208 THE WINNEBAGO TBIBE [eth. ann. 37 



covuit of creation, and thus we have another reason for douljting 

 its age. 



There are other indications of an assimilation with the general 

 origm myth in our versions, such as the absence of animals on the 

 earth and the ascription of certain geographical features to the activity 

 of the thunderbu-ds. Throughout, however, we are always con- 

 fronted with the possibility that we may be dealmg with an old 

 village origiji myth. There seems to be no doubt but that the 

 episode of the origui of death, so distiiict from that given m the general 

 origin myth, is archaic. Other features, on the other hand, like 

 the description of the origui of fire, are clearly reflections of certain 

 possessions always associated with the Thmiderbu'd clan. 



A perusal of the following versions and the versions of the other 

 clan origin myths mdicates clearly how personal the accoimts are. 

 The members of the Thunderbird clan, as we shall subsequently 

 show for the members of the other clans too, make claims of power 

 and importance for theu* clans that are hardly justified by what 

 we know of their actual power. As som-ces of uiformation, there- 

 fore, we must be extremely cautious in our use of these origm myths. 



Before leaving this subject it might be well to pouit out the num- 

 ber of different explanations given m these myths of the relations 

 of the members of the clan to their eponymous clan ancestor. If 

 a Wumebago were asked what this relation was he would answer 

 offhand that the members of the different clans were descended 

 from certam spirit-thmiderbirds who were transformed into himian 

 behigs at Green Bay. 



Li the first version the ancestors of the Thunderbird clan are 

 created by Eai-tlimaker and brought down to earth by the fom- spirit- 

 thunderbirds the first Earthmaker had created. They are ap- 

 parently human beings and not heroic birds, as most of the members 

 of the clan assui-e you. To complicate the situation we have even 

 the mention of the fact that the second set of people who came to 

 visit them were members of the Thujiderbird clan. 



In the second version we have the customary identification of 

 the ancestors of this clan with birds. At the end of this version we 

 have the disthict statement, which is, however, clearly not part of 

 the myth but an explanation by the informant, that the members 

 of the clan call themselves thunderbirds because they, like the 

 true thimderbirds, caused a drizzling raui and fog when they went 

 about. 



It is only in the myth of the origin of the Warrior clan that we have 

 what can be mterpreted as an accomit identical with that given 

 offhand by the Wimiebago. Here we are told that the warriors 

 or hawks when they entered the lodge at Green Bay began to look 

 different and that their feathers were worn off. 



