MURDOCH. ] BIRD DART. 213 
sible that this pattern has been so long out of use that the natives have 
forgotten what this old point was made for and supposed it to belong to 
a Seal spear. 
One of the eight heads of the ordinary pattern in the collection, No. 
56592 [284], a genuine one, old and dirty, is made of coarse-grained 
whale’s bone, an unusual material. No. 89373 [948], from 
Utkiavwin, an ivory head of a good typical shape, has 
been figured (Fig. 198) to show a common style of orna- 
menting these heads. A narrow incised line, colored 
with red ocher, runs along the base of the barbs on each 
side for about three-fourths the length of the 
blade. These heads are sometimes secured by 
treenails as well as by a simple lashing, as is 
shown by the holes through the tang of this 
specimen. 
An improvement on this style of dart, which 
appears to be less common, has two prongs at 
the tip instead of a sharp head, so that the bird 
may be caught if struck on the neck with the 
point of the spear. No. 89905 [1326], Fig. 199, 
from Utkiaywin, is one of this pattern. The 
two prongs are fastened on with a lashing of 
fine sinew braid. The rest of the dart does 
not differ from the one described except in the 
method of attaching the three prongs at the 
middle (Fig. 199). These are fitted into slight 
grooves in the wood and secured by two neat 
lashings of narrow strips of whalebone, one 
just above a little ridge at the lower end of 
Fig. 198.— . : 
Point for each prong and one through little holes in each 
bird dart. prong at the top of the oblique edge. Each 
lashing consists of. several turns with the end closely 
wrapped around them. There is one specimen, No. 89242 
[526], in the collection which not only has not the prongs 
at the middle, but lacks the enlargement of the shaft to Fie. 199.—Bird dart 
receive them. The head is undoubtedly old and gen- “it? “eu?le point 
uine, but the shaft and fittings, though dirty, look suspiciously fresh. 
I am inclined to believe that this head was mounted for sale by a man 
who had no prongs ready made, and was in too much of a hurry to get 
his price to stop to make them. Imperfect or unfinished objects were 
frequently offered for sale. 
The bird darts used at Point Barrow, and by the western Eskimo 
generally, are lighter and better finished than those used in the east. 
The latter have a heavy shaft, which is four-sided in Baffin Land, and 
the prongs are crooked and clumsy.’ 
1See Crantz’s figure referred to above; also one in Parry’s second voyage, Pl. opposite p. 550, Fig. 
19, and Rink, Tales., etc., Pl. opposite p. 12. 
