Wampum and shell articles 361 



solution. The fresh-water lobster is carnivorous, and its long horns 

 might suggest the term, cornihots. Back of the eyes are sometimes 

 found small, white, polished and half globular substances known 

 to most country boys as eyestones, and used by them for very sim- 

 ple surgery. Fig. 10 shows one of these. To make a fair bead 

 they would require only perforation. They are often called eye- 

 stones because placed very near the eyes^ while really in the stomach 

 of the crustacean. Hence they are more properly known to 

 naturalists as gastroliths, or stomach stones. Very often they are 

 not found, being absorbed about the moulting season. This would 

 add to their value. On the other hand, no such beads have ever 

 been reported in any way, and they must have had a limited range 

 if used at all. Their small size may have caused them to be over- 

 looked, as it would have contributed to their loss or rapid decay. 

 It should be noted that the esurgny were not the same as the 

 cornihots, but were taken in them. To a practical naturalist, ac- 

 quainted with the forms and habits of all New York and eastern 

 Canadian fresh-water snails, this seems the possible solution of a 

 puzzling statement, though it may appear absurd to some. In fact, 

 Cartier's story. seems^ itself, absurd. 



From their variety and importance the writer has treated beads 

 separately, as well as some other classes of ornaments. Those of 

 a more miscellaneous character may be grouped here. 



Among these are some which may be called flattened or disk 

 birds. They are rather thin flat pieces of shell, cut into a more or 

 less bird-like form, in general outline somewhat like a plump duck. 

 There is a short neck, sometimes expanding into a small head. 

 For suspension they are perforated longitudinally through the 

 neck. All those figured are of actual size except one. They came 

 into use about 1660 or a little later, and occur on most recent sites 

 for a century more. Good examples have been abundant on In- 

 dian hill, Pompey, occupied from 1650 to 1681. Fig. 215 from 

 that town, is reduced in size. A great many have been found on 

 Cayuga sites, and fig. y6 is a good example out of some found at 

 Fleming. Fig. 73 is of white shell, and comes from Cayuga county. 

 One from Happy hollow^ a little west of Canajoharie, has a small 



