DENSMORE] TETON SIOUX MUSIC 71 



a woodpecker (Phleoeotomus pileatus). ['] The tail featheraof an eagle, in the form 

 of a fan, and alsostrands of horsehair, were hung from the wand. [See pi. 3.] ^ 



In explaining the use of the woodpecker in decorating the Huqka 

 Oanoij'pa it was said that this is '' a simple, humble bird, which stays 

 near its nest and is seldom seen." ^ This bird seems to have been 

 considered especially appropriate, because children who underwent 

 this ceremony were more closely guarded and protected than others. 

 They usually belonged to well-to-do families, in which the girls were 

 seldom seen in public until they were grown up. The ceremony 

 could be held for several children at a time, and often took place in 

 fulfdlment of a vow.' 



The wish of the parents that this ceremony be performed for their 

 child or children was fu'st declared. An invitation was then sent to 

 the man whom the father desired to perform the ceremony, and who 

 thereafter would be bound to the father by a tie even stronger than 

 that of natural brotherhood, because he had assumed a responsibility 

 not placed on hmi by nature. An invitation was usually conveyed 

 by means of a pipe, but for this ceremony a different form of invita- 

 tion was used. The father of the child made a case from the dried 

 bladder of a buffalo, into which he put many little packages of 

 tobacco, one or two pipefuls being wrapped in membrane, similar to 

 the packets fastened to sticks as off erings at the Sun dance (p. 102). 

 The case, after being tied or sealed, was wrapped in a cloth. Tliis 

 was taken to the man selected to perform the ceremony. If he 

 accepted the invitation, he opened the case; otherwise he returned 

 it unopened. 



On acceptance of the invitation great preparations were begun. 

 Two large lodges were erected in the middle of the camp circle and 

 united so as to make one lodge of double the usual size, opening 

 toward the west. This and the other details of the ceremony were 

 in accordance with the instructions given by the White Buffalo 

 Maiden on her first appearance to the Indians. The lodge was like 

 the one which they built to receive her. There was no fire within, 

 but opposite the door and slightly back of the middle of the lodge a 

 square of exposed and ''mellowed" earth was prepared. (See p. 64, . 

 footnote.) In the two corners of this square farthest from the door 



[1 The decorations of the calumet more frequently consisted of the feathers or heads of the duck, owl, 

 eagle, or other birds. See J. N. B. Hewitt, nrt. Calumet in Handbook of American Indians, pt. 1.] 



2 Tlip pilealed woodpecker is commonly called woodcock, and, through misunderstanding, the bird 

 heads shown in pi. 3 are those of the common woodcock. 



3 Cf. the following instances in which the characteristics of a Idrd or an animal were desired by the Indians 

 who, in some cases, wore a part of the liird or animal on their persons; the deer (in a decoration), because 

 this animal can endure thirst a long time (p. 125); the hawk as "the surest bird of prey" (p. 139); the 

 elk, in gallantry (p. 176); the frog, in watchfulness (p. 100); the owl, in "night-wisdom and gentle 

 ways" (p. 181); the bear, wliich " though fierce, has given many medicinal herbs for the good of man" 

 (p. 195); the kit-fox, wliich is "active and wily" (p. 314); the crow, which is especially direct as well 

 as swift in flight (p. 319), and the wolf, in hardihood (p. 388). 



■> Cf. Iho piercing of a child's ears at the Sun dance in fulfillment of a similar vow (p. 137). 



