OCCURRENCE OF PIGMY IMPLEMENTS IN CEYLON. 61 
which exists between the chipping of the pigmies and that of 
other implements. In the case of the latter, the object of 
chipping is to shape the tool and to give it a sharp edge or 
point ; in the case of the former the object is, after shaping 
the tool, to blunt the part so treated and to do away with its 
sharpness. With pigmies, in fact, the sharp edge or point is 
the part left untrimmed, and the chipping on the back is at 
right angles to the plane of the implement and so totally 
destructive of an edge. I have however noted in the table 
that ten per cent. of the total of pigmies from Bandarawela 
have had their cutting edges trimmed, sometimes to secure a 
symmetrical shape, sometimes apparently to obviate sharpness 
on both sides alike. This work occurs only in seven of the 
types, and is far the commonest in the case of curved and 
straight points. I have also noted that in six types there is 
no edge at all, what corresponds to the edge in similar tools 
being square and solid. Again, it will be observed that the 
proportion of square-edged implements is high in curved 
points. I regard this as significant, because the curved points 
are very suitable for use as hooks or throttles; and it is 
obvious that a hook without a cutting edge is less likely to be 
torn out than a sharp one. I may mention incidentally that 
throttles of wood are used in Ceylon to the present day for 
catching crocodiles. 
I divide my finds into the following types :— 
(1) Crescentic or LuNATE vary in length from one inch 
and a quarter to five-sixteenths of an inch, in breadth from 
half an inch to less than one-eighth, and in thickness from 
seven to little more than one-sixteenth. They present an 
infinity of sub-types, long and short, broad and narrow, thin 
and thick. They are carefully trimmed the whole way along 
the back. 
(2) Semi-LunatE resemble the above in all particulars of 
length, breadth, and thickness, except that their butts are 
left untrimmed, possibly with a view to hafting. They very 
frequently contain the bulb of percussion. 
(3) IRREGULAR have general affinities with lunates, but 
show extraordinary diversities of outline. The sharp edges 
are often concave. 
