2 RECOEDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



Botli above thosn cifcles, and below the large spiral, is a series 

 of liorizontal groo\es, starting from the edge of the implement 

 inwards, and not meeting in the middle line, but leaving a clear 

 median space, that below the spiral being wider than the upper 

 one. The upper incisions are seven on the right, and eight on 

 the left, the lower six on either side. 



The reverse of this implement (PI. i., Fig. 2) is differently 

 incised. In the place of the large almost central spiral is a rather 

 roughly executed series of circles concentric within one another ; 

 the longest diameter is two and two-eighths inches. Surmounting 

 this figure is a three-quarters circular representation in which the 

 grooves are very much finer, fainter, and closer together, leaving 

 a large unincised space, the free end almost touching the circum- 

 ference of the central group of circles. If completed, the figure 

 would also be circular in form. There are, I think, ten grooves. 

 The surface of the implement below the central circles is trans- 

 versely grooved in a manner precisely similar to that of the front 

 face, the grooves on the left hand numbering thirteen, but those 

 on the right are too indistinct for enumeration. 



This peculiar implement has been profusely ruddled, so much 

 so as to almost fill up some of tlie grooves. Furthermore, the 

 broken base shows traces of adherent gum cement, which extends 

 on the fractured end. I infer from this either that it has 

 formed a portion of a mounted implement, or when in the posses- 

 sion of its sable owner was fractured and possibly repaired. The 

 colour is fast, and does not soil the hand. 



This interesting implement was presented some years ago by a 

 Mr. Dunlop, and is said to come from North Queensland, but the 

 precise locality is unknown. 



As having a possible bearing on the use of this instrument, it 

 is necessary to refer to two others presented by the same donor, 

 and at the same time. In both cases, however, there is no incised 

 sculpture. One is a linear-oval fiat pebble, four inches long and 

 two wide, shaped generally like a "Bull-roarer." It is similarly 

 ruddled, and the smaller end is covered with gum cement on both 

 sides. The second specimen is a flat shale pebble, broad-oval in 

 shape, eight and a-quarter inches long, by four and a-half wide, 

 unincised, but profusely ruddled on both aspects, although the 

 ruddle is lighter in colour than in the incised implement (PI. i.. 

 Figs. 1 and 2. The surfaces are speckled over with magenta 

 coloured dots or spots. 



With regard to the use of these implements I can do no more 

 than offer a surmise. — The care bestowed on tlie spiral and circular 

 figures on the one hand, and the thick coating of colour on the 

 other, at once place on one side the supposition tliat they might 

 have been used for grniding stones, for which purpose the shape 



