32 



Seize ii sliort piece of wood, say about two feet long, wave in tiie right 

 hand, iind strike a blow at an imaginary jierson. (Omalui I.) 



Seize a sliort thing about six inches long, hold it as dagger, preteud 

 to thrust it downward under the breast bone repeatedly, and each time 

 farther, grunting or gasping in doing so; withdraw the stick, holding it 

 ui), and, showing the blood, point to the breast with the left forefinger, 

 meaning to say .so do thou u'hen you meet the hear. {Omaha I.) 



rreteiul to stab yourself with an arrow in various parts of the body, 

 then ])oint towards the body with the left-hand forefinger. {Omaha I.) 



Arms are flexed and hands clasped about center of breast ; theu 

 slowly fall with arms pendulous and both haiuls in position of (Q). The. 

 sigu is completed by slowly lifting the hands and arms several times in 

 imitation of the animal's locomotion. 



Movement and appearance of animal's front feet. {Oto I.) 



Hold the closed i-ight hand at the height of the elbow before the right 

 side, i)alm downward, extend and curve the thumb and little finger so 

 that their tii)s are nearly directed toward one another before the knuckles 

 of the closed fingers ; then push the hand forward several times. {Kalowa 

 I, Comarichelll, Apaehell, Wlehita II.) " Paw and long claw.s." 



Hold both closed hands before the body, palms down, and about eight 

 inches apart; reach forward a short distance, relaxing the fingers as if 

 grasping something with them, and draw them back again as the liands 

 are withdrawn to their former position. ( Vte I.) " Scratching, and 

 grasping with the claws." 



The right hand thrown in the position as for Hor^e, then extend 

 both hands with fingers extended and curved, separated, palms down, 

 and jiush them forward several times making a short arch. {Apaehe I.) 

 "The animal that scratches with long claws." 



Beard, whissker.s. 



Place the back of the wrist under the chin, spread the fingers slightly, 

 allowing them to extend downward and forward. {Dakota Vf, VH.) 



Beaver. 



With the back of the open riglit hand, strike the palm of the left 

 several times. ( Wied.) I have seen this. It rei)resents the beaver 

 striking the water with his flat tail. [Matthews.) The arms are semi- 

 flexed and approach the body with the hands opened, palms down, the 

 right over and above the left. The right hand finally sweeps back and 

 is held extended, flatly open in position of animal's tail. There is no 

 siiiiihirity in tlie execution or conception of this sign and that of Wied; 



