280 ETHiNOLOGY. 



lias the slender stem of the fish-spears generally ; but, unlike these, has 

 the depressed barb-like projections at or near the base, which add to the 

 beauty of the specimen, and also, we suppose, to its efficiency as an im- 

 plement of the chase. This specimen is much ilatter than the flsh-spears 

 generally, which usually have a median ridge running the whole length 

 of the stem, and from it uniformly are sloped the sides to the sharp 

 edges, which seem more carefully worked even than very many of the 

 true arrow-points. This thin condition of the stem, it would seem, must 

 weaken the specimen very much, and so it may possibly be questioned 

 if it tcere intended as a spear-point. If, however, we recall the compar- 

 ative degrees of risk of loss to which such a specimen would be subjected, 

 as a spear-point for fishing or an arrow-head, we will be forced to admit 

 that an arrow- head of this size could only be used to advantage with 

 large game, and if it came violently in contact with a bone or was but 

 partially embedded in the body of the animal, it would certainly be 

 broken by the creature in its endeavors to free itself from it. 



One* capable of a correct opinion as to the use of any stone imple- 

 ment says : "I am inclined to regard them," (several specimens figured 

 in American Naturalist for March and April, 1872, including figure 52,) 

 "as boring-tools rather than arrow-points, though doubtless one imple- 

 ment passes into the other." We have ourselves given this subject of 

 boring-tools much study, taking as the basis a very large suite of pointed 

 forms in our collection, but are unable to see why such pointed flints 

 should be considered tooU only. There is no trace whatever of wear 

 on the point, and if designed as tools they were never so used, not one 

 of all the many specimens of drilled stones in our collection showing 

 any indication of being bored by such a specimen as this, while all the 

 drillings of a larger caliber than the width of the stem of this specimen 

 have been bored with a hollow tube, probably a reed, sand and water. 

 We see no reason to look upon this specimen as a tool ; but having 

 many others that appear more adapted as such, we class the series of 

 "pointed forms" as tools instead of as implements of the chase, and 

 shall consider them in detail with reference to the subject of "Drilling 

 in stone." 



Figure 53 represents a neat specimen of flint-chipping, which seems to 

 be a fish-spear, but which has one or two peculiarities not in accord with 

 modern ideas of a desirable implement of this kind. 



In the first place, figure 53 can scarcely be said to have a point, such 

 as would be requisite for fishing were this particular specimen de- 

 pended upon for success. What point there is is blunt, and was 

 always so. Moreover, the implement is decidedly twisted, and was so 

 chipped, but otherwise the si)ecimen is carefully worked, and exhibits 

 at the base a peculiarity very uncommon to the New Jersey specimens, viz, 



* We are glad to have an ppportunity to acknowledge our indebtedness to Mr. William 

 A. liaker, of Auburn, X. Y., through whom wo have received the above-quoted opinion 

 of Mr. Greenwell, of England. 



