NELSON] SKIN-DRESSING TOOLS 115 



Another form of scraper, used specially for cleaning tbe skins of 

 birds and small mammals, is somewhat knife-like in shape. Plate l, 5, 

 is a specimen of this type of implement from Nunivak island. It is 

 made of deerhorn with a slightly spoon-shape blade, and has incised 

 parallel lines across the upper side of the handle. 



Plate L, 6, from Big lake, is also of deerhorn, and is somewhat simi- 

 lar in shape to the preceding. 



Plate L, 3, from Ikogmut, is of ivory. The edge is sharp and across 

 the butt of the handle is a series of notches forming short teeth, which 

 are used in cleaning fat, blood, and other matter from among the 

 feathers or hair of the skins and for softening hard spots. On the 

 lower side of the handle are four round projections, each pierced with 

 a large hole, and on the back etched lines form a conventional pattern. 



Plate L, 2, from Norton sound, is another of these ivory knife-like 

 scrapers with a notched butt. 



Plate L, 15, from ISIorton sound, is an ivory scraper generally similar 

 in form to the preceding, but lacking the toothed butt. 



Plate L, 1, from St Michael, is of ivory and has a number of small 

 knobs on the handle and a coarsely-toothed butt. 



Plate L, 4, from Cape Prince of Wales, also of ivory, has a long, taper- 

 ing blade and a toothed butt. It has four grooves on the lower side of 

 the handle to form a grip for the fingers. 



Plate L, 9, from St Michael, is a ruder implement of this kind, semi- 

 lunar in shape and with a flat back. 



Plate L, 11, from Point Hope, is a tray-shape implement about 4 

 inches long and 2J inches wide, deeply excavated inside and with a 

 sharp edge all around the exterior rim. It is used by placing the 

 thumb inside with the fingers grasping the back and pressing either 

 side or end against the skin. 



Plate L, 12, is a rudely made scraper from the Diomede islands. 



Plate L, 8, from Point Hope, is a scoop-shape scraper made from 

 fossil mammoth ivory; the inside is slightly excavated and the lower 

 edge is sharpened. It is used by placing it in the palm of the hand 

 with the grooved end resting against the inside of the fingers, the con- 

 vex under surface against the palm, and j)ushiug it from the operator. 

 This is the only implement of this kind that was seen, all the other 

 scoop-shape scrapers being used by drawing toward the person. 



Plate L, 7, from Sledge island, is a flat rod of deerhorn beveled to an 

 edge on one side; each end is pierced with two holes in which a strong 

 rawhide cord is fastened, by which the ends are drawn toward each 

 other until they form a horseshoe-shape curve; it is used by grasping 

 the cross cord and drawing the edge of the scraper along the skin 

 toward the operator. 



Plate L, 18, from Kotzebue sound, is a scraper made from the shoulder- 

 blade of some animal ; the butt is sawed down and shaped to serve as a 

 handle; the outer end is also cut off and the thin lower portion cut to 

 a straight edge. 



