132 NATURE STUDY. 



" But, after all, the white-headed eagle is a bold fellow, 

 and Mr. Gardiner relates that when riding within five or 

 six rods of one, the bird, by raising his feathers and his 

 general defying demeanor, seemed willing to dispute the 

 ground with its owner." 



Indian Women and the Birds. 



Investigation by the government, through the Bureau 

 of Ethnology, of the religious ceremonies of the Zuni and 

 allied Indians in Arizona and New Mexico has brought out 

 the interesting fact that in asking for favors from the spirit 

 forces, or gods, to which they pray, these Indians do not 

 forget to make special mention of the birds and to ask 

 equal gifts for them. 



The Indians think of their gods as like themselves, only 

 more powerful, and so they think it is as necessary to 

 show the gods what they want, as it is to pray for them. 

 In 1870 the late Major J. W. Powell, so long the able Di- 

 rector of the American Bureau of Ethnology, was in Ari- 

 zona and New Mexico, and had an opportunity to witness 

 a secret religious ceremony, or "dance." which was ob- 

 served for the purpose of praying for rain and good crops 

 of corn, both for the people and for the birds. 



Major Powell did not know then, but learned long after- 

 wards, that the ceremony which he witnessed was a wom- 

 an's "basket-dance." It would appear, therefore, that 

 the thoughtfulness for the birds was suggested by the 

 women, although the prayers were said by a male priest, 

 or " shaman." 



Major Powell wrote down the substance of the prayers, 

 and was permitted to make a drawing of the altar — the 

 first picture of such an altar ever made by a white man. 



