Boas] SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION 381 
beaver and otter are usually represented only by their stretched 
pelts, the panther by its head, the mountain sheep by its horns, the 
fish by its backbone, the grouse by its tracks, the deer not only as 
an entire figure, sometimes caught in a net, but also by its hoof, 
track, ears, head or horns. Birds, butterflies, and other insects are 
represented frequently only by the wings, but on account of the 
surface treatment of the triangular figures which usually serve in this 
connection, it is generally possible to recognize them. The grass- 
hopper is more often indicated by its leg or elbow than as an entire 
form. A number of parts of animals and human beings appear 
which apparently have no connection with any particular object, 
such as simply head, eye, tooth, mouth, heart, hand, finger, hand 
pointing, leg, foot, bent leg, bent back, broken back, rib, ete. There 
is a strong tendency to create diminutive designs of animals which are 
called ‘‘little dog,’’ ‘‘little deer,’ ‘‘little beaver,’ etc. These are 
simply tleé’ka designs which have become standardized and arranged 
so that they are classed as real designs. 
Artificial objects are second in popularity and variety as sugges- 
tions for designs. The majority are purely geometric, whatever may 
be the actual shape of the object. In a few cases the general out- 
lines resemble certain objects, such as the triangle the arrowhead, 
the square or rectangle the bead, the series of triangles notched 
ladder poles. In some cases it is difficult to decide whether the 
design is a realistic sketch of a geometrically formed object, such 
as the root digger T, fishhook, Figure 122 (1), hammer, Figure 122 (2), 
or an instance of reading in a meaning which has been generally 
selected because of marked resemblance to a given object. In most 
cases the likeness is purely superficial and rather obscure, and the 
number of interpretations of utterly unrelated character often applied 
to the same designs strengthen the impression that the figures them- 
selves never have been more realistic than at present. 
The list of these artificial objects shows a rather peculiar selection, 
but on the whole comprises those which enter most vitally into the 
life of the people. 
The plants occupy the third place in number of kinds represented, 
as well, perhaps, as in frequency of occurrence, and comprise trees 
and shrubs (not differentiated), leaves, several varieties of edible 
roots, an edible cactus, berries, and five varieties of flowers. The 
pine cone also figures as a very old design. Practically all of the 
patterns are geometric or purely conventional and many of them 
have only one interpretation. The maple leaf and edible cactus, 
however, appear as almost realistic delineations. The newer baskets 
are occasionally decorated with very beautifully executed floral 
designs. (Pl. 40, ¢, e.) 
