382 COILED BASKETRY IN BRITISH COLUMBIA (ern. ANN. 41 
Geometric design names, if we except the descriptive terms, 
are few in number but of rather frequent occurrence. Such terms 
as circle, half circle, coil, spiral, points, notch, stripe, scratch, zigzag, 
and cross are all that appear. Modified by descriptive terms, these 
design names become the most numerous of any. The list of modifying 
terms and their Salish equivalents as given in the appendix will illus- 
trate how exactly these patterns may be described (see p. 400 et seq.). 
Very few natural objects and natural phenomena appear as designs 
and they are all purely geometric figures. The cloud and star pat- 
terns and their numerous variations are very popular. Sun, moon, 
hail, snow, lightning, and rainbow are rather rare. Mountains, 
lakes, waves, and trails are the only natural objects which figure 
as designs on baskets, but they are much used. Probably mountain 
patterns are as well liked and as frequently employed as any in the 
entire category. . 
In addition to these six classes of designs there are a number of 
general patterns composed of combinations of elements or small 
designs. The names applied in such cases are practically identical 
with the geometric descriptive terms. Usually they are given to 
any combinations which they fitly describe, but some individuals 
have a tendency to restrict their use to particular arrangements with 
which they are most familiar. 
It has already been stated that disregarding the descriptive names 
for designs, animal patterns are the most numerous of any, while 
plants are comparatively rare. This seems to be the case in the 
art of the majority of very primitive tribes as well as of many which 
have progressed to much higher levels of culture. It can not be said 
that the reason for this as intimated by Grosse” is always that 
primitive man is first of all a hunter and food gatherer, and therefore 
interested primarily in animal life, or that it is not until people adopt 
agriculture that their attention is awakened to the importance of 
plant life, which then begins to influence their thoughts and there- 
fore their art. Nevertheless, it is a very suggestive idea which might 
be substantiated by more detailed investigation. 
A glance at the lists of design names employed by the Thompson 
and by the California tribes reveals one peculiar ‘parallel. This 
is the use of the term ‘“‘grasshopper elbow,” but the designs 
used are not the same, except that they present sharp angles. 
There are a few other terms common to both regions, but they 
are used over practically the same region where the common 
strata of designs occurs. One, “‘bear foot,’’ however, is represented 
by different designs in the two areas. Each tribe reflects in its art 
something of its environment. This is but natural. Thus the 
California people represent turtles, starfish, crabs, and ants, as well 
74 Ernst Grosse, The Beginnings of Art, Appleton & Co., New York, 1914, p. 118. 
