80 MYTHS OF THE IKOQUOIS. 



trying them on until he selected his present suit, in which, although 

 it is the least beautiful of any, he can so gracefully ride through the 

 air. The good turkey-buzzard then returned, bearing the feathery gar- 

 ments, from which each bird chose his present colored suit. 



WHY THE CHIPMUNK HAS THE BLACK STRIPE ON HIS BACK. 



Once upon a time the porcupine was appointed to be the leader of all 

 the animals. Soon after his appointment he called them all together 

 and presented the question, " Shall we have night all the time and 

 darkness, or daylight with its sunshine?" This was a very important 

 question, and a violent discussion arose, some wishing for daylight and 

 the sun to rule, and others for continual night. 



The chipmunk wished for night and daj', weeks and months, and night 

 to be separate from the days, so he began singing, "The light will 

 come ; we must have light," which he continued to repeat. Meanwhile 

 the bear began singing, " Night is best ; we must have darkness." 



While the chipmunk was singing, the day began to dawn. Then the 

 other party saw that the chipmunk was prevailing, and were very angry; 

 and their leader, the bear, pursued the chii^munk, who managed to 

 escape uninjured, the huge paw of the bear simply grazing his back as 

 he entered his hole in a hollow tree, leaving its black imprint, which 

 the chipmunk has ever since retained. But night and day have ever 

 continued to alternate. 



ORIGIN OF THE CONSTELLATIONS. 



Iroquois tradition tells us that the sun and moon existed before the 

 creation of the earth, but the stars had all been mortals or favored ani- 

 mals and birds. 



Seven little Indian boys were once accustomed to bring at eve their 

 corn and beans to a little mound, upon the toj) of which, after their 

 feast, the sweetest of their singers would sit and sing for his mates who 

 danced arouud the mound. On one occasion they resolved on a more 

 sumptuous feast, and each was to contribute towards a savory soup. 

 But the parents refused them the needed supplies, and they met for a 

 feastless dance. Their heads and hearts grew lighter as they flew around 

 the mound, until suddenly the whole company whirled ofi" into the air. 

 The inconsolable parents called iu vain for them to return, but it was 

 too late. Higher and higher they arose, whirling arouud their singer, 

 until, transformed into bright stars, they took their places in the firma- 

 ment, where, as the Pleiades, they are dancing still, the brightness of 



