398 THOMAS THOMSEN 



preserved; it is quite flat, only 2 mm. thick, and has an extreme breadth of 

 6 mm.; like the one of the preceding set it has barbs, of unequal length, on 

 either side. 



The bone piece illustrated in Fig. 17, from house 144 on Maroussia, 

 is the only one of its kind from North-east Greenland. It should 

 be compared with some specimens from the districts around South- 

 ampton Island, which BOAS undoubtedly rightly described as barbs 

 ^^ of side prongs of a salmon spear. 1 It is true, the barb 



^k from Maroussia is somewhat larger than those figured by 



M BOAS, but it has all the features characteristic of the 

 ^^R| barbs in question. 



f 



L. 3363. Length 9'3 cm., extreme breadth 2'2 cm., made of 

 antler. It is very flat, and the convex edge is almost sharp, the 

 concave rather more rounded. In front it has a projection which 

 has rested against the end of the prong; behind the barb 

 there is a plane surface 2'5 cm. long, which has been applied 

 to the inner side of the prong, and two holes for lashing it 

 thereto. 



F . 17 Similar barbs are also known from among the West 



1/2. Eskimo. 2 



This series of barbs may be concluded by the spec- 

 imen illustrated in PL XVI, 4 (L. 3551), from Renskseret, house 134 

 which must presumably be regarded as the roughly shaped prong 

 of a bird dart. Its length is 19'4 cm. The outer edge, with the ex- 

 ception of a small incurvation 4'5 cm. from the butt end, is rather 

 evenly curved. The maximum breadth, 2'9 cm., occurs 7 cm. from 

 the butt end; from there the specimen gradually diminishes in breadth 

 towards both ends, in a somewhat concave line. A little in front 

 of the broadest part a perforation has been begun, and another on 

 the reverse surface 1-5 cm. from the butt end. 



On comparing this specimen with the prong found near Cape 

 Tobin 3 , we find not only the two holes which have been 

 commenced in our specimen, but also a notch at the outer edge 

 corresponding to the incurvation in the unfinished specimen from 

 Renskasret. Our specimen is but roughly-hewn, the edges are not 

 shaped and there are no barbs; only the position of the holes and 

 notch for attachment to the shaft have been indicated to serve as a 

 guidance during work. 



1 BOAS III, p. 391, Fig. 185, especially a and ft; compare the prongs corresponding 



to them (Fig. 184). 



* Cf. NELSON, PI. LXVII, 5; of. p. 150, Fig. 42, 1. 

 3 THALBITZER I, p. 373, Fig. 16. 



