Zuni Folktales · Chapter
Zuni Version explained
An old woman of the Italia-kwe keeps a Tâkâkâ Cock in a corral.
What happens
An old woman of the Italia-kwe keeps a Tâkâkâ Cock in a corral. A mouse, stealing food, has its tail bitten off by the cock. The mouse feigns friendship, tricks the cock into escaping, then drops a nut on his head, knocking him out, and gnaws off his bristles. The story explains the origin of cocks' combs, missing breast bristles, and field mice's short tails.
Themes in this chapter
Transformation and Identity
The story explains how cocks lost their breast bristles and gained combs, and how field mice got short tails, marking a transformation of identity.
Folklore vs. Science
The tale uses folklore to explain natural phenomena (cocks' combs, mice's tails) in a mythic rather than scientific framework.
Sacrifice and Consequence
The Cock's injury and the Mouse's revenge illustrate the theme of consequence and the need for payment or recompense.
Characters to notice
- The Cock
A Tâkâkâ Cock kept by an old woman; proud and gullible, he is tricked by the Mouse and loses his bristles.
- Friend Mouse
A mouse who steals food, has his tail bitten off by the Cock, and later takes revenge by tricking the Cock and gnawing off his bristles.
- The Old Grandmother
The old woman who owns the Cock; she is poor and feeds him refuse.
Key passages
“Hah! By the Grandmother of Substance, it is a worm!”
The Cock mistakes the Mouse's tail for a worm and pecks it off.
This moment triggers the Mouse's desire for revenge.
“Té mi thlo kô thlo kwa!”
The Mouse exclaims triumphantly that he has done to his foe what his foe tried to do to him.
The Mouse's revenge is complete after dropping the nut on the Cock.