The white bull, Apis, of the Egyptians, reappears in the Sacred white buffalo of the Dakotas, which was supposed to possess supernatural power, and after death became a god.  The white doe of European legend had its representative in the white deer of the Housatonic Valley, whose death brought misery to the tribe.  The transmission of spirits by the laying on of hands, and the exorcism of demons, were part of the religion of the American tribes.

The witches of Scandinavia, who produced tempests by their incantations, are duplicated in America.  A Cree sorcerer sold three days of fair weather for one pound of tobacco!  The Indian sorcerers around Freshwater Bay kept the winds in leather bags, and disposed of them as they pleased.

Among the American Indians it is believed that those who are insane or epileptic are “possessed of devils.” (Tylor, “Prim.  Cult.,” vol. ii., pp. 123-126.) Sickness is caused by evil spirits entering into the sick person. (Eastman’s “Sioux.”) The spirits of animals are much feared, and their departure out of the body of the invalid is a cause of thanksgiving.  Thus an Omaha, after an eructation, says, “Thank you, animal.” (Dorman, “Prim.  Superst.,” p. 55.) The confession of their sins was with a view to satisfy the evil spirit and induce him to leave them.  (Ibid., p. 57.)

In both continents burnt-offerings were sacrificed to the gods.  In both continents the priests divined the future from the condition of the internal organs of the man or animal sacrificed. (Ibid., pp. 214, 226.) In both continents the future was revealed by the flight of birds and by dreams.  In Peru and Mexico there were colleges of augurs, as in Rome, who practised divination by watching the movements and songs of birds.  (Ibid., p. 261.)

Animals were worshipped in Central America and on the banks of the Nile.  (Ibid., p. 259.)

The Ojibbeways believed that the barking of a fox was ominous of ill.  (Ibid., p. 225).  The peasantry of Western Europe have the same belief as to the howling of a dog.

The belief in satyrs, and other creatures half man and half animal, survived in America.  The Kickapoos are Darwinians.  “They think their ancestors had tails, and when they lost them the impudent fox sent every morning to ask how their tails were, and the bear shook his fat sides at the joke.” (Ibid., p. 232.) Among the natives of Brazil the father cut a stick at the wedding of his daughter; “this was done to cut off the tails of any future grandchildren.” (Tylor, vol. i., p. 384.)

Jove, with the thunder-bolts in his hand, is duplicated in the Mexican god of thunder, Mixcoatl, who is represented holding a bundle of arrows.  “He rode upon a tornado, and scattered the lightnings.” (Dorman, “Prim.  Superst.,” p. 98.)

Dionysus, or Bacchus, is represented by the Mexican god Texcatzoncatl, the god of wine. (Bancroft, vol. iii., p. 418.)

Atlas reappears in Chibchacum, the deity of the Chibchas; he bears the world on his shoulders, and when be shifts the burden from one shoulder to another severe earthquakes are produced. (Bollaert, pp. 12, 13.)