MURDOCH. ] SEAL CALLS. 253 
Seal calls (adrigautin).—This implement consists of three or four claws 
mounted on the end of a short wooden handle, and is used to make a 
gentle noise by scratching on the ice. It is a common implement, 
though I never happened to see it in use. We obtained six specimens, 
of which No. 56555 [90] Fig. 255a, is the type. It is 114 inches long. 
The round handle is of ash, the claws are those of the bearded seal, 
secured by a lashing of sinew braid, with the end brought down on the 
under side to a little blunt, backward-pointing hook of ivory, set into 
the wood about 1 inch from the base of the arms. 
Fig. 253b (No. 56557 [93] from Utkiavwin) is 94 inches long and has 
four prongs. The haft is of spruce, and instead of an ivory hook there 
is around-headed stud of the same material, which is driven wholly 
through the wood, having the point cut off flush with the upper sur- 
Fic, 253.—Scratchers for decoying seals. 
face. It has a lanyard of seal twine knotted into the hole in the haft. 
The other two specimens of this pattern, Nos. 56556 [100] and 56558 
[51] have each three claws, and hafts of soft wood, painted with red 
ocher, with lanyards, and are respectively 10-4 and 10-7 inches long. 
One has an ivory hook, but the other in place of this has a small iron 
nail, and is ornamented with a medium-sized sky-blue glass bead inlaid 
in the back. The other two are both new and small, being respectively 
7-5 and 7:6 inches long. The hafts are made of reindeer antler and 
have only two prongs. No. 89467 [1512] from Utkiavwin, has the haft 
notched on each side, and has an irregular stud of bone for securing 
the lashing. 
No, $9468 [1354], Fig. 253e¢, from Utkiavwin, has no stud and the claws 
are simply held on by a slight lashing of twisted sinew. Both of these 
were made for the market, but may be models of a form once used. 
There are two old seal calls in the Museum from near St. Michaels, 
made of a piece of reindeer antler, apparently the spreading brow 
antler, in which the sharp points of the antler take the place of claws. 
