926 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1897. 



from the base upward. In the present class the point forming the shoul- 

 der is brought downward toward the base, so that it forms less than a 

 right angle to the median line; this has the effect of making the shoul- 

 der au acute angle, and this angle forms the barb. The implements of 

 this class, taken in their entirety, may be of different forms; sometimes 

 they may be leaf shaped, sometimes triangular; they may have either 

 convex, straight, or concave edges; the point may be sharp or blunt; 



the base may be concave, straight, 

 or convex. All these may exist in 

 this subdivision, provided they 

 are stemmed, shouldered, and 

 /5." ^4 barbed. Ko argument is neces- 



m sary to lustify a class which in- 



''"^ eludes so many forms as those 



\ just mentioned. If a separate 



division should be given to each 

 of these different forms when ac- 

 companied by barbs, the same 

 should be done when Avithout 

 barbs. This would create so many 

 divisions as to become unrecog- 

 nizable and itractically useless. 

 This classification is based on the 

 ' salient points of difference. 



The first illustration (fig. 170) 

 presents a type of barbs by which 

 they can bo known and recognized 

 throughout the description. It is 

 a magnificent implement, translu- 

 cent dark -brown chalcedony, and 

 Yia, 170. was found in a mound in Vernon 



STEMMED SFKArtHEAD, SHOULUEHEU AND BARUEL). OOUUty, VV iSCOnSlU. The figUrG 



Division III, Class c. is from a cast iu the U. S. National 



T^^^^'ji- Museum. The blade shows it to 



Cast, Cat. No. 98340, U.S.N.M. (Oriijinal in possession of Dr. , . , • i-i i n i i 



J. L. DeWitt.) have been practically a leaf-shaped 



imjdement of Class B, one end 

 pointed and the other convex. Whether it Avas originally thus, and 

 afterwards transformed into a stemmed one, is unimportant and only a 

 matter for conjecture. The notches have been made near the base, are 

 V-shaped, and necessarily deep and wide; theyfornithe edges of the stem 

 nearly parallel and make it straight, neither expanding nor contracting. 

 The V-shai)ed notch causes the shoulder to descend so that its junction 

 with the outer edge forms an acute angle, and this acute angle forms the 

 barb of the implement. The benefit of the barb in an arrowpoiut or 

 spearhead is that, having entered the tlesli of the game or enemy, 

 the barb prevents its withdrawal, as with the barb of the fishhook. 



