200 ART IN SHELL OF THE ANCIENT AMERICANS. 



inferior in finish to tlie specimen illustrated. The handles of a num- 

 ber are rudimentary, and the margins and surfaces are but slightly- 

 worked. 



The spoon illustrated in Fig. 4, Plate XXIV, is made from the left 

 valve of a Unio alatns (?) and was obtained from a mound at Madison- 

 ville, Ohio. It is an unusually well-finished and handsome specimen, 

 and notwithstanding its fragile character, is well preserved. A portion 

 of the point has, unfortunately, been broken away. The handle is orna- 

 mented with four shallow notches, the anterior point being neatly 

 rounded and perforated for suspension. The edges of the utensil have 

 been carefully finished, and both the inner and outer surfaces have been 

 ground down and polished so that all the natural markings are obliter- 

 ated, and the surface shows the pearly marbling of the foliation. This 

 specimen is figured in an interesting paper,' prepared by Mr. Charles F. 

 Low, as an ornament, this use being suggested by its finish and deco- 

 ration ; but as it was found in what was presumably a food vessel, and 

 at the same time resembles so closely the spoons of other localities, I 

 take the liberty of classifying it with them. 



One of the most interesting collections of these utensils was made in 

 Union County, Ky., by S. S. Lyon. Our information in regard to this 

 lot of specimens is, unfortunately, quite meager, as Mr. Lyon's report 

 gives them but casual mention. 



Fig. 2, Plate XXIV, illustrates the finest of these specimens on a 

 scale of one-half. The shell used is a large specimen of Unio ovatus, 

 the bowl of the spoon being about four inches long and three wide. As 

 the right valve has been used, the utensil is left-handed. The handle 

 is ornamented with two marginal notches ; the basal point is long and 

 spine-like, and is deeply undercut. The anterior point is beak-like in 

 shape, the nicely made perforation holding, in relation to it, the position 

 of an eye, which, together with the comb-like notches above, gives a 

 pretty close resemblance to a bird's head. The point of the spoon is 

 broken away. 



The seven remaining spoons from this locality have a variety of 

 handles, all of which are notched on the outer margin, while a few only 

 are deeply undercut; all have been made from the left valve of the 

 Unio ovatus (?) and are of medium size and ordinary finish.. 



Another specimen in the national collection comes from Henderson 

 County, Ky. The shell used is the Unio ovatus; the handle is notched 

 on the outer margin, but is only slightly under-cut; the thick margin 

 of the shell about the hinge has not been removed. 



A spoon made from the left valve of a Unio silignoidens (?) has recently 

 been obtained from a mound at Osceola, Ark.; it is but slightly worked, 

 having a series of small notches cut in the basal margin, toward the front. 



The Natural History Museum of New York contains a specimen of this 



' Arcbjeological Explorations by the Literary and Scientific Society of Madisonville, 

 1879. 



