CASSELL'S DICTIONARY OF SUPERSTITIONS is a fascinating guide to a diverse range of popularly held fears and beliefs. Many are still familiar and widespread; others now belong firmly to the past, but are intriguing nonetheless for the insights they offer into human preoccupations and taboos. Entries are arranged alphabetically by subject and vary from brief accounts of the superstitions related to specific daily tasks, medical ailments, plants and animals, to expansive discussions of wider topics, such as the weather, childbirth and death. In addition, many traditional rhymes and chants are included, ranging from couplets to be chanted to avoid the dangers of being bewitched, to spells that my be tried in the hope of gleaning information about the future.