NELSON] MYTHIC ANIMALS 447 
Figure 158, from Cape Vancouver, is a carving of walrus ivory, repre- 
senting a worm-like body encircled by incised rings to represent the 
segments, which are colored alternately green and red. On the front 
end of the body is represented a semihuman face, below which project 
two paws with four fingers or toes. The carving tapers toward the tail, 
which is narrow and somewhat flattened, with a hole pierced through 
for the admissiou of a cord, This object was used as a pendant on a 
woman’s belt, and represents the 
man-worm which appears in nu- 
: merous tales of these people. 
Bie aod lvory pare ie a mythic animal (fall Figure 159, from Cape Van- 
couver, is a handsome little ivory 
carving representing the figure of a seal with the mouth of a lamprey; 
the middle of the body is carved into two joined links. This represents 
one of the numerous mythic animals supposed to inhabit the sea. 
Figure 160, from Sledge island, is an ivory cord handle representing 
one of the mythic animals believed to inhabit the sea and to be half 
white bear and half whale. 
Fic. 160—Ivory drag handle representing a composite animal (§). 
Figure 161 shows a cord handle of ivory from Sledge island. It is 
carved to represent a mythic creature, half seal and half human, that 
the Eskimo of Norton sound and Bering strait claim exists in the sea. 
They are said to be caught in nets or killed by hunters at times, and 
when this happens the one who is responsible for it is presumed to suf- 
fer many misfortunes. 
Figure 162, from Sledge island, is an ivory handle for a whale float. 
One end represents a sealhead, and the other the head of one of the 
inermaid-like beings said 
to live in the sea and to 
have the head and shoul- 
ders of a human being, the 
remainder of the animal 
being like a seal. 
Figure 163, from Iush- 
unuk, is a carving of wood three inches in length. It represents the 
body of a seal with the head and neck of a human being. Upon the 
shoulders incised lines represent hands and arms; a seal claw is set in 
the lower part of the breast and curved downward and back. This 
object represents a mythic animal supposed to live in the sea, and is 
without definite use. It shows a mermaid-like creature, half human 
Fic, 161—Ivory carving of a mermaid-like creature (;5). 
