HOW FLAX WAS GIVEN TO MEN 128

WHY THE JUNIPER HAS BERRIES 133

WHY THE SEA IS SALT 135

THE STORY OF THE FIRST WHITEFISH 138

WAS IT THE FIRST TURTLE? 142

WHY THE CROCODILE HAS A WIDE MOUTH 145

THE STORY OF THE PICTURE ON THE VASE 150

WHY THE WATER IN RIVERS IS NEVER STILL 155

HOW THE RAVEN HELPED MEN 160

THE STORY OF THE EARTH AND SKY 165

HOW SUMMER CAME TO THE EARTH.

Part I. 169

Part II. 172

THE STORY OF THE FIRST SNOWDROPS 175

WHY THE FACE OF THE MOON IS WHITE 179

WHY ALL MEN LOVE THE MOON 184

WHY THERE IS A HARE IN THE MOON 188

THE CHILDREN IN THE MOON 193

WHY THERE IS A MAN IN THE MOON 197

THE TWIN STARS 200

THE LANTERN AND THE FAN 204

VOCABULARY 211

THE BOOK OF NATURE MYTHS.

THE STORY OF THE FIRST HUMMING-BIRD.

PART I. THE GREAT FIRE-MOUNTAIN.

Long, long ago, when the earth was very young, two hunters were
traveling through the forest. They had been on the track of a deer for
many days, and they were now far away from the village where they lived.
The sun went down and night came on. It was dark and gloomy, but over in
the western sky there came a bright light.

"It is the moon," said one.

"No," said the other. "We have watched many and many a night to see the
great, round moon rise above the trees. That is not the moon. Is it the
northern lights?"

"No, the northern lights are not like this, and it is not a comet. What
can it be?"

It is no wonder that the hunters were afraid, for the flames flared red
over the sky like a wigwam on fire. Thick, blue smoke floated above the
flames and hid the shining stars.

"Do the flames and smoke come from the wigwam of the Great Spirit?"
asked one.

"I fear that he is angry with his children, and that the