MALLERY. ] SIGNIFICANCE OF PICTOGRAPHY. 29 
examples. The old devices are substantially the same as the modern, 
though improved and established in the course of evolution. The ideog- 
raphy and symbolism displayed in these devices present suggestive 
studies in psychology more interesting than the mere information or 
text contained in the pictures. It must also be observed that when 
Indians now make pictographs itis with intention and care—seldom for 
mere amusement. Hyen when the labor is undertaken merely to sup- 
ply the trade demand for painted robes or engraved pipes or bark rec- 
ords, it is a serious manufacture, though sometimes only imitative and 
not intrinsically significant. In all other known instances in which 
pictures are made without such specific intent as is indicated under the 
several headings of this work, they are purely ornamental; but in such 
cases they are often elaborate and artistic, not idle scrawls. 
This paper is limited in its terms to the presentation of the most im- 
portant known pictographs of the American Indians, but examples 
from other parts of the world are added for comparison. The proper 
classification and correlation of the matter collected has required more 
labor and thought than is apparent. The scheme of the work has been 
to give in an arrangement of chapters and sections some examples with 
illustrations in connection with each heading in the classification. This 
plan has involved a large amount of cross reference, because in many 
cases a character or a group of characters could be considered with 
reference to a number of different characteristics, and it was necessary 
to choose under which one of the headings it should be presented, 
involving reference to that from the other divisions of the work. Some- 
times the decision was determined by taste or judgment, and sometimes 
required by mechanical considerations. 
It may be mentioned that the limitation of the size of the present 
volume required that the space occupied by the text should be sub- 
ordinated to the large amount of illustration. It is obvious that a 
work on picture-writing should be composed largely of pictures, and 
to allow room for them many pages of the present writer’s views have 
been omitted. Whatever may be the disadvantage of this omission 
it leaves to students of the work the opportunity to form their own 
judgments without bias. Indeed, this writer confesses that although 
he has examined and studied in their crude shape, as they went to the 
printer, all the illustrations and descriptions now presented, he expects 
that after the volume shall be delivered to him in printed form with its 
synoptic arrangement he will be better able than now to make appro- 
priate remarks on its subject-matter. Therefore he anticipates that 
careful readers will judiciously correct errors in the details of the work 
which may have escaped him and that they will extend and expand 
what is yet jimited and partial. It may be proper to note that when 
the writer’s observation has resulted in agreement with published 
authorities or contributors, the statements that could have been made 
on his own personal knowledge have been cited, when possible, from 
