Themis, a study of the social origins of Greek ... - Warburg Institute

IV] Bird-magic 111
a bird. She is all bird. The colouring of the feathers is
a dark vivid blue and the
colourless reproduction gives
but a slight idea of the
beauty of the bluebird-
priestess.
The wearing of bird-
robes and bird-headdresses
with magical intent goes
on to-day among primitive
peoples. Among the Tara-
humares now-a-days a shaman
may be seen at feasts
wearing the plumes of birds,
and through these plumes
it is thought the wise birds
impart ail they know 1 . Like
Teiresias, like Mopsos, like
Melampos, like Kassandra,
these shamans understand
the speech of birds. A little
bird tells them.
Further you can secure ^
much bird-raana by a birddance.
These same Tarahu- /
mares assert that their
dances have been taught
them by animals. Animals
they hold are not inferior
creatures ; they practise
magic. The deer and the
turkey dance in spring, the
birds sing and the frogs
croak to induce the gods
to let. it rain. Here it is
evident we are in a transi-
tion stage ; gods are already Fig. 19.
1 C. Lumholtz, Unknown Mexico, vol. i. p. 313. For the general attitude of
primitive man towards birds, see E. J. Payne, History of America, n. p. 161, and
especially M c Dougall, Journ. Anthrop. Inst. 1901, xxxi. pp. 173—213.