Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-20
LEGENDS ABOUT BIRDS.
THEY WERE SUPPOSED 20 &c
FAVOaITES WITH THE GODS.

THEY WERE SUPPOSED 70 &c
FAvOaITES WITH THE GODS.
The Stories Told by savages-Bird Lore
of tho American Indians-Tradittons
Told in the Old Worid-various Ancient
Supcrstitions.
From remote antiquity much mysterious
lore has existed on the subject OF birds, and
ornitnoinancy, or the science Of divinarion
By birds, has still many credulous believers
The feathery deniZens Of the air were sup
posed to be favorites with the gods, having
ALWAYS some subtle connection with the shad-
owy region beyond, and, therefore, endowed
with unusual prescisnce conserving the pow
ers Of nature.
The gods Of heathendom wen frequently
transformed into birds, and CLASSICAL authors
abound in instances Of ordinary mo-tals con-
6emned to exist in bird shape for pe-iods OF
greater or less duration In Vedaio lore,
Agni often appeared as falcon or asgie.
Eeus or Jupiter became an eagle 70 seouce
the young Ganymede. and swan in order 70
1ttslk6 lOSc " AcSk& &AAkiB S4AA Slo S<A< ~
British hero, Yves, said popular tradition,
transformed into raven In Irish lore, tho
children Of Liz were transformed into swans,
TO wander for centuries
Many Of the ancient gods and goddess
have es attributes certain ones OF the fcatE-
cry tribe. The eagle IVES the bird Of Jove;
The peacock, the goose and tho cuckoo BE-
longed to Juno; the owl, symbol Of mesita-
tion, 70 Athens: while Apollo also claimed
tie goose. To Mars was dedicated the wood
pecker: 70 Venus the sparrow and dove. Tho
woodpecker is Picus, sooshsaycr. who
failed to reciprocate Cross low. and was
me.emorphosed in consequence Much pop
ular lore relates % this bird
Savages had neny Legends about birds,
usually in connection with meteorological
phenomena The Haidah Indians claim do
scent from The crow Vo.an, the Maya hero,
Is represented ns a swallow, and the owl is .
cultured hero of the Tuparogras Of CaEfor-
mia The Piu1as sly the eagle caused the
deluge.
1t is very old conception that tho sool
passes to hea@ en- In the form Of . bird, and
some say these souls furtCv sbou. us ia bird
shape. The Powhatan trih- would not touch
wood birds, regarding them as the animated
souls Of their dead chiefs. and tee Indians
near st Anthony's Falls said the spirits Of
dead warriors lowered about in the shape Of
eagles.
The Hurons thought that turtle doves were
the abodes Of departed souls and the Abb
pones claimed the same for the red headed
duck, regarding 1t as IN omen Of death 10 see
Il flying slowly overhead Several South
American tribes entertained similar ideas
concerning many birds.
Thlinkeets reverenced Yehr, the creator
crow, and Delawares thought their guardian
spirit, in eagle shape, hung over them, and
that, if pleased, corn would be plentiful, and
the hunting successful, but il it were angry,
thunder and lightning would attend its rage.
The diver was sacred among the Hurous,
embodying the souls of the dead. The Flat
heads say the speckled duck is a metamor.
phosed weeping Indian wife Tho Kailla In
dams say the soul is carried to heaven by Q
bird; but a hawk that follows will catch it II
it is impeded by its sins. The Ojibways call
the bridge over which souls travel the owl
bridge This conception of the bird as a
soul is common one, and in this shape the
soul is frequently figured In medieval prints
as escaping from the body.
Several birds are sacred in popular lore.
The swallow is one of these A Swedish ira
dition represents it as flying over the cross
during the crucixion of Christ, and crying
''Svala svalal" comfort. Its presenca
about the house or barn is All suspicious
omen in most countries, and it Is unlucky 70
disturb its nest.
A tradition similar 70 that given above 4.
related OF the stork, a bird venerated all
over Europe Swedish legends say that il
few about the cross, saying, 'Styrkal
Styrkar' strengthen. And It Is therefore a
bird of good omen.
There are three Of the smaller birds com-
mon to many countries, which are also 70
earded as sacred These ara the robin, the
wren and the cuckoo. In Scotland the robin
is never nolested, tor it is said to have q
drop Of Gods blood in 1t.
A Breton tradition alleges that the wren
brought fire from heaven, but lost par, OF
its plumage. There IS popular legend that
this little bird claimed the title Of king OF
birds by a contest with the eagle as to which
could mount the highest. Pmched upon the
back Of the larger bird, the little wren
scared beyond Its competitor and won TIN
title
The cuckoo bears a character in popular
Z lOle MUCH ilkc tO21t VI sAc "fSiA a. Inv 2
of a prophet, however.
The dove is q well known emblem Of fdsl
ity and gentleness. As the sign OF incarna-
tion and Of Immortality it has always been
sacred 70 Christians.
The eagle is the subject Of much popular
lore
An old superstition declares that the king
Of birds ascends into the fery regions abosa
the sun once IN ten years, and then plunges
into the sea to renew its youth.
A popular idea, dating from antiquity
was that of the dying swan, whose swee,
notes were heard only just before its dtsss.
lution.
The pelican was also tho subject Of q cuYf
Gus tradition She was said 70 pierce hss
breast 70 feed her young and Is was also As.
serted that young peiicans were Matched dead
and the cock revived them by . drop Q:
blood from its breast
Another equally ancient superstition VA
that concerning the kinsfisher, which
brought good weather lhaicyon days whik
sitting on her eggs Piiny, Virgil and many
other ancient authors refer to this superxtt
tion.-F. S. Basssts in Globe Democrat.
Killed by CompettsseA.
Priend TO young poee-Bow = Jour oool
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