HARRiscTON) CHILDREN'S STORIES 357 



On the fourth day the leader assembled them in their estufa. 

 And they then were told: "My people, to-morrow the day arrives 

 on which we are to dance, so the flying animals of every kind are to 

 come here to our home to look on. And so you must all do your 

 best." 



The next morning as the sun was rising the Ants gathered in 

 their estufa. After they were all assembled, both men and women, 

 all dressed up nicely, emerged from the estufa. When they looked 

 around at the trees, there were birds of every kind sittmg there. 



They were only dancing a little while when all the Eagles, who 

 were sitting looking on, flew to the ground where the Ants were 

 dancing, and being hungry, began to eat the Ants up. After they 

 had enough, they flew away to their homes. The leader of the 

 Ants said to the people: "Dance your best, my people, for there are 

 many people looking on." 



When he had hardly finished saying thus, the RedtaU Hawks, 

 from where they were sitting lookmg on, flew down to where the 

 Ants were dancing, and began to eat up the Ants. When they got 

 enough, they all flew away to their homes. The leader of the Ants 

 said to them: "My people, dance your best, for there are many 

 people looking on." 



When he had hardly finished saying thus, the Buzzards, from 

 where they were sitting looking on, flew down to where the Ants 

 were dancing, and began to eat the Ants. When they got enough, 

 thej^ all flew away to their homes. Bj' that time there were very 

 few of the Ants left, but they would not quit dancing. They danced 

 all the more. Their leader said to them: "My people, dance your 

 best, for there are still many people looking on." 



When he had hardly finished saying thus, the Tm'keys, from where 

 they were sitting looking on, flew down to where the Ants were 

 dancing, and began to eat the Ants up. When they got enough, 

 they all flew away to their homes. By that time there were but 

 few of the Ants left. But they danced their best. Their leader 

 said to them: "My people, dance your best, for there are still many 

 people who are looking on." 



When he had hardly finished saying thus, the Bluebirds, from 

 where they were sitting in the trees looking on, flew down to where 

 the Ants were dancing, and ate the Ants that were left, together 

 with their leader. And then the Bluebirds all flew away to their 

 homes. 



And the other birds who were lookuig on flew away. Because 

 there were no more Ants left for them, they all said: "Since the 

 other birds have not left us any Ants, let us also go and look for 

 some." When the birds who were sitting looking on said thus, they 

 all scattered to look for Ants. 



So this is the reason that the birds to-day hunt around for ants, 

 and also the reason that birds like ants, because they ate the ants 

 at that time. 



