206 ART IN SHELL OF THE ANCIENT AMERICANS. 



mens from the same locality; all are made of tlie shell of the Unio 

 tuberculosus (?). It will be seen by reference to Fig. 3 that the posterior 

 point of the shell is much worn, as if by use, while at the opposite end, 

 near the hinge, the margin has been slightly notched. Ihe large speci- 

 men, figured in the Madisonville pamphlet, as well as all other exam- 

 ples from this locality, are also much worn at the posterior end, and 

 slightly notched on the anterior margin. The perforations are roughly 

 made, and nearly one-half an inch in diameter. 



I have carefully examined all the specimens of this class within my 

 reach, probably twenty-five in all, most of which are in the national 

 collection, and I find them all very much alike. They are from two to 

 five inches in length, have rude central perforations, and are worn by 

 use at the posterior point, and notched on the anterior margin. The 

 blunting of one end by use calls for no explanation, but the purpose of 

 the perforation is a little obscure. It may have been used for conveni- 

 ence in transportation, but more probably for attaching a handle. On 

 discovering that a notch had in all cases been made at the upper end, I 

 became convinced that the latter use was intended. Whether the sup- 

 posed handle has been long or short, or attached longitudinally or 

 transversely, I am unable to determine. 



In Plate XXVI, Figs. 4 and 5, two methods of hafting are illustrated. 

 If used for striking, the long handle would be the more suitable, but if 

 for scraping, dressing skins, scaling fish, or shaping wood or clay, the 

 handle suggested in Fig. 5 would be the most convenient. The clam- 

 shell agricultural implements, so frequently mentioned by explorers 

 along the Atlantic coast, were attached to handles in the manner of 

 hoes or adzes, as shown in Fig. 2, Plate XXVII. It is possible that the 

 siiecimens under consideration may have been hafted in this manner. 



A perforated valve of a Unio gibbosus, which has probably been used 

 as a knife or scraper, is shown in Fig. 1, Plate XXVII. It was obtained 

 from a cave near Nashville, and is now in the national collection. 



Another interesting variety of shell implement is shown in Fig. 1, 

 Plate XXVI. It was obtained from the Oconee Eiver, near Milledge- 

 ville, Ga., and is made from the left valve of a Unio vericosus. Its 

 perfect state of preservation indicates that it is of quite recent manu- 

 facture. A deep, sharply cut groove encircles the beak and hinge of 

 the shell, and the posterior margins are considerably worn. A few shal- 

 low lines have been engraved on the smooth convex surface of the 

 valve. The position of the groove suggests the method of hafting shown 

 in Fig. 2. 



Fig. 6, Plate XXVI, represents a perforated Pecten, which may have 

 been used as an imiilement or as part of a lattle. It was collected by 

 Mr. Webb on the west coast of Florida. 



