116 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [boll. 47 



the father, when the Ancient of Redbirds found him and dragged 

 him along till he reached a hollow tree. He made him stand up within 

 the tree, and went home, saying to his brother, "I have not seen him." 

 But the Ancient of Wrens found him and said, "Here he stands! Here 

 he stands!" causing the Ancient of Goldlinches to run thither. When 

 he reached the hollow tree, he pulled his father forth, threw him down 

 and split him open, bathing in his father's blood. He told the Ancient 

 of Redbirds to lie in the blood, but he refused, so the Ancient of 

 Goldfinches took up some of the blood in the palms of his hands and 

 threw it on him as the Ancient of Redbirds was fleeing, and so the 

 people always say that this explains why that bird is not red all over. 

 And they say that the goldfinch is very red because the Ancient of 

 Goldfinches was bathing for some time in his father's blood. 



