NO. 1616. A STUDY OF ALASKAN NEEDLECASES—BOAS. 3381 
lower end. On the three faces on the right-hand side is the small 
double-angle decoration which has been indicated in our illustration. 
A double angle turned with its apex downward is also found on the 
lateral face on the right-hand side. As shown in the illustration, the 
flanges do not extend up to the top of the needlecase, as is the case 
in most specimens. 
The needlecase represented in Plate X XV, fig. 11, illustrates a very 
peculiar reduction in the general form. ‘The flanges have almost 
disappeared, and with them the upper and lower decorative border, 
as well as the border at the lower end of the tube; and all that re- 
mains to remind us of the form here discussed are four parallel 
forked lines, which, however, are continued beyond the forks. Never- 
theless the impression given by the specimen in connection with the 
whole series is such that I do not doubt for a moment that it be- 
longed originally to the series under discussion. 
The series represented on Plates XXVI-X XVIII seems to me of 
special importance, and interesting from a theoretical point of view. 
The identity of the types of needlecases here shown and the preceding 
ones is perfectly obvious. The specimens collected on Plate XXVI 
show with perfect distinctness the bulging tube, the flange with its 
decoration, the knobs, and the concave face of the tube. Here part of 
the specimen seems to be conceived of as an animal. The bulging tube 
is the body of the animal, whose head has been added at the lower end 
of the tube. Although the transformation of the lower end of the 
needlecase into an animal has been perfected, it does not seem likely 
that the whole object was conceived as an animal form. If this were 
the case, the flanges, when transformed into the tail of a sea mammal, 
would probably have been modified, and the position of the head 
would be so changed as to be in proper relation to the tail. 
It seems to my mind entirely artificial to assume that in this case 
the animal form as such could possibly have preceded the typical 
needlecase as before described, but that we are dealing here evi- 
dently with a secondary interpretation of the design, which finds 
expression in the addition of the animal head and in other later ad- 
ditions to the whole form. In Plate X XVI, figs. 2,3,5,6,and 7, the 
entire old design may be recognized in all its details; even the alter- 
nate-spur’band remains, although it interferes with the form of the 
seal’s head which has been added. In fig. 3 the head of the animal 
has been turned, so that the lower part of the needlecase looks like a 
sea animal swimming on its back. A similar specimen from the Royal 
Ethnographical Museum in Berlin is shown in fig. 8. It has a uni- 
lateral small knob. In fig. 1 of Plate X XVI we find what may be a 
still further development of the original design here described. The 
seal’s head has disappeared again, and in its place we find a simple 
knob. ‘There are three parallel lines near the lower end of this knob, 
