50  SMITHSONIAN    MISCELLANEOUS    COLLECTIONS  VOL.    96 
hole  7  mm  deep  and  4  mm  in  diameter ;  similar  holes,  not  quite  so 
deep,  are  drilled  in  the  middle  of  the  back,  between  the  hind  legs,  on 
the  flanks  back  of  the  front  legs,  and  on  the  belly.  If  we  may  judge 
from  other  examples  of  Old  Bering  Sea  art,  these  holes  probably 
contained  cylindrical  plugs  of  baleen  or  wood.  Beginning  at  the  top 
of  the  head  and  back  of  the  ears  the  body  is  decorated  with  graceful, 
flowing  lines,  usually  two  or  more  together.  Most  of  the  lines  are 
lightly  incised ;  others,  for  contrast,  are  deeper.  The  surface  orna- 
mentation gains  strength  and  harmony  through  its  skillful  adaptation 
to  the  body  contours.  The  first  section  of  the  design  covers  the  curv- 
ing front  legs  and  neck,  and  is  centered  at  the  circular  pit  above.  Be- 
ginning at  this  point  the  central  design,  outlined  by  four  finely  incised 
and  closely  spaced  curving  lines,  covers  the  shoulders,  the  rounded 
flanks,  and  most  of  the  back.  Additional  curving  lines  extend  forward 
from  the  lateral  pits,  which  are  bordered  by  three  concentric  circles, 
the  outer  one  with  small  spurs  attached.  The  most  prominent  part  of 
the  decoration,  as  viewed  from  above,  is  that  extending  from  the 
haunches  to  the  round  pit  at  the  middle  of  the  back.  This  takes  the 
shape  of  a  long,  tapering  panel  formed  by  deep  lines  which  also  mark 
the  position  of  the  legs.  The  panel  is  divided  into  three  parts  by  a 
straight  cross  line  near  the  apex  and  a  curving  line  a  short  distance 
below.  At  the  center  of  the  lower  section  is  a  small  detached  design — 
a  triangular  figure  with  curving  sides  enclosing  a  small  elliptical  fig- 
ure (text  figures  15,  18  a) — and  below  it  a  circular  pit  bordered  by 
two  concentric  lines,  the  outer  one  projecting  upward  to  form  a 
prominent  spur.  The  under  side,  from  the  belly  to  the  lower  jaw, 
bears  a  relatively  simple  decoration  consisting  of  slightly  curving  lines 
with  small  triangular  figures  and  spurs  attached. 
Plate  13,  figure  4,  is  a  small  figure  of  a  bird,  carved  from  mammoth 
ivory.  It  was  found  in  the  upper  level  of  the  midden.  The  wings  are 
outlined  by  two  lines  which  extend  upward  from  the  breast  and  meet 
at  the  middle  of  the  back.  On  each  wing  is  drilled  a  hole  3.5  mm  in 
diameter  and  4  mm  deep.  As  in  the  case  of  the  polar  bear,  the  eyes 
are  formed  by  two  round  drilled  holes  which  meet  in  the  center  of 
the  head.  A  deep  slot  has  been  cut  into  the  flat  base  by  means  of  which 
the  little  figure  could  be  attached  to  a  flat  surface. 
Plate  13,  figure  6,  from  the  second  level  of  the  midden,  has  the 
rounded  body  of  a  bird  but  the  head  of  a  mammal,  with  sharp  promi- 
nent teeth,  small  eyes  and  ears.  The  body  is  decorated  in  Old  Bering 
Sea  style  with  pairs  of  straight  lines,  broken  lines,  spurs,  and  a  small 
double  circle.  The  base  is  deeply  slotted  as  in  the  preceding  specimen. 
