or 'medicine-men' are held in
high repute, and some weird instruments of theirs are met with. The drum
in the illustration (fig. 1), with the queer animal on its head, is a
conjuror's drum in use among the Sioux and the Dakotas on religious
occasions. It has two heads, gaily coloured with vermilion, and is
adorned with one of more figures of animals or birds, probably the
family 'totem,' or crest. These drums are quite small, only measuring
ten inches across by three deep, they are carried by a handle and are
supposed to act as talismans.

The peculiar rattle (fig. 2), showing a face made of raw hide, and
profusely ornamented with feathers, is also used by medicine-men, who
prepare the instrument secretly with mysterious rites. In length it is
about twenty inches.

[Illustration: Fig. 3. Indian Grain Rattle.]

The long narrow box attached to a pole (fig. 3) is also used by the
Sioux and the Dakotas. It is usually decorated with feathers, sometimes
very long. The construction is primitive, consisting merely of grain put
into a box and shaken with more or less violence.

HELENA HEATH.

THE LEOPARD'S LOOKING-GLASS.

An old leopard came out of his den, and wandered for miles through the
forest. As his lithe, spotted body glided amongst the tropical
undergrowth, other creatures slunk out of his path, and he found nothing
on which to prey. Hunger and restlessness drove the animal on, however,
till a new and strange object made him pause to see what it was that
stood in his way. The queer thing, made of wood, like the trees, had
something bright within it; something that was never seen on the trunk
of any tree.

The leopard drew nearer, and found himself, for the first time in his
life, face to face with a looking-glass. He looked in, and saw what
seemed to him the eyes of another leopard gazing into his own.
Curiosity, alarm, and anger, by turns, possessed him. What did the
strange beast mean by gazing at him so? He raised his heavy paw, and
gave a crushing blow upon the glass.

[Illustration: "What did the strange beast mean by gazing at him?"]

Down fell the trap--for trap it was--and the sharp spikes, heavily
weighted, did their work. But though the trap was a terrible one, the
leopard had in his life done greater harm than he suffered, and the
forest was well rid of such a dangerous and cruel animal.

SPIDER RUNNERS.

If I had to undergo one of those transformations we read about in fairy
t