LAUFER, THE DECORATIVE ART OF THE AMUR TRIBES. 53 



To the latter is attached a bird s beak with an oval under it, forming, with the 

 adjoining corresponding figure in the field below, a geometrical, almost heart- 

 shaped design. 



The foundation of the ornament in Fig. 2 a, Plate xix, based on simple 

 symmetry only, is a double spiral ; the body of the inverted cock, Type B, whose 

 collateral curved branchlet distinctly marks the head, being formed by the inner 

 spiral, the beak grasping a fish with down-stretched circular head, and tail upturned. 

 The interior of the outer spiral may be described as a triskeles, or, better, as a 

 fish-tail the two lobes of which are shaped like cock-beaks. The upper one holds 

 a circle ; the under one, a trichotomous fish, which it grasps between body and 

 tail. There is a violation of the rules of symmetry here, in that the negative 

 space between this fish and the cock s beak forms a bipartite fish on the right side 

 only. 



In Fig. 3, Plate xix, is seen a front view, and in Fig. 3 a a back view, of 

 a basket. The central figure on Fig. 3 was explained to me by a native as a 

 human face ; nevertheless I am distrustful of such an interpretation, which 

 stands quite alone, and seems to be merely an invention of my informant. 

 The ears and mouth would then be indicated by scrolls. On either side of this 

 design are grouped several fishes in graceful arrangement. Above is a fish with 

 broadened head. This head bears an incised conventionalized bipartite fish, which 

 is above the large fish to the right of an incised fish-tail, and another in the lower 

 right-hand corner. Under the large fish we observe a coiled fish with a roundish 

 head. 



In the upper part of the ornamentation on Fig. 33 are two cocks rampant, 

 having affixed to their beaks circles which coalesce with them. In the nega 

 tive sections we see a cock s beak between this circle and the positive cock, 

 and another beyond its neck and resting on the outline of its back. On the 

 body, extended forward, is incised a conventionalized fish with tapering tail, 

 which a deviation from symmetry cuts the whole body on the left-hand side 

 only. The tail is formed of two parts, - a scroll, with a fish-tail cut out inside of 

 it ; and a long projection below, representing a bird s beak with attached head 

 and large incised circular eye. From this head a spiral winds off downward, 

 symbolizing, as it were, the body of this cock. The centre is taken up by a per 

 forated lozenge-shaped figure, from which extend on both sides two conventional 

 ized bipartite fishes. The two triskeles in the extreme corners at the base also 

 represent fishes with scroll-like heads. The manner in which the negative 

 portions are reflected from the positive images, in designs of this kind, is very 

 remarkable. 



Fig. 4, Plate xix, which represents approximately a quarter of a birch-bark 

 tray, shows the design incised on its bottom. It is reproduced here not so much 

 because it offers especially characteristic features in this connection, but rather on 

 account of its eminent beauty and the careful execution of work of similar technique. 

 It belongs to the same category as the band and chain patterns already described. 



