Reading Notes: British North America Part B

Turtle and Thunder

Once Turtle was living alone in the lake, and several times he was hit by something, but when he came out of the water to see what it was, there was nothing. He thus went out of the water and into the woods to find someone to help him. Deer offered but when he showed turtle how he fought, he broke his horns, then Bear also offered, but he was too clumsy. He asked again if someone would help, and he heard lots of little voices offering, it was a group of little turtles. Turtle was pleased and decided they were perfect to help him, so he led them to where he lived and then went home. Soon after, a big rock fell from the sky and landed on the little turtles, killing them all. When Turtle ran out to see what had happened, he saw a big bird flying away. He asked his neighbor, Muskrat, what bird it was, to which he answered it was the Thunder Bird. From the on, Turtle hides in the water when there is a thunderstorm.

Story source: Myths and Legends of British North America by Katharine Berry Judson (1917).

The Great Thunderbird by Selladorra