Myths and Legends of British North America/Little Gray Woodpecker (Wyandot)

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Redbird and Blackbird—Ojibwa

Myths and Legends of British North America
by Katharine Berry Judson

Little Gray Woodpecker—Wyandot

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4629667Myths and Legends of British North America — Little Gray Woodpecker—WyandotKatharine Berry Judson

LITTLE GRAY WOODPECKER

Wyandot

ONCE a beautiful Indian maiden used to go often to dances. When she was dressing for the dance, Gray Woodpecker would come to help her. He helped her put the many colors on her face.

Now Little Gray Woodpecker was gray all over. He had only a few small white spots. Now one day the maiden left some red paint on the bit of wood she used for a brush. Woodpecker saw this, and he said, "I will make myself beautiful with this." So Gray Woodpecker took the brush and rubbed it just over his ears, on each side of his head. He did this many times. That is why he has two tiny red stripes on the sides of his head.