STORIES CALIFORNIA INDIANS TOLD

In this collection of California Indian tales, as in most Indian legends, the creatures of the forest are personified and elements of nature are explained. With the primitive poetic interpretation frequently found in Indian lore, these tales explain how California was made, how the animals brought fire to the Indians (and how the frog thereby lost his tail), why the bear walks on all fours and how the first rainbows came to-be; in many of the stories Mt. Shasta is a vital element. The myths were told to Dr. C. Hart Merriam, the naturalist-anthropologist. They will interest students of Indian life and will offer strong regional appeal. Ruth Robbins' black, brown and grey stylized illustrations faithfully express the spirit of the collection. They are Indian stories of not universal interest, but in the hands of a good storyteller they would be useful local material.