Publisher's Synopsis
ILLUSTRATED EDITION
In preparing the Book of Nature Myths the desire has been to make a second reader which would be adapted to the child's interest, ability, and progress. The subject-matter is of permanent value, culled from the folk-lore of the primitive races; the vocabulary, based upon that of the Hiawatha Primer, is increased gradually, and the new words and phrases will add to the child's power of expression.
These myths will gratify the child's desire for complete stories, and their intrinsic merit makes them valuable for oral reproduction. The stories have been adapted to youthful minds from myths contained in the works of many students of folk-lore whose scholarship is undisputed.
CONTENT
PREFACE 7
THE STORY OF THE FIRSTHUMMING-BIRD. 8
PART I. THE GREAT FIRE-MOUNTAIN. 8
PART II. THE FROLIC OF THE FLAMES. 9
PART III. THE BIRD OF FLAME 11
THE STORY OF THE FIRST BUTTERFLIES. 12
THE STORY OF THE FIRST WOODPECKER. 14
WHY THE WOODPECKER'S HEAD IS RED. 15
WHY THE CAT ALWAYS FALLS UPON HER FEET. 18
WHY THE SWALLOW'S TAIL IS FORKED. 20
WHY THE WHITE HARES HAVE BLACK EARS. 24
WHY THE MAGPIE'S NEST IS NOT WELL BUILT. 25
WHY THE RAVEN'S FEATHERS ARE BLACK. 27
HOW FIRE WAS BROUGHT TO THE INDIANS. 29
PART I. SEIZING THE FIREBRAND. 29
PART II. THE FIREBRAND IN THE FOREST. 31
PART III. THE FIREBRAND IN THE POND. 32
HOW THE QUAIL BECAME A SNIPE. 33
WHY THE SERPENT SHEDS HIS SKIN. 35
WHY THE DOVE IS TIMID. 37
WHY THE PARROT REPEATS THE WORDS OF MEN. 38
THE STORY OF THE FIRST MOCKING-BIRD. 42
WHY THE TAIL OF THE FOX HAS A WHITE TIP. 44
THE STORY OF THE FIRST FROG. 47
WHY THE RABBIT IS TIMID. 50
WHY THE PEETWEET CRIES FOR RAIN. 51
WHY THE BEAR HAS A SHORT TAIL. 52
WHY THE WREN FLIES CLOSE TO THE EARTH. 55
WHY THE HOOFS OF THE DEER ARE SPLIT. 56
THE STORY OF THE FIRST GRASSHOPPER. 59
THE STORY OF THE ORIOLE. 61
WHY THE PEACOCK'S TAIL HAS A HUNDRED EYES. 63
THE STORY OF THE BEES AND THE FLIES. 65
THE STORY OF THE FIRST MOLES. 66
THE STORY OF THE FIRST ANTS. 67
THE FACE OF THE MANITO. 71
THE STORY OF THE FIRST DIAMONDS. 73
THE STORY OF THE FIRST PEARLS. 75
THE STORY OF THE FIRST EMERALDS. 77
WHY THE EVERGREEN TREES NEVER LOSE THEIR LEAVES. 79
WHY THE ASPEN LEAVES TREMBLE. 83
HOW THE BLOSSOMS CAME TO THE HEATHER. 84
HOW FLAX WAS GIVEN TO MEN. 86
WHY THE JUNIPER HAS BERRIES. 89
WHY THE SEA IS SALT. 90
THE STORY OF THE FIRST WHITEFISH. 92
WAS IT THE FIRST TURTLE? 94
WHY THE CROCODILE HAS A WIDE MOUTH. 96
THE STORY OF THE PICTURE ON THE VASE. 99
WHY THE WATER IN RIVERS IS NEVER STILL. 101
HOW THE RAVEN HELPED MEN. 104
THE STORY OF THE EARTH AND THE SKY. 107
HOW SUMMER CAME TO THE EARTH. 109
PART I. 109
PART II. 111
THE STORY OF THE FIRST SNOWDROPS. 112
WHY THE FACE OF THE MOON IS WHITE. 115
WHY ALL MEN LOVE THE MOON. 118
WHY THERE IS A HARE IN THE MOON. 120
THE CHILDREN IN THE MOON. 123
WHY THERE IS A MAN IN THE MOON. 126
THE TWIN STARS. 127
THE LANTERN AND THE FAN. 129
