NO. JO SMITHSONIAN EXPLORATIONS, [QI2 43 



Among the articles consecrated for use in the tribal rites are two 

 that are regarded by the < )sage Indians as the mosl sacred and signif- 

 icant in their meaning. These are the " burden strap of the woman," 

 and the " sacred bird-hawk of the man." 



The ( >sage tribe is composed of two great divisions, one of which 

 occupies the north side of the tribal encampment, and the other 

 the south side. The divisions are made up of sub-groups, each of 

 which lias its part id* the general story contained in the tribal rites, 

 and also its sacred article which is kept in ceremonially prepared 

 cases, making a " bundle.*' 



Mr. La Flesche was so fortunate during his stay among the < )sage 

 Indians in [912, as to obtain for the Institution seven specimens of 

 the sacred burden straps, some of which are very old and made of 

 buffalo hide, having been handed down as heirlooms. lie also 

 obtained three of the sacred " bundles," one of which is of peculiar 

 interest. 



The transferring of this "bundle" to Mr. La Flesche was accom- 

 panied by a scene which gave evidence of the reverence with which 

 these ancient and sacred objects are still regarded. Although, in 

 this particular instance, the keeper of the "bundle" and his wife 

 have abandoned the customs and religion of their fi ire fathers and have 

 accepted a new faith, yet the act of parting with this relic of the past 

 awakened the memory of former beliefs in its power for good and ill. 

 When about to give up the "bundle," the wife of its keeper took 

 it outdoors and. standing in the early sunlight, lifted the ancient 

 object to the sun, and while holding it aloft uttered a prayer for its 

 safetv, at the same time making an appeal that no harm should befall 

 her household for her act in surrendering forever a sacred charge. 



OBSERVATIONS ON BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS, IX NEWFOUND 

 LAND AND LABRADOR, BY MR. A. C. BENT 



Mr. A. C. Lent spent the months of June, July, and August, i<)i-\ 

 in Newfoundland and Labrador, for the purpose of gathering further 

 information and material for the work 011 the life histories of North 

 American birds, of which the Smithsonian has issued two volumes. 

 During the first month he travelled alone or with a guide, in New- 

 foundland. A week was occupied in visiting Dr. Leonard ( '. San- 

 ford's camp on the west coast of the Fox Island River, where he 

 collected a scries of crossbills which proved, to be a new sub-species. 



