SWANTON] INDIANS OF THE SOUTHEASTEIRN UNITED STATES 251 



The dog was utilized in hunting to a very limited extent. Its 

 flesh does not seem to have been a regular article of diet anywhere, 

 but it was consumed at certain feasts of a social or ceremonial 

 character. 



Weasel skins are mentioned as ornaments to the headdress. 



There is one notice of work in porcupine quills (among the 

 Natchez) and references to porcupine quills in use to tie up the 

 hair (Natchez women) or to ornament the headdress (Creeks). The 

 quills, or objects ornamented with them, were evidently imported. 



The turkey seems anciently to have been the most utilized of all 

 birds, though it was rarely tamed in this section. It was eaten, of 

 course, and its feathers were used in making feather mantles, in the 

 headdress (probably), as fans, and in feathering arrows; and turkey- 

 cock spurs were turned into arrow points. They adorned the 

 moccasins of the Chickasaw high priest. 



Ducks were also used for food and clothing, particularly clothing 

 of an ornamental character. We hear of blankets made of mallard 

 heads, and the Caddo sprinkled reddened duck down on the hair. 



Eagle feathers were employed as ornaments to the person and 

 marks of accomplisliments. Fans were made of them and they were 

 employed frequently in ceremonies. Eagle claws were sometimes used 

 to adorn the breechclout. 



Hawk feathers were also used as ornaments, and a hawk skin 

 was sometimes tied to the hair for this same purpose. As in the 

 case of the eagle, hawk claws were fastened to the breechclouts as 

 an embellishment. 



Buzzard skins were used like hawk skins, and a buzzard feather 

 was displayed by a doctor to indicate that he could cure gunshot 

 wounds, since buzzard feathers were employed in cleansing such 

 wounds. 



Swan feathers were worked into mantles, worn as parts of the 

 headdress by successful warriors, and on the headdress of the Chicka- 

 saw high priest. The Caddo put reddened swan's down on their 

 heads. 



Geese, partridges, and quails seem to have been valued merely 

 as food. 



Pigeons formed a considerable article of diet at certain times near 

 the places where they were in the habit of roosting in their annual 

 migrations. 



Pheasant feathers were used as ornaments. 



Flamingo feather cloaks w^ere noted among the Indians by Bartram. 



Crane or heron feathers were worn by Creek Indians as part of 

 their headdresses, particularly by those belonging to one set of 

 clans. 



