46 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [ETH.ANX .18 



Tbe National Museum collection contains two specimens of women s 

 labrets (one of which is shown in plate xxn, 10) obtained on Nunivak 

 island by Dr W. H. Ball, which differ from most of those of the main 

 land in having the broadened bases for resting against the teeth made 

 of separate pieces of ivory. These pieces are small, flattened disks with 

 holes in the center through which fits the inner end of the labret, after 

 piercing the lips. These differ also in external form, as shown by the 

 figures. 



Another specimen (plate xxn, 1) obtained on Nunivak island has the 

 common sickle-shape parts joined by an external bar, and the inner end 

 is enlarged by means of similar small perforated disks of ivory set on 

 the rounded inner end of the labret. This specimen has attached to its 

 outer border three short, double strings of beads, which hang down 

 over the chin. Plate xxn, 5, showing a specimen from Askinuk ; figure 

 7, one from Kulwognwigumut, and figure 6, one from Kushunuk, are 

 the ordinary forms of women s labrets of sickle shape. 



The labrets worn by men in the district between the Yukon and the 

 Kuskokwim are rather small and are commonly formed of a long, thin, 

 curved ivory flange for resting against the teeth, with a hat-shape pro 

 jection for extension through the lip to the surface. The hat shape 

 projection is provided with a central hole, through which extends a 

 wooden pin. This pin reaches beyond the outer border of the ivory 

 and has fitted upon it some kind of bead, a round piece of stone, or, as 

 in one specimen from ISTunivak island, a truncated cone of lead. 



Another style of labret obtained from Nunivak island by Doctor Ball 

 is shown in plate xxn, 10. It has the usual hat-shape piece for pierc 

 ing the lip, with the wooden pin extending through and bearing on its 

 outer end a white bead. Beyond this bead is attached a well-cut 

 piece of serpentine, apparently representing the tail of a whale. This 

 labret is two inches long and the serpentine tip is an inch and five-eighths 

 in width by an inch and a quarter long. 



From the lower Yukon was obtained a large, flat labret (plate xxn, 

 16) having a rectangular outline with the sides slightly rounded and on 

 the inner surface a pin five-eighths of an inch in length which serves 

 to pierce the lip. On this is fitted a long, oval piece of ivory an inch 

 and a half long and five-eighths of an inch in width, made convex in 

 front and concave behind, with a slot in the middle for fitting it on the 

 pin. This labret is to insert in the lip and then the last described por 

 tion is fitted on it from the inside, thus holding it in place. The face 

 of this labret measures an inch and seven-eighths in length by an inch 

 in breadth and is made of fossil mammoth ivory. 



Northward from the Yukon the commonest style of labret is the hat- 

 shape form shown in plate xxi, 21, of white quartz from Sledge island. 

 This specimen has the inner side smoothly excavated to fit upon the 

 teeth and the outer border has a groove across its face. This labret 

 is about half an inch across its exposed face and nine tenths of an 

 inch along the portion resting against the teeth. 



