240 BIRDS IN LEGEND 



that the mountain bluebird was originally an unlovely 

 gray, but acquired its present exquisite azure coat by 

 bathing in a certain lake of blue water that had neither 

 inlet nor outlet. It bathed in this regularly for four 

 mornings. On the fourth morning it shed all its plumage 

 and came out with the skin bare ; but on the fifth morn- 

 ing it emerged from its bath with a coat of blue. 



This tradition is somewhat sentimental, as befits the 

 sweetly warbling and beloved bluebird, which is not only 

 a favorite, but has a certain sacredness in the southwest ; 

 but often, in the majority of cases perhaps, a rough 

 humor tinges the history. Thus Manabush, a mythical an- 

 cestor of the Menominees, once assembled all the birds 

 by a subterfuge, and then killed several. The little grebe, 

 or "hell-diver," was one of those chosen for death, and 

 as it was a poor runner it was easily caught. Manabush 

 said contemptuously, "I won't kill you, but you shall al- 

 ways have red eyes and be the laughing-stock of all the 

 birds." With that he gave the poor bird a kick, sending 

 it far out into Lake Michigan and knocking off its tail, 

 so that the hell-diver is red-eyed and almost tailless to this 

 day. 



I have restricted this chapter mainly to examples from 

 the folklore of the American Indians, but, were there not 

 danger of becoming tedious, many more might be quoted 

 from the fireside tales of other countries, especially 

 Africa. African traditions, however, can hardly be held 

 to account for the following explanations by some 

 Southern darkies as given by Martha Young 2 : 



The bluejay was yoked into a plow by the sparrow, and the 

 necklace-like mark on his breast is the mark left by the yoke 

 worn in this degrading service. 



The buzzard originally had a "fine plume sweepin' from de 



