The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1888-08-08
LEGENDS ABOUT BIRDS.
THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE
FAvoRITEs WITH THE GODS.

FAVoRlTES WITH THE GODS.
The stories Told by savases-Bird Lore
Of the American Indlans-r Traditions
Told in the Old worId--various Ancient
superstitions.
From remote antiquity much mysterious
lore has existed ON the subject of birds, and
ornitnomancy, or the science Of divination
by birds, has still many cfedulous believers.
The feathery denizens of tho 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 preseienee concerning the pow
ers Of nature.
The gods Of heathendom were frequently
transformed into birds, and classical authors
abound in instances of ordinary mortals con-
demned to exist in bird shape for periods of
greater or less duration. In Vedaic lore,
Agni often appeared as falcon or eagle.
Zeus or Jupiter became an eagle to seduce
the young Ganymede. and swan in order to
make love TO Leda. King Arthur, the early
British hero, was, said popular tradition,
transformed into raven. In Irish lore, the
children of Lir were transformed. into swans,
to wander for centuries
Many of the ancient gods and goddesses
have as attributes certain ones of the feath-
cry tribe. The eagle was the bird Of Jove;
the peacoek, the goose and the cuckoo be-
longed to juno; the owl, symbol of medita-
ton, to Athens: while Apollo also claimed
the goose. To Mars was dedicated the wood
pecker; TO Venus the sparrow and dove. Tho
woodpecker is Picus, a soothsayer, who
failed to reciproeate Giro. love, and was
inetamorphosed in consequence Much pop
ular lore relates TO this bird.
Savages had many legends about birds,
usually in connection with meteorological
phenomena. The Haidah Indians claim de-
scent from she crow Votan, the Maya hero.
is represented as a swallow, and the owl is a
cultured hero Of The Tuparaguas Of Califor-
mia. The Pimas say the eagle caused the
deluge.
1t is very old conception that the soul
passes to heaven in the form of bird. and
some say these souls dutter about us in bird
shape. The Powhatan tribe would not touch
wood birds, regarding them as the animated
souls Of their dead chiefs and tho Indians
near St Anthonys 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 II as an omen of death to see
1t flying slowly overhead. Several South
American tribes entertained similar ideas
concerning many birds.
Thlinkeets reverenced yehr, tho creator
crow, and Delawares thought their guardian
spirit, in eagle shape, hung over them. and
that, il 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 Hurons,
embodying the souls of the dead The Flat,
beads say the speckled duck is a metamor-
phosed weeping Indian wife. Tho Kailla In
dians say the soul is carried to heaven by a
bird but hawk that follows will catch It IL
1t is impeded by its sins. The Ojibways call
the bridge over which souls travel "the owl
BRIDGE This conception of the bird as
soul is a common one, and in this shape the
soul is frequently figured in medieval prints
as escaping from the body
S 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 crucifxion of Christ, and crying
'Svalai svalal' (comfort). Its presence
about the house or barn is an suspicious
omen in most countries, and it is uniucky to
disturb its nest
A tradition similar to that given above ia
related of the stork, bird venerated all
over Europe. Swedish legends say that it
few about the cross, saying, "Styrkai
Styrkap etrengthen), And it is therefore a
bird Of good omen.
There are three of the smaller birds com
mon to many countries which arc also re-
garded as sacred These are the robin, the
Tt A..
Is never molested, for it is said to have
drop of Gods blood in It.
A Breton tradition alleges that tho wren
brought fire from heaven, but lost part OF
its plumage. The~, is n 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. Perched upon the
back of the larger bird, the little wren
scared beyond its competitor and won the
title
The cuckoo bears character in popular
lore much like that of the wren. 1t is moro
of prophet, however.
The dove is well known emblem Of fidei-
ity and gentleness sthe sign of incarna-
ton and Of immortality IL has always been
sacred TO Christians.
The eagle is the subject of much popular
lore.
An old superstition declares that the king
of birds ascends into the fiery regions about
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 sweet
notes were heard only just before its disso-
luton. M 8
The pelican was also the subject Of curl
Gus tradition. She was said to pierce her
breast TO feed her young; and it was also as
serted that young pelicans were Matched dead,
and the cock revived them by IA drop Of
blood from its breast
Another equally ancient superstition was
that concerning the kingfsher, which
brought good weather (halcyon days. while
sitting on her eggs Pliny, Virgil and many
other ancient authors refer to this supersti-
TOM s. Bassett in Globe smocrat