TRIJ3AL SIGNS. 



Absai'okn, Crow. 



The hands held out each side, aud striking the air in the maimer of 

 flying. (Long.) 



Imitate the flapping of the bird's wings with the two hands, palms 

 downward, brought close to the shoulder. {Burton.) 



The sign for these Indians is the same as that for Fly, to. {DaJcota I.) 

 " Flight of the crow." 



Another : The Crow Indians simply place the index upon the ridge 

 of the nose, but this sign would be understood by the Sioux as meaning 

 Nose. {Dakota I.) " From the Sioux idea that the heart is the seat of 

 life; consequently my heart is I, is myself." {Sic.) The placing of the 

 index upon the ridge of the nose is understood to signify iiersonality 

 "I, myself," and not to be a tribal sign. 



Both hands extended, with fingers joined ( W), held near the shoulders, 

 and flapped to represent the wings of a crow. {Dakota III.) 



At the height of the shoulders and a foot outward from them, move 

 the opened hands forward aud backward twice or three times from the 

 wrist, palms forward, fingers and thumbs extended and separated a lit- 

 tle ; then place the back or the palm of the upright opened right hand 

 against the upper part of the forehead ; or half close the fingers, 

 placing the end of the thumb against the ends of the fore and middle 

 fingers, and then place the back of the hand against the forehead. 

 {Dakota IV.) "To imitate the flying of a bird, and also indicate the 

 manner in which the Absaroka wear their hair." 



Place the flat hand as high as and in front or to the side of the right 

 shoulder, move it up and down, the motion occurring at the wrist. For 

 more thorough representation, both hands are sometimes employed. 

 (DflAoM V, VI, VII; Kaiowal; Comanche III; Apache II; Wichita II.) 

 " Bird's wing." 



Make with the arms the motion of flapping wings. {Kutine I.) 



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