Art, Prehistoric; Folk literature -- History and criticism
1. Of the _beaver_: large incisors; large, round nose; scaly tail; and
a stick held in the fore paws.
2. Of the _sculpin_: two spines rising over the mouth, and a continuous
dorsal fin.
3. Of the _hawk_: large, curved beak the point of which is turned
backward so that it touches the face.
4. Of the _eagle_: large, curved beak, the point of which is turned
downward.
5. Of the _killer-whale_: large, long head; elongated large nostrils;
round eye; large mouth set with teeth; blow-hole; and large dorsal fin.
6. Of the _shark_ or _dogfish_: an elongated rounded cone rising over
the forehead; mouth with depressed corners; a series of curved lines
on the cheeks representing gills; two circles and curved lines on the
ornament rising over the forehead representing nostrils and wrinkles;
round eyes; numerous sharp teeth; and heterocerc tail.
7. Of the _bear_: large paws; and large mouth set with teeth;
protruding tongue; large, round nose; and sudden turn from snout to
forehead.
8. Of the _sea-monster_: bear’s head; bear’s paws with flippers
attached; and gills and body of the killer-whale, with several dorsal
fins; or other mixtures of bear and killer-whale type.
9. Of the _dragon-fly_: large head; segmented, slender body; and wings.
10. Of the _frog_: wide, toothless mouth; flat nose; and lack of tail.
11. Of the personified _snag_: like a bear with mouth depressed at the
corners like that of the dogfish.
12. Of the _snail_: long snout with sudden downward turn.[110]
[110] See also characterization of wolf, p. 207.
I have had occasion to examine the Kwakiutl in greater detail in regard
to the symbols used in designating certain animals. One artist gave
me a series of eye patterns together with the adjoining parts of the
face and explained in what way each is characteristic of the animal in
question. These are shown in figs. 191 and 192.
[Illustration: Fig. 191. Types of eyes of various animals, Kwakiutl;
_a_, sea bear; _b_, grizzly bear; _c_, beaver; _d_, wolf; _e_, eagle;
_f_ raven; _g_, killer-whale.]
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