kelson] 



LABRETS 



47 



Similar labrets are shown in plate xxii, 19, 20, from Sledge island, 

 which are from an inch to an inch and a quarter along the beveled 

 inner flange, and ft ve eighths of an inch across their outer faces; these 

 are made of hard stone, mottled black and white. Figure 9 shows a 

 pair of lignite labrets worn by a King island man. 



The specimen shown in jdate xxii, 9, was obtained on King island in 

 Bering strait. The base is the ordinary hat-shape labret of walrus ivory, 

 having a slot cut in its outer face in which is fitted a well modeled 

 piece of serpentine two inches in length and three fourths of an inch in 

 breadth, representing the tail of a right whah', and is fastened in 

 place by means of a wooden pin which passes through a hole drilled 

 across the top of the labret and tlnougli a corresponding hole in thel 



Fig. 9 — King islauil man with labrets of liguite. 



border of the piece of serpentine inserted in the slot. Its similarity 

 of shai^e to the specimen (plate xxii, 10) from Nunivak island is curious, 

 and probably represents an ancient and widely spread form that is now 

 rare. A labret obtained on Nunivak island by Doctor Dall (plate xxii, 

 11) is elaborate in form, having a hat-shape ivory base with six short 

 strings of beads forming the outer part, which are held in position by 

 flat ivory spacers. Another style (plate xxii, 12) from the same locality 

 has an ivory base with a lead tip in the form of a truncated cone. 



In the neighborhood of Bering strait and Hotham inlet, large, flat 

 labrets made of jadite were not uncommon. The beautiful specimen 

 (plate XXII, 15) obtained in Hotham inlet by Mr Woolfe measures one and 

 seven-eighth inches by an inch and a quarter on its outer surface. It 

 has an oval button on the inside an inch and a half in width; the out- 



