1902.] Dixon, Basketry Designs of California Indians. I 1 



of the designs as a whole. In the first place, it is quite clear 

 that the designs are not rigidly fixed, but are subject to con 

 siderable variation. In some cases, as in the quail-tip (Plate 

 I), the feather (Plates X, XI), and the arrow-point (Plates 

 XII, XIII), the variation is effected chiefly by a different 

 arrangement of the characteristic features of the design, 

 features which seem to remain quite constant throughout 

 the entire stock, and to be more or less easily recognizable in 

 all their modifications. In other cases, as, for example, the 

 grasshopper-foot (Plate VI), we have apparently two types: 

 Figs, i, 2, 3, forming one, and Fig. 4 the other. The first of 

 these types varies considerably, it is true, but may, I believe, 

 be regarded as substantially the same in intent. In cases of 

 this sort, where two or more different types for the same 

 design occur, we never find both types in use in the same 

 region apparently, either one or the other being consistently 

 used all through a given area. 



As regards variation in design depending on differences in 

 weave, little can be said, since the very great majority of 

 baskets now made by the Maidu are of the coiled variety 

 alone. Only the pack-baskets are of the twined or woven 

 variety, and of these but few are now made. The grasshopper- 

 leg design on the pack-basket shown on Plate VI, Fig. 4, does 

 not occur, so far as known, on baskets of the coiled variety, 

 and this constitutes the only satisfactory case of woven- 

 basket designs. In the other instances of woven baskets 

 (Plate V, Fig. 4; Plate VII, Fig. 2; Plate XI, Fig. 3) there 

 is some question whether they are genuine Maidu baskets; 

 but, granting that they are all undoubtedly Maidu in their 

 origin, we have only the feather common to both coiled and 

 woven varieties, and this does not appear to differ to any 

 extent. From these few and rather unsatisfactory instances, 

 then, it would seem that the design was essentially the same, 

 whether on coiled or woven baskets. 



To some slight extent there is evidence of a restriction of 

 certain designs to certain types of baskets; the quail, fish- 

 teeth, moth-miller, vine, and fern not occurring, so far as 

 known, on plaque-baskets or trays, but being restricted to 



