1902.] Dixon, Basketry Designs of California Indians. 7 



of the series. In this the sharp, horizontally directed points 

 represent the strong spines of the large pine-cone of the 

 region. The design about the upper edge seems to be the 

 main design but half carried out, and is said to represent 

 mountains. If, however, we compare these designs with the 

 lizard and owl's claw on Pit River baskets (Plate XIX; 

 Plate XXII, Fig. 5), the very strong similarity is at once 

 apparent, and we are led to the conclusion that in this basket 

 we have either a Pit River basket, or a remarkably good 

 case of borrowing a Pit River design. It would not be im 

 possible for the basket to be really from the Pit River In 

 dians, for it was obtained in Big Meadows, on the very bor 

 ders of Palainihan territory. 



On Plate IX, Figs. 3,4 (El Dorado County), are two plant 

 designs explained respectively as the black-oak (Quercus Kel- 

 loggii} and white-oak (Quercus lobata). These designs are 

 confined to the southern part of the Maidu region, and what 

 portion of the trees in question are represented is not known. 

 The similarity of these designs to others within the stock is 

 noticeable. Fig. 5 (Plumas County) is explained as bushes 

 or brush, and Fig. 6 (Plumas County) as either bushes or 

 flowers; but in regard to this latter the identification was 

 very uncertain. The similarity of the former to the gray 

 squirrel's foot, etc., should be noted. 



3. Designs representing Natural or Artificial Objects. The 

 third groitt j^Lesigns is that which includes all representations 

 of natural*. c^Birtificial objects, or the phenomena of nature. 

 One of thejBimonest, not only of this group, but of all the 

 designs rnj^Hith, is that known as the "feather," or some 

 times " anB feather." On Plate X are showii three examples 

 of a simplSRe of this design: Fig. i (El Dorado County), as 

 it occurs "IB south, and Figs. 2, 3 (Butte County), the pre 

 vailing f ori^H. the Sacramento Valley villages of the Northern 

 Maidu. T^^ltent in all cases is to depict the feathers used 

 on the war arrows, which were thus notched with great regu 

 larity. More complicated forms of this design, the details of 

 which are not yet clear, are shown on Plate XI. Only a 

 single example ^Sas seen of the type of Fig. i (Butte County), 



