24 
MUSEUM BULLETIN NO. 10. 
As far as could be determined, the clan animal is the thunder- 
bird with his characteristics of lightning and thunder, of the bear 
who likes honey and raisins, etc. The animal is engraved as clan 
symbol and used as a property mark, and he is brought in intimate 
contact with the group by the postulation of descent. Natur- 
ally, descent is not from the “spirit” animal but from the 
animal. Nevertheless the clan animal has, at the same time, 
retained its place as a guardian spirit, and in a most suggestive 
way. The blessing of a clan animal is more easily obtained by a 
member of the clan than by an outsider. The clan animal is a 
sort of clan protector. 
In this change of attitude two considerations seem pertinent: 
first, the possibility of the “spirit” nature of the guardian 
spirit being a product of the esoteric elaboration of the religious 
societies, and that its apparent absence in the clan animal 
represents an exoteric conception; and, secondly, that under 
the influence of the social functions of the clan, an originally 
strong religious conception of the clan animal gave place to an 
identification with the animal species itself. It might be ob- 
jected that there is no inherent correlation between social 
organization and animal species as contrasted with spirit animals. 
It seems certain, however, that descent could only be reckoned 
from the animal, and as long as it is postulated it must be from 
the animal. With regard to the historical priority of the “spirit” 
conception, little can be definitely said except, first, that the 
systematization it has undergone suggests the influence of the 
esoteric societies, and secondly, that the visions obtained during 
fasting appear to speak of the guardian “spirit” as an animal. 
On general psychological considerations we are inclined to 
believe in the contrast of the material and spiritual conception 
of the animal as a real fact, although it would be hazardous to 
say whether one or the other lies at the basis of the attitude of 
the individual toward his clan animal. 
Relationship to Clan Animals . 
The question of descent from the animal brings us to the 
consideration of the whole intricate relationship of the individual 
to the clan animal, a subject that has played so prominent a 
