158 CERTAIN ABORIGINAL REMAINS, BLACK WARRIOR RIVER. 
that on the base. One of these designs is given in diagram! in Fig. 9. Near the 
head, in certain instances, where space has allowed it (Fig. 10), and on each tail, is 
a swastika enclosed within a circle. Professor Putnam writes us ** This design [the 
bird-figure] shows the characteristic duplication of parts in a most interesting man- 
ner. In the centre of the figure we notice the symbol which is common to many of 
the shell gorgets from Tennessee and which corresponds to the symbol on the 
Korean flag as well as to the well-known Chinese symbol indicating the positive 
and negative, or male and female." Professor Putnam next points out how, from 
this central symbol two heads of a bird which he identifies as a woodpecker, extend 
Ета. 10.— Vessel from Moundville. Decoration. 
Fie. 9.— Vessel from Moundville. Decoration. (About half size.) (About half size.) 
and how on each side of these heads a symbolical wing of the bird is seen. Then 
on the right and left of the central portion are two tails of the bird, on each of 
which is the symbol of the swastika. “ Altogether,” says Professor Putnam, 
referring to the whole design, *this is a beautiful symbolic figure and in general 
workmanship and design it resembles some of the sculptures on bone from the Ohio 
mounds." 
The bird shown in the design has been identified by Mr. Witmer Stone, of the 
Academy of Natural Sciences, as the ivory-billed woodpecker (Campephilus princi- 
palis Linn.), a bird now found in one part of Mississippi and in parts of Florida, 
but having ranged well north of Moundville in former times. Тһе aboriginal 
artist shows the tongue of the bird extended to a somewhat exaggerated degree, 
although the thrusting out of the tongue is a habit common to woodpeckers. 
Emerging from within the open bill are various symbols, perhaps emblematie of 
bird-speech. The call of the ivory-billed woodpecker resembles that of a young 
child, according to Wilson. | 
The tail of the woodpecker, when spread, is fan-shaped and the individual 
feathers at the extremity are pointed—peculiarities carefully shown by the abor- 
iginal artist. When spread, the tail of the woodpecker is used by the bird to 
1 It may be said here, as applying to these diagrams and others of the Moundville specimens, 
that proportions have been so far modified as was necessary to portray a curved field on a flat surface, 
though otherwise the representation is exact. 
