40 Direclors Rcporl for igi6. 



According to Peiichiila, sections of the Cassis and other large 

 shells were used, in addition to the Conns, as was also the hard wood 

 kaui/a {Alphitonia cxcclsa) indented as usual. From a Kauai 

 native it was leanietl that the naturall>- serrated edge of the opi/ii 

 {Patella spp.) served the same purpose. It was held in the hand, 

 not mounted. The opihi was also used as a spoon, and as a scraper 

 for gourds similarly to the specimens now to be described. 



Among deserted house foundations on the south coast of 

 Molokai, Mr. A. F. Judd and Dr. C. Montague Cooke found, in 

 igi6, three dorsal sections of large cowries, which had been arti- 

 ficially broken out, apparently, and further modified by grinding 

 at one end. They are illustrated in Fig. i, B 1162, Cyprcra intcr- 

 inedia, B 1179 and B 1180 C. vianritiana. One, B 1179, was in 

 very good condition and furthermore was perforated at the end 

 opposite the sharpened part. As shown in the cross section, it 

 had been ground to a very sharp edge, the face of the grinding 

 being parallel to its short axis. The others are much worn, 

 (B 1 179 is also broken) and do not now show a sharpened edge. 



These shells, in addition to being used as coconut-scrapers, 

 were used for cleaning out the pith from the interior of the gourd 

 vessels.' In the part of Molokai where found, the latter was prob- 

 ably the principal use for these particular specimens. In operation 

 the shells were held in the hand. In the gourds in the Museum, 

 the pith has been very cleanly scraped away, and the sharp cutting 

 edge of No. B 1179 would have been well adapted for the purpose. 

 By experiment, this scraper was found to accurately engage the 

 interior surfaces of coconuts and gourds. 



The Hawaiian name applied to these scrapers would be vari- 

 ousl}' ica'u ipii or iva'u nhi (gourd-scraper or coconut-shredder), 

 accordingly as the implements were used. 



BEETI^E NECKLACE.S FROM NEW GUINEA. 



Necklaces of beetles' parts from New Guinea, a form of orna- 

 mentation unusual in the Pacific, have recently come to our atten- 

 tion. They were brought to Honolulu by Mr. Max Freeh, first 

 officer of S. S. Prinz Waldemar, who generouslj- divided his treas- 

 ures with the Museum. He obtained them from an engineer, of 

 another steamer, who had secured them on an expedition many 



" The gourd vessels were described by Dr. Brigham, B. P. B. M. Memoirs, 



II, 321. [232J 



