322 ETHNOLOGY. 



softeniug is a matter of years or not we will not conjecture ; but it is 

 strauge that a stoue ouce liard enougb to be used for drilling other 

 stone should become so j'otten. 



Figure 140 represents one of those specimens which we have before 

 described* as an arrow-point. The speciuieil is of slate, and varies 

 from the square-based specimens, only in having the junction of the 

 stem and base less distinctly indicated. 



Figure li7 represents a specimen of slate drilling-stone with the 

 largest base we have as yet met with. The specimen at present has 

 much the appearance of a short-handled, large-bowled spoon. As in 

 figure 144, there can be no confounding this fragment with an arrow- 

 point. Judging from the slight bend in that portion of the stem which 

 remains, we should consider the end of the stem to have been turned 

 very considerably " to one side ;" a peculiarity, however, not confined 

 to this specimen or its class. Some arrow-points have a similar bend 

 at their points, which appears usually to be due to some peculiarity in 

 the mineral rendering this shape necessary. We recall picking up a 

 small slate arrow-point, that had both the point and the base, which 

 were narrower than the body of the specimen, twisted in the same di- 

 rection, making the specimen describe a part of a circle. This specimen 

 was well chipped, and not crooked, because "the work of a beginner," as 

 was suggested, but its shape was rather owing to the the whim of the 

 arrow-maker — a shape more difficult to chip successfully than if it were 

 straight. The base of this specimen is well chipped, being at every 

 i:)ortion of the margin brought to a good edge. The flakes struck olf 

 were unusually large, but five being taken from one of the sides. 



Figure 148 is a finely-shaped fragment, chipped from yellow jasper. 

 In this example, the base is quite wide, but not long, not exceeding the 

 fragment of the stem which remains. It is well chipped on both sides, 

 and has a beveled, and not a cutting edge. Held by the remaining portion 

 of the stem, this specimen would make an excellent scraper, and possibly 

 these broken specimens, with this shaped base, were thus utilized. 

 The stem exhibits a well-marked median ridge, so far as the fragment 

 extends, from which it is equally chipped to the edge, giving the stem, 

 viewed in section, a diamond shape; the median angles being nearly as 

 well defined as the outer ones. 



Figure 149 represents a small specimen of chipped jasper drill, classed 

 previously! as an arrow-point. This specimen is somewhat interesting 

 from the fact of its strong resemblance to specimens of arrow-heads 

 from Scandinavia, figured by Professor Nilsson.f The only variation 

 in the specimens from the two countries is, that the one from New Jer- 

 sey is better chipped than the other ; the latter not being, we think, 

 used as an arrow-head. 



Figure 150 is a crooked, rudely-shaped specimen, noticeably flat upon 



* Amer. Nat., vol. vi, p. 20G. t Amer. Nat., vol. vi, p. 214. 



t Stone A<re, pi. ii, lig. 3G, aud pi. xvi, fig. 26G. 



