Another idea seems to be connected with the conception of the medicine-hoop, and that is the appearance of certain mythical animals with openings through their bodies where their hearts should be. The conception seems to be, that an animal without a heart is immortal and supernatural: at least, this is the way in which the mythical elk was described. According to the belief, there is a connection between this opening through the heart and the centre of the medicine-hoop, represented in the elk ceremonies by the mirror; but it is the opinion of the writer that this is an error on the part of the Indians themselves in associating two things that were formerly distinct.[16] It seems rather curious that the mirror should become so closely associated with the hoop, and that the mirror should have appealed to them as a symbol of almost equal importance. The writer is of the opinion that the preceding cases, where the mirror and the hoop are considered as identical symbols, are the result of a former close association of the two in ceremonial affairs. ----- [9] Meeker (Bulletin of the Free Museum of Science and Art, University of Pennsylvania, Vol. III. No. 1). [10] Walker (The Journal of the American Folk-Lore Society, October-December, 1905). [11] Mooney (Fourteenth Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology, p. 1075). [12] Mooney (Fourteenth Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology, p. 994). [13] Mooney (Fourteenth Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology, p. 1075). [14] Walker (The Journal of the American Folk-Lore Society, October-December, 1905). [15] Meeker, op. cit., p. 35. [16] In the Report of the Peabody Museum (Vol. III, p. 286) is a description by Miss Fletcher of some ceremonies in which the hoop and the mirror played a part. “The neophyte held one, having a circular mirror, fastened by four cords, from which he cast a reflection of the sun from time to time upon the ground, or held up the hoop, and flashed the mirror.” The explanation given by this author of the significance of the mirror in these ceremonies differs from that secured by the writer; but Miss Fletcher’s account seems to refer to a form of ceremony pertaining to the elk rites not mentioned in his notes. THE WHIRLWIND. [Illustration: Fig. 18 (50-2095). Engraved Metal Cross. Collected by R. Cronau. Length, 23 cm.] [Illustration: Fig. 19 (50-2898). Engraved Bone Object. Collected by R. Cronau. Length, 24 cm.]