8 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 8l 



hats in Southwest Alaska. On the other side of the deep groove the 

 design is continued by more lightly incised lines and a central ovoid 

 figure outlined by small spurs and enclosing a small circle set between 

 two pairs of short converging lines. The decoration is the same on the 

 opposite side. 



On the upper surface are two drilled holes 5 mm. deep representing 

 the nostrils and further back two representing the eyes. There is a 

 fifth hole near the end and two very shallow ones just back of the 

 eyes. Beneath the nostrils and on the edge of the lower lip are a few 

 slanting lines and spurs. 



At the rear the upper part of the head is set off by a rounded curv- 

 ing ridge or lip, immediately above which is a deep groove. Above 

 this are a few short lines and spurs, and below it on the curving 

 handle-like rear portion is a simple pattern consisting of straight and 

 curved lines, spurs and small circles at the inner angles of converging 

 lines. 



Of all the objects that have been described from the old Bering 

 Sea culture this one is the most suggestive of the Northwest Pacific 

 coast. It is also similar to the animal heads found so frequently in 

 the Kuskokwim region of southwest Alaska (see pi. 21). 



On plate 6 are shown two views of a remarkable object of unknown 

 use, from Point Hope, collected in 1880 by Capt. E. P. Herendeen. 

 This belongs with the class of objects described by Gordon * and 

 Mathiassen.^ It has two symmetrical, beautifully carved wings and a 

 central section, in the base of which is a square excavation 15 mm. 

 deep, probably for receiving a handle. The front or flat surface is the 

 more elaborately decorated. Both wings are divided into three sections 

 by deeply cut oblique lines, within which are placed nucleated con- 

 centric circles, four to each wing. The circles are slightly elevated 

 with small round holes about 3 mm. deep at the centers. Tangent to 

 each circle are two pairs of finely incised parallel or converging lines, 

 while between these, on the outer arc of each circle, are three equi- 

 distant spurs. The design is completed by additional straight and 

 curved lines, so placed as to accentuate and utilize to best advantage 

 the angles and curves that give to the object its peculiarly graceful 

 outline. The designs on the two wings are as nearly identical as is 

 possible. The artist has achieved a pleasing effect by applying, even 

 to the most minute detail, a perfect bilateral symmetry of form and 



^Gordon, G. B., The Double Axe and Some Other Symbols. The Museum 

 Journal, Univ. of Pemi., Vol. VII, No. i, 1916, figs. 99, 100, 105, 106. 

 " Indian Notes, Vol. 6, No. i, pp. 43-4(J- 



