Thompson A812 — Earth Diver

Earth Diver. From a raft in the primeval sea, the creator sends down animals to try to bring up earth. After a number of animals have failed, one (often the muskrat) succeeds. The earth is made from the bit brought up.—**E. W. Count The Earth Diver and the Rival Twins (Proceedings 29th International Congress of Americanists [Chicago, 1952] 55-62); Walk "Die Verbreitung des Tauchmotivs in den Urmeerschöpfungs- (und Sintflut-) Sagen" Mitteil. d. anthrop. Gesellschaft Wien LXIII (1933) 60-76.—Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 318, *322ff.; Hatt Asiatic Influences 12-36, India: *Thompson-Balys.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 279 n. 30, (Calif. Indian): Gayton and Newman 53.