NOTES ON THE TEN THOUSAND ISLANDS, FLORIDA. 469 
Fig. 25 shows an ordinary southern, round clam-shell (Menus mortoni) from 
Fikahatchee Key, with a circular hole knocked from the inside through the central 
part of the shell or, perhaps, a little above it. Clam-shells of this kind, of which 
we obtained thirteen,—twelve from Chokoloskee and one from Fikahatchee,— 
usually show considerable wear on parts of the edge, though the shell in the illus- 
tration, probably almost an unused tool, shows but little sign of use. There seems 
to be, however, no evidence of wear on the sharp edges within the holes, which 
fact makes it still more doubtful how these shells were used, though no doubt the 
purpose for which they were employed was the cultivation of the soil. In “ Art in 
Shell"! we see suggested various methods of hafting perforated shells. 
Cushing says :? * Large clam-shells, deeply worn at the backs, as well as show- 
ing much use at the edges, 
seem to have served both as 
scrapers and as digging imple- 
ments or hoes; for some of 
them had been hafted by clamp- 
ing eurved sticks over the hinge 
and over the point at the apex, 
or umbo—where it showed 
wear" . . . No reference is 
made by him to holes in these 
shells, and in point of fact re- 
peated search made by our- 
selves and by the juvenile 
population of Marco? failed to 
discover at that place a single 
perforated clam-shell of the 
variety in question. 
Cushing,“ however, speaks 
of varieties of Pectunculus (which is a kind of clam) as having served as scrapers 
and shavers, and being * perforated at the apices, in order that a loop might be 
attached to them to facilitate handling," and also describes (p. 42) a variety of 
Arca shell, three and one-half or four inches long, through the aperture of which 
а strip of bark was passed in a way to afford an excellent grasp. Probably it was 
in this manner our clam-shells were used and the comparative absence of wear in 
the holes is owing to the soft character of the fiber. 
One feature connected with the thirteen clam-shells found by us is of especial 
interest. ОҒ these shells twelve are left valves, having the umbo, or beak (which 
in the case of the clam is above the heavy hinge-piece) turning to the right of the 
user, thus making it perhaps a trifle easier for a right-handed person to grasp in 
connection with a band. In the case of the remaining shell, a right-hand valve, 
" W. Н. Holmes. Rep. Bur. Am. Ethn., 1880-81, pp. 206-207, plate XXVI. 
Q 
Fic. 25.—Shell implement. Fikahatchee. (Length about 5 inches.) 
p. cit., p. 40. 
гаф" was the ч наса scene of Mr. Cushing’s labors. 
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