8 



THE OOLOGIST 



wings. When he does flap them the 

 Indians say it is going to rain. The 

 Apaches say that they can usually lo- 

 cate a deer which one of their hunters 

 has wounded. They do so by watch- 

 ing the turkey buzzards, who sail 

 around over any wounded animal in ex- 

 pectation of a feast. 



The loons are the heralds or run- 

 ners for the spirits of the lower 

 regions; therefore, they can stay un- 

 der water for a long time. If a loon 

 or flock of loons flies afound and 

 sings, it means an early change in the 

 weather. The loon is a medicine bird, 

 and the Winnebagoes make the skin 

 into a receptacle for medicines. 



The song which the Dakota Indians 

 ascribe to the loon expresses gayety 

 and sincere jollity in all things. Just 

 the joy of living: 



"Ha-ha-ha-ha, ha-ha-ha-ha-ha. (Falling 



tone at end) 

 In the waters deep, in the clouds that 



sleep. 

 Ha-ha-ha-ha, ha-ha-ha-ha-ha, 

 In the sky that's blue, in the wind and 



dew. 

 Ha-ha-ha-ha, ha-ha-ha-ha- 

 ha. 



(In translating Indian songs, Dr. Beede 

 has retained the rhyme, where he could 

 do so without violence). 



By the Winnebagoes the bittern is 

 called "wee-haj-a-kay-ra," meaning 

 "views the sun." In early spring 

 and summer its cry in the swamps is 

 said to be a Winnebago word, "hounch- 

 a-poro" meaning bears elbow. 



The wild geese are called (by the 

 Winnebagoes) "wee-jan-ra" meaning 

 larger ones. The migration of geese 

 and ducks always means a change of 

 weather; and this is especially true of 

 the migration of the red heads and 

 those with a top-knot. When either 

 of these two varieties appears it will 

 surely storm. 



The crane is called "pay-jan-ra" 



meaning, in Winnebago, large bill. It 

 is considered a very dangerous bird 

 v/hen wounded or at bay. Cranes fly- 

 ing south always indicate an approach- 

 ing storm or cold weather. Flying 

 north they indicate clear weather. 



By the Sioux Indians the crane was 

 said to be very vicious. It frequently 

 attacked men and more often children. 

 In early days it was claimed by white 

 men and Indians that this bird would 

 swoop down and destroy crops. They 

 were supposed to announce with glee 

 cloudbursts and other approaching 

 disasters which would cause suffering 

 to the people: 



"There'll be a smashing flood 



All over everywhere you know. 

 And in that smashing flood 

 I hope you all will drown." 



Another song addressed to the 

 people: 



"Your eyes are big as your conceit, 

 If they were little eyes like mine 

 We couldn't so easy peck them out 

 And leave you blind as ground moles 

 are." 



Still another: 



"Don't be so impudent 

 The whole great earth 

 Belongs to all the people 

 The birds and beasts and all." 



By many tribes the woodpecker is 

 considered the interpreter of the gods. 

 The Pawnee believed that the wood- 

 pecker understood the voice of the 

 thunders, and were thus enabled to ex- 

 press the wishes of Tirawa, the Chief 

 God. A cap composed of the heads of 

 red-headed woodpeckers was worn by 

 the sons of chiefs, who thus gave evi- 

 dence that they were under the pro 

 tection of Tirawa. Many tribes use 

 the woodpecker on their pipes for th? 

 same reason. 



The golden winged woodpecker is a 

 sacred bird with the Pawnees whos-^ 

 feathers may only be worn by mem- 

 bers of a certain secret fraternity, in 



