462 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1896 



was accomplished, for example, at the corners of tlie mouth, where the 

 depressions were made by drilling", although the drill marks have been 

 polished out. One is able to speak of this drilling operation with a 

 certainty that becomes absolute, from finding it represented in a score 

 of otlier specimens, wherein the corners of the eyes and mouth have 

 been drilled, some with a solid, others with a hollow drill, the latter 

 showing the protuberance of the core. Specimens have been found 

 where such drilling had been utilized for the insertion of precious or 

 colored stones. The unscientific reader will appreciate the beauty of 

 this specimen as well as the difficulties to be overcome, when it is 

 stated that with this and many others of the specimeus herein men- 



Fi'i. 111. 



"CRYING BABY," A MASK OF JADEITE FROM AN AZTEC (?) GRAVE. 



Face and edge views. 

 Mexico 



Cast, cat. No. 4i662, U.S.N.M. Natural she. 



tioned one can, without any preparation and without undue pressure, 

 cut the glass in the cases which contain them with apparently as much 

 ease as does the glazier with his diamond. In fact, the material stands 

 next in hardness after the diamond. It is 9 in the scale of which the 

 diamond is 10. These remarks in regard to hardness, drilling, and pol- 

 ishing apply to many of the specimens shown in plates 39, 40 and 41. 

 There are specimens of hard stones not jade which show evidence of 

 fine lapidary art. 



Crystal slcull. — Fig. 112 represents a human skull of rock crystal. 

 Its hardness is well known. The sutures are shown, the hollow eyes 

 are drilled out, the nose with its processes is shown, and the grinning 

 teeth. A hole has been drilled through from the crown to the foramen 



