122 KatJdeen Haddon : 



With more material, however, these may be found, but it is- 

 imperative that any collecting should be done without loss of time, 

 for the aborigines are fast dying out, and even now in many tribea 

 these figures are only known to the old people. 



The nomenclature^ adopted was invented by Drs. Rivers and 

 Haddon. 2 



A string passed over a digit is termed a loop. A loop consists of 

 two strings. Anatomically, anything on the thumb side of the 

 hand is called " radial," and anything on the little finger side is- 

 called " ulnar "; each loop, therefore, is composed of a radial and 

 ulnar string. By employing the terms thumb, index, middle finger» 

 ring finger, little finger, and right and left, it is possible to desig- 

 nate any one of the twenty strings that may extend between two 

 hands. 



A string lying across the front of the hand is a palmar string,. 

 and one lying across the back of the hand is a dorsal string. 



Sometimes there are two loops on a digit, one of which is nearer 

 the finger-tip than the other. Anatomically, that which is nearer to 

 the point of attachment is " proximal," that which is nearer the 

 free end is " distal." Thus, of two loops on a digit, the one which 

 is nearer the hand is the proximal loop, that which is nearer the tip 

 of the digit is the distal loop; similarly, we can speak of a proximal 

 string and a distal string. 



In all cases various parts of the string figures are transferred 

 from one digit or sets of digits to another or others. This is done 

 by inserting a digit (or digits) into certain loops of the figure, and 

 then restoring the digit (or digits) back to the original position, so 

 as to bring with it (or them) one string or both strings of the loop. 

 In rare cases a string is taken up between thumb and index. A 

 digit may be inserted into a loop from the proximal or distal side, 

 and in passing- to a given loop the digit may pass to the distal or 

 proximal side of other loops. These expressions are used as a general 

 rule instead of " over and under," " above and below," because the 

 applicability of the latter terms depends on the way in which the 

 figures are held. If the figures are held horizontally, " over and 

 alwve " Avill correspond as a general rule to the distal side, Avhile 

 " under and below " will correspond to the proximal side. In same 

 cases where there is no possibility of confusion, the simpler ter- 

 minology is used. 



1 The following passages are taken from my hook, "Cats' Cradles in Many Lands," by the 

 coirtesy of the publishers, Messrs. Longmans, Green & Co. 



2 Rivers, VV.H.R., and Haddon, A. C, "A Method of Recording String Figures and Tricks.' 

 Man, October, 1902, 109, p. 146. 



