MALLERY. ] NEAPOLITAN SIGNS. 303 
Fig. 97 represents the head of a jackass, the thumbs being the ears, 
and the separation of the little from the third fingers showing the jaws. 
Fig. 98 is intended to portray the head of the same animal in a front 
view, the hands 
being laid upot 
each other, with | 
thumbs extending 
on each side to 
represent the ears. 
In each case the ~ 
thumbs are gen- 
erally moved for- \ Lay 
Ge ward and back, in ‘Aled a i 
the manner of the quadruped, which, without ie ee 
much apparent reason, has been selected as the 
emblem of stupidity. The sign, therefore, means stupid, fool. Another 
mode of executing the same conception—the ears of an ass—is shown 
in Fig. 99, where the end of the thumb is applied to the ear or temple 
and the hand is wagged up 
and down. Whetherthean- 
cient Greeks had the same 
low opinion of the ass as is 
&. nowentertained is not clear, 
but they regarded long ears ‘ 
with derision, and Apollo, 
as a punishment to Midas 
for his foolish decision, be- 
stowed on him the lengthy ornaments of the patient beast. 
Fig. 100 is the fingers elongated and united ina point, turned upwards. 
The hand is raised slightly toward the face of the gesturer and shaken 
a few times in the direction of the person conversed with. This is in- 
quiry, not a mere interrogative, but to express that the person addressed 
has not been clearly understood, perhaps 
from the vagueness or diffusiveness of his ex- 
pressions. The idea appears to suggest the 
gathering of his thoughts together into one 
distinct expression, or to be pointed in what 
he wishes to say. 
Crafty, deceitful, Fig. 101. The little fin- 
gers of both reversed hands are hooked to- 
gether, the others open but slightly curved, 
and, with the hands, moved several times to the right and left. The ges- 
ture is intended to represent a crab and the tortuous movements of the 
erustacean, which are likened to those of a man who cannot be de- 
pended on in his walk through life. He is not straight. 
Fie. 98. 
Fic. 99. 
Fic. 100, 
Fic. 101. 
