250 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY I Bull. 137 



The beaver was eaten and its skin used in the manufacture of 

 clothing, particularly pouches. The beaver tooth, usually set in 

 the end of a stick, was an important tool, and one writer seems to 

 imply that textiles were made of the hair, though this is doubtful. 



The Indians living toward the north hunted the elk for food, 

 and used its hide for clothing, particularly moccasins. 



The otter was eaten and the skins used for clothing, though they 

 were worn for ornamental rather than practical purposes. Pouches 

 were, however, made of them, and since the otter was connected 

 closely with shamanistic practices we are apt to find otter skins 

 in the priestly costume. According to Adair, an otter-skin strap 

 held the gorget of the Chickasaw high priest in place. 



The raccoon was eaten and its skin used for clothing, including 

 pouches. Thongs of raccoon hide were employed to form the cage 

 of a ballstick. Raccoon claws were sometimes thrust through the 

 ears by way of ornament. According to one writer, textiles were 

 made of raccoon hair, though this is questionable. 



Squirrels were a favorite article of food and their skins were 

 sewed into various sorts of clothing. The claws were thrust through 

 apertures in the ears as ornaments. A twisted skin frequently did 

 duty as a bowstring. 



We hear of the panther being eaten sometimes and the use of its 

 skin as clothing for the person, or as bedclothes. The claws are said 

 to have been employed as ornaments. 



The muskrat was eaten and its skin formed a much prized 

 article of clothing in early times. The companions of De Soto once 

 found the skin or skins of muskrat made into something which 

 they thought was a flag. 



The opossum is said not to have been eaten by some tribes, but 

 the taboo does not seem to have extended to all. The hair was woven 

 into textiles of the same kind as those for which bison wool was 

 employed. 



Rabbits were eaten ^nd their skins sewed into robes. 



The wildcat seems to have been eaten at times and its skin was 

 also worn. 



Polecats were eaten, at least by some of the Indians, but I have no 

 mention of the use of their skins unless this animal is meant when 

 it is said that a badger skin was utilized as a wrist protector, or 

 "vanbrace," to protect the wrist from the bowstring. 



The skin of the fox or the skin of the wolf might also be em- 

 ployed for the latter purpose, and a fox skin was sometimes meta- 

 morphized into a pouch. 



The manatee was hunted and eaten by the south Florida tribes, 

 and "two large bones" taken from its head, evidently the tusks, were 

 placed in a chief's grave. 



