn beside the bull, over which the heel of the player must not pass. All the players, the one after the other in succession, leaped over the bull. The one last over called out, u Fit it," i.e., foot it, which meant that the bull had to measure from the line a breadth and a length of his foot. This done he stooped, and all the players went over as before, and another breadth and length of foot were added. This went on as long as the players thought they were able to leap over the bull. When they thought they could not do so, the last player called out, " Hip it," i.e., take a hop. This done, the bull put himself into position, and each player now took a hop from the line to the bull, and then went over him. Here the same process of footing was gone through as before, as long as the players were able to go clear over the bull. Then came a step with as much footing as was considered safe, and then came a jump with so much footing. It was now with the players u hip, step, an' jump," and over the bull. Then more "fitin'," and perhaps another " hip," and so on—two hips, two steps, two jumps, and a flying leap over the bull. It was not often the game reached this point. Some one of the players had failed to pass right over the bull and caused him to fall, or had overstepped the line. When any player did either the one or the other, he had to become bull.—Keith (Rev. Dr. Gregor). This is a fuller and more complete description than that of "Foot and Over" (vol. i. p. 133). Another mode of playing leap-frog is: the players stand with their backs to the leapers, and only bend the head and the leaper's hands are placed between the shoulders. Instead of running a few yards in front, each player advances only a