time. In the
Diga'gwani dance the performers sing the name of the bird and
endeavor to imitate its halting movements. The dagtitfou, or white-
fronted goose (Anser cdiifrons), appears in connection with the myth
of the origin of tobacco. The feathers of the tskw&yi, the great white
heron or American egret (BJeeodias egretta), are worn by ball players,
and this bird probably the "swan" whose white wing was used as a
peace emblem in ancient times.
A rare bird said to have been seen occasionally upon the reservation
BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY NINETEENTH ANNUAL REPORT PL. XV
SAWANU'Gi, A CHEROKEE BALL-PLAYER
mooney] THE BIRD TRIBES 285
many years ago was called by the curious name of nHfldd-dikani' ', "it
looks at the sun," "sun-gazer." It is described as resembling a blue
crane, and may possibly have been 1 1 » * -Floridus cerulea, or little blue
heron. Another infrequent visitor, which sometimes passed over the
mountain country in company with flocks of wild geese, was the
git'wisguwi', so called from its cry. It is described as resembling a
large snipe with yellow leys ;m< i feet unwebbed, and is thought to
visit Indian Territory at intervals. It is chiefly notable from the
fact that the celebrated chief John Ross derives his Indian name,
Gu'wisguwi', from this bird, the name being perpetuated in Coowee-
scoowee district of the Cherokee Nation in the West.
Another chance visitant, concerning which there is much curious
speculation among the older men of the East Cherokee, was called
tsun'digwuntsu' gi or tsun'digwdn'tsM, ""forked." referring to the tail.
It appeared but once, for a short season, about forty years ago, ami
has not been seen since. It is said