26 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



southward as far as the southern part of Vancouver Island. 

 The component incidents of the Raven myths comprise 

 origin tales, incidents based on Raven's voraciousness, and 

 his amorous and other adventures. In the author's discus- 

 sion of the myths of the Transformer or culture hero of the 

 Tsimshian, he introduces comparisons with the same mytho- 

 logical conception among other tribes of the northwest 

 coast. 



In order to afford a proper understanding of the people 

 whose mythology is here presented, Doctor Boas follows 

 the first section of his memoir (that devoted to the myths 

 and tales themselves) with a description of the Tsimshian, 

 based on their mythology, a section on Tsimshian society, 

 and a comparative study of Tsimshian mythology. In the 

 appendices are Bellabella and Nootka tales, a summary of 

 comparisons, a list of Tsimshian proper names and place 

 names, a glossary, and an index of references. 

 F. W. Hodge, 



Ethnologist-in-Chargt . 



