50 LAUFER, THE DECORATIVE ART OF THE AMUR TRIBES. 



fish, the dimensions of whose tail are exaggerated in comparison with the other 

 parts of the ornament. In the field b may be seen, suspended from a tendril, two 

 graceful little cocks rampant, under the beaks of which is a circle. Their bodies 

 approach closely the fish-ornament. At first sight the figure c might seem to con 

 vey the impression of a leaf or flower ornament ; but the horn-like offshoot on the 

 right side of this leaf cannot be explained in this case : it is obviously to be regarded 

 as a cock holding a fish, as is especially shown on comparison with the follow 

 ing ornament ; the seeming flower-bud is a combination of fish-heads, and the 

 circle drawn into it is that belonging to the cock. In d are reproduced two com 

 batant cocks, which, however, are distinguished from those in b by being joined 

 together and placed around a circle. The cock to the right has its tail turned 

 upward, and that on the left side downward. In the field c the cock may be recog 

 nized as drawn true to nature, with eye indicated, the circle at its beak. Feet and 

 spurs are designated by a long lobe. The end of the tail terminates, strange to 

 say, with the body of a fish, /&quot;shows the cock, in spite of its conventionalization, 

 clearly outlined : the circle in front of its beak, and in front of the circle the fish, 

 consisting of three parts, head, body, and curved tail. Parallel to the fish-tail 

 run the cock s feet, which are indicated by a long falcation, as in d. The tail- 

 feathers of the cock are conventionalized like the fish-tail. In g, head, neck, four 

 tail-feathers, and two concentric circles around the beak of the bird, are visible. // 

 represents a cock with fish, closely allied to that in c, the cock terminating in a fish 

 tail disproportionately large. In i is shown one of the most remarkable and 

 instructive designs within the scope of this entire ornamentation : there are two 

 triskeles here, in one of which one arm is much shortened through adaptation to 

 the available space ; that these pure triskeles, however, are interpreted as cocks, 

 or at least were formerly so conceived, results from the fact that between them 

 are two circles, as usually appear with combatant cocks. / illustrates a type of 

 combatant cocks with the circle between their beaks, but, for the rest, soar 

 ing with outspread wings, three feathers of which are indicated, k presents the 

 two cocks again in the form of pure triskeles in a way similar to that in i ; here, 

 however, only one circle appears between them. The field / offers a design 

 analogous to //, except that in the former the fish-tail is turned upward, and 

 to the cock to the right a prong indicating feet has been added. The form m is 

 allied to those in / and k, only that here three circles two greater ones surround 

 ing a lesser middle one are represented. The general style of form of the orna 

 ment in n is nearly identical with that in j, but with some slight modifications, 

 while o is intermediate between the designs of c and h. 



One would hardly imagine that the leaf-patterns thus far treated were originally 

 invented by the Hast Siberian tribes. The purely conventional forms in which 

 they appear, as well as their connection with other ornamental parts, make their 

 derivation from Sino-Japanese art very probable. Primitive tribes generally pay 

 little attention to the vegetable world ; and the Gilyak, and especially the Gold, 

 reveal a surprising degree of ignorance concerning the plants in their immediate 



