NO. 1616. A STUDY OF ALASKAN NEEDLECASES—BOAS. 323 
cases shown on Plates XXII and XXIII (see Plate XXII, figs. 6, 7, 
9, 10; Plate X XIII, figs. 1-4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12). The flanges and the 
upper border of the tube are generally decorated by a design consisting 
of a number of parallel lines, which is repeated near the lower end of 
the flanges, where the parallel lines almost always slope slightly 
downward towards the tube. Similar line designs are also found on 
the concave face of the tube. In many cases these lines meet the 
lower lines on the flanges at an angle, being incised so that they slope 
downward from the middle line of the tube outward (Plate XXIT, 
figs. 1-6). In other cases they continue in the same direction as the 
lines on the flanges (Plate XXII, figs. 7, 8; Plate XXIII, figs, 2-4, 
6-12). Many of the needlecases are so much polished and rubbed off 
by use that the design lines can not be recognized distinctly. In other 
cases broken ends have been cut off (Plate X XII, fig. 7), with the re- 
sult that the characteristic decorative traits have become obscure. | It 
would seem, however, that in all the better specimens of this simple 
type the central concave face of the needlecase is set off more defi- 
nitely by two parallel incised lines, which extend downward to about 
the middle of the tubing, and which end at this place in two or three 
small spurs (Plate X XII, figs. 4, 6, 7, 9, 10; Plate X XITJ, figs. 2, 6, 
8-12). The border design on the flanges is not continued over the 
space between the lines just referred to and the concave face of the 
tube. The parallel lines near the lower border of the flanges are also 
generally interrupted at this place. There is only a single specimen, 
among the simple needlecases, on which they run continuously (Plate 
XONIDULE, thie, Me 
Another characteristic decorative design of these needlecases 1s a 
narrow band extending around the lower end. This consists 
always, wherever it can be distinctly recognized, of two parallel 
lines with short alternating spurs directed toward the space be- 
tween the two lines. Whenever these spurs are given a greater 
width this design assumes more or less the form of a zigzag band. 
A comparison of a considerable number of these designs shows 
clearly, however, that the primary idea is not the zigzag band, but 
rather the two lines with alternating spurs. This is best shown by 
the fact that in those cases where the lines are thin the alternation 
is often quite irregular. This may be observed, for instance, in the 
specimen shown on Plate XXIT, fig. 2. On the whole, however, an 
alternation is observed. Bands of this kind may be recognized 
clearly on Plate XXII, figs. 3-6, 9, 10; Plate X XIII, figs. 6, 8-10. 
Sometimes the band at the lower end appears doubled, or elaborated 
by the addition of short vertical lines with short spurs at their ends 
(Plate X XII, fig. 9; Plate X XIII, figs. 11, 12; Plate X XIV, figs. 1, 
2; Plate XXV, figs. 2, 3, 5, 6). These lines are four in number, 
except in the last three cases. In the specimen shown on Plate XXYV, 
