102 ISLAND CULTURE AREA OF AMERICA [eth. ann. 34 



The shape of the hammer shown in plate 19, 6^, approaches the 

 form of an ax, its deep groove and slightly projecting cutting edge 

 flaring. The groove in plate 19, //-A', is pronounced, evidently for 

 the attachment of a handle. A marked feature of ax •/ is the flat 

 head, which, as shown in the accompanying figure, also has angu- 

 lar projections. 



Plate 20, ^4, has two lateral birdlike projections on the top of the 

 head, but the groove for hafting is less pronounced than in the 

 preceding. Plate 20, B, C, represent grooved axes with prolonged 

 extensions on the tops of their heads, where there are also notches. 

 The extent of the prolongation of the head is here so gi-eat that we 

 can hardly suppose that the notch played any gi-eat part in lashing 

 the blade to its handle. 



The groove of an ax in the Heye collection, represented in plate 20, 

 D, is well marked and the beginning of the differentiation of a blade 

 or body from the shaft is apparent. 



The implement figured in plate 20, E, has the sides of the head 

 prolonged into two projections, like horns or ears. Its head is sepa- 

 rated from the rest of the implement by a well-marked groove, the 

 body being divided into a clearly defined shaft and blade. In plate 

 20, F, the head has been reduced to a low narrow ridge above the 

 encircling groove, there being in this specimen no line of demarcation 

 between shaft and blade, while in that shown in plate 20, G, there 

 are rectangular elevations on the head, which is perforated. This 

 object shows no want of symmetry on its two margins. The ditfer- 

 entiation of shaft and blade is quite evident in plate 20, H. The 

 head furrow is here less pronounced than in G, where the groove is 

 deep and has about the same breadth all around the implement. 



The grooved ax, plate 20, /, is well made, showing head in profile 

 with ridges curving on the groove. The body, or the blade, is 

 crescentic in form, and its upper diameter is about equal to that of 

 the head, but less than that of the shaft, which broadens some- 

 what below the groove. The margins of the shaft are angular. In 

 the middle of the side of this specimen a pit has been sunk in the 

 surface, and there is still another such depression situated on the top 

 of the head, both recalling the notches in previous specimens. 



ASYMMETRICAL AXES 



Axes with or without grooves for hafting, but with an extension 

 on one edge imparting to them an asymmetrical form, are quite com- 

 mon in the St. Vincent-Grenada area. In its simplest form (pi. 20, 

 K,L) this want of symmetry is not very pronounced, consisting of a 

 slight projection on the side, almost imperceptible without close ex- 

 amination. From this we pass through intermediate forms to those 



