1893] | Shell Heaps of Florida. 721 
investigations has yielded perforated conchs at a considerable 
depth, and as the territory bordering the St. John’s has 
been carefully searched by the writer, having in mind the 
investigation of these perforated fulgurs, he is strongly 
inclined to the belief that the employment of these imple- 
ments eame in at a period subsequent to or approaching the 
abandonment of the great majority of the shell heaps of the 
river. 
The use of these perforated fulgurs is not determined. 
Wyman confessed himself in doubt. In “Art in Shell,” 
Bureau of Ethnology, Annual Report, 1880-1881, Professor 
Holmes figures a perforated fulgur (Plate XXVII) and cites 
Rau, “Archeological Collection of the National Museum,” 
page 67: “It further appears that the Florida Indians applied 
shells of the busycon perversum as clubs or casse-tetes by adapt- 
ing them to be used with a handle, which was made to pass 
transversely through the shell. This was effected by a hole 
pierced in the outer wall of the last whorl in such a manner 
as to be somewhat to the left of the columella, while a notch 
in the outer lip, corresponding to the hole, confined the han- 
dle or stick between the outer edge of the lip and inner edge 
of the columella. , , x , A hole was also made in the ` 
posterior surface of the spire behind the carina in the last 
whorl, evidently for receiving a ligature by means of which 
the shell was more firmly lashed to the handle." 
. Of scores of perforated fulgurs from the river, examined by 
the writer, he can recall but two wrought from the fulgur per- 
versum. The fulgur carica is a more massive shell and better 
fitted for the rough work than the more slender perversum 
from which shell the drinking cups of the river shell heaps 
and mounds are fashioned. It is true that a heavy variety of 
perversum is met with on the coast, and that the fulgur carica 
is rarely, if ever, found on the west coast or on the east coast 
south of Jupiter inlet. 
In the eoast shell heaps alone is the perforated fulgur per- 
versum found to any extent, and this point should be remem- 
*The Academy of Natural Sciences possesses no fulgurs of the species 
carica from the west coast. The Smithsonian has one, stated to be from 
Cedar Keys; its record is not well established. 
