noLMEs.l ENGRAVINGS OF THE BIRD. 283 



The design is esseutially the same as that shown in the type specimen, 

 but is much more iiulely executed. A circlet with a central pit takes 

 the place of the cross and sun. The looped rectangular figure has but 

 two lines and the birds' heads are not so full of character as those on the 

 other specimens; they resemble the heads of chicks with a few pin- 

 feathers sprouting from the back and top of the head rather than 

 full-fledged birds. The design is engraved on the concave side. The 

 j)erforations are much worn. This specimen is now in the Peabody 

 Museum. 



The same collection contains a large fragment of another small disk 

 about two inches in diameter. The central part seems to be plain, but 

 the loo|)eil figure, which has four lines, resembles very closely thar en- 

 graved on the other plates. It is mentioned by Professor Putnam, on 

 page 309 of the Eleventh Annual Report of the Peabody Museum. It 

 is said to have been found on the surface in Humphrey County, Ten- 

 nessee. 



A much larger specimen, which resembles my tyi)e specimen very 

 closely, is shown in Fig. 1, Plate LIX. It was obtained by Professor 

 Putnam and Dr. Curtis from a stone grav-e on Mrs. Wil.iams' farm, Cum- 

 berland River, Tennessee. It is nearly circular, and about two and a 

 half inches in diameter. A small piece has been lost from the upper 

 margin. It is neatly made and quite smooth, and the lines of the de- 

 sign are clearly and evenly engraved. The small cross in the center is 

 inclosed by a plain narrow zone, and is defined by four triangular per- 

 forations between the arms. In this respect it resembles other shell 

 crosses found within the Mississippi Valley. Surrounding the idain 

 zone arc eight pyramidal rays with cross-bars ; in this feature, and in 

 the drawing of the looped square and the birds' heads, there is but lit- 

 tle variation from the type specimen. The surface upon which the en- 

 graving is made seems to be slightly convex. 



Another specimen of this class was obtained from a stone grave near 

 Gray's mound, at Oldtown, Tenn. It is shown in Fig. 3, Plate LIX. 

 The design is vei-y nuudi like that of the type specimen, from which it 

 differs in having four large perforations near the center. Although the 

 engraved design which once occupied the central space is almost totally 

 effaced, one or two of the tii)S of the pyramidal rays may be detected. 

 It is probable that the four round perforations correspond to the four 

 triangular ones by which the arms of the cross in the preceding exam- 

 ple are defined. The perforations for suspension are near one margin, 

 and seem to be very much worn by use. The whole object is fragile 

 from decay. This specimen is also in the Peabody Museum. 



One more very imperfect specimen obtained from a stone grave in the 

 Cumberland Valley- is nearly five inches in diameter and very irregular 

 in outline. Barely enough of the engraved design remains to show 

 that it belongs to the class under consideration. 



It will be observed that the specimens of this class obtained from 



