DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42067#0284
256
Art of the North Pacific Coast of North America
analogy, I think there can be very little doubt that the two wing-
feathers placed by the sides of the body in fig. 269 a may be con-
sidered in the same way as the two parts of the arm of the animal
represented. Since the animal here shown is a bird, these feather
designs are in this way made to represent the bones of the wing.
Similar considerations have determined the distribution of orna-
ments in the design fig. 270 b. Here the two feet will be recog-
nized at the lower edge of the design. Adjoining it, above the “eye”,
are two long white flicker-feather designs, which obviously represent
the legs. Each of the two inverted double eyes under the jaws
must be interpreted as a shoulder-joint to which is attached the
lower part of the arm in the form of a flicker-feather design.
The forms here discussed are interpreted as various kinds of
animals,— birds, quadrupeds, sea-monsters,— but never as the red-
winged flicker, nor can the parts be interpreted as ornaments made
of flicker-feathers. It is obvious that we are dealing here with a
fixed form, which has a conventional name, and which is used for
a variety of purposes.
It will be noticed that this design occurs in three principal forms.
In one of these it is cut off square at the upper end. Most of
those shown in fig. 266 are of this type. Another characteristic
form of this design has the pointed wing-feather, (as the second
one in the series fig. 266 t). A third form, which is not given in
the series of named designs, seems to be quite common. It has a
rounded tip, and may be observed, for instance, in the beak part in
front of the upper eye in the lateral panels of figs. 203 and 269 a;
also in the central field in fig. 273 b.
The wing design is applied wherever a somewhat oval or rect-
angular field which is situated laterally has to be filled in, parti-
cularly when the field adjoins another design which is surrounded
by heavy black lines, and which forms part of an animal body.
For this reason the design appears very commonly in front of, over,
or under the eye design. It is used to fill in the ears; it appears
at the sides of the body, as in figs. 203 and 269 a; and it is used
Art of the North Pacific Coast of North America
analogy, I think there can be very little doubt that the two wing-
feathers placed by the sides of the body in fig. 269 a may be con-
sidered in the same way as the two parts of the arm of the animal
represented. Since the animal here shown is a bird, these feather
designs are in this way made to represent the bones of the wing.
Similar considerations have determined the distribution of orna-
ments in the design fig. 270 b. Here the two feet will be recog-
nized at the lower edge of the design. Adjoining it, above the “eye”,
are two long white flicker-feather designs, which obviously represent
the legs. Each of the two inverted double eyes under the jaws
must be interpreted as a shoulder-joint to which is attached the
lower part of the arm in the form of a flicker-feather design.
The forms here discussed are interpreted as various kinds of
animals,— birds, quadrupeds, sea-monsters,— but never as the red-
winged flicker, nor can the parts be interpreted as ornaments made
of flicker-feathers. It is obvious that we are dealing here with a
fixed form, which has a conventional name, and which is used for
a variety of purposes.
It will be noticed that this design occurs in three principal forms.
In one of these it is cut off square at the upper end. Most of
those shown in fig. 266 are of this type. Another characteristic
form of this design has the pointed wing-feather, (as the second
one in the series fig. 266 t). A third form, which is not given in
the series of named designs, seems to be quite common. It has a
rounded tip, and may be observed, for instance, in the beak part in
front of the upper eye in the lateral panels of figs. 203 and 269 a;
also in the central field in fig. 273 b.
The wing design is applied wherever a somewhat oval or rect-
angular field which is situated laterally has to be filled in, parti-
cularly when the field adjoins another design which is surrounded
by heavy black lines, and which forms part of an animal body.
For this reason the design appears very commonly in front of, over,
or under the eye design. It is used to fill in the ears; it appears
at the sides of the body, as in figs. 203 and 269 a; and it is used