Heads- diid 1 1 (trim 75 



10|j inches, hut its greatest width is only ; of an inch. It forms a complete 

 and perfect circle, and the point overlaps the base for an additional quarter of 

 a circle. Its color is light brown, with streaks of a lighter shade, and it shows 

 no wear whatever. Possibly this claw and its mate were developed by a bear 

 kept in captivity; but that theory seems hardly tenable. The outer surface of 



FIG. 21. REMARKABLE BEAR CLAW 

 Two-thirds natural size 



the claw shows no wear; and it is very unlikely that the Indians of the Nass 

 River country ever would have kept a live bear in captivity for three or four 

 years. 



Lieut. Emmons has kindly furnished with his gift the following informa- 

 tion regarding it: 



"It came from the "Kiskka" village of "lyaush" on the Nass River, in 

 British Columbia, which is about 112 miles from Fort Simpson, at the mouth of 

 Portland Canal. The bear claw is attached to a whale-bone spike ornamentally 

 carved at the head to represent a bear's head. Both the claw and the spike are 

 inlaid with haliotis shell. This was worn as a head-dress ornament upon dance 

 and ceremonial occasions. Two such ornaments were used, one on each side of 

 the head, above the ear, stuck into a band of fur or birds' down going around 

 the forehead. These were old family pieces that had been preserved through a 

 number of generations, and were highly valued. The claw was believed to 

 have been from an immense frog that lived in a mountain lake in the adjacent 

 country. The one I have retained measures 9| inches in length." 



