_q_, 4319, l. 225. Design name: coyote teeth.
Hollow, rattling handles, consisting of a three-cornered box, are found on _e_,_f_,_r_. In each case, the end is modeled into a rude quail's head, showing eyes and beak (or topknot?).
Some rudiments of a quail head, but without hollow compartment, appear also in _a_-_d_,_q_; possibly in _i_,_k_.
The foregoing have the outer edges, toward the top, somewhat raised and a bit incurved. This sort of an edge shows also in _g_,_h_,_j_, which however possess no rudiments of the quail's head. The edge faces forward (if the hollow of the spoon is regarded as its front).
Another group of spoons have their edge rather turned outward--that is, away from the hollow. This group includes _l_-_p_ and _s_. These average somewhat flatter, and the apex is generally rounder, than in those with forward-turned edge: see especially _n_,_o_,_p_,_s_; also _m_; only _l_ comes to a point. Also, the total width ratio is greater in this group.
A. Edge raised, turned forward; apex pointed 1. Quail head apex, hollow rattling compartment 2. Quail head or rudiment 3. Plain apex B. Edge facing outward, top usually rounder, total shape shallow, broad.
Additional spoons are shown in plates 7,_i_ and 8,_i_-_k_; and in 7,_a_-_h_ appear the _back_ patterns of eight spoons whose fronts are reproduced in plate 4. This comes to a total of 23 pieces; which seriate in size, and group as to subclass, as follows:
======================================== Pl. | L. (mm.)| Subclass ------+---------+----------------------- 7,_i_ | 226 | | | | B | 4,_h_ | 225 | | | A3 | | 4,_q_ | 225 | | A2r | | | 4,_s_ | 210 | | | | B | 4,_m_ | 207 | | | | B | 4,_b_ | 201 | | A2r | | | 4,_l_ | 198 | | | | B | 4,_f_ | 194 | A1q | | | | 4,_j_ | 190 | | | A3 | | 4,_k_ | 186 | | A2r | | | 4,_c_ | 182 | | A2r | | | 4,_i_ | 178 | | A2r | | | 4,_r_ | 177 | A1q | | | | 4,_g_ | 175 | | | A3 | | 4,_d_ | 175 | | A2r | | | 4,_a_ | 174 | | A2r | | | 8,_k_ | 167 | [A] | | | | 4,_n_ | 156 | | | | B | 4,_p_ | 155 | | | | B | 8,_j_ | 140 | | | | B | 8,_i_ | 135 | | | | B | 4,_e_ | 123 | A1q | | | | 4,_o_ | 113 | | | | B | ------+---------+-----+-------+----+---+
It will be seen that all four subclasses of spoons are represented by examples both above and below the median 178 mm. length. Also, the three longest spoons in the collection belong to three different subclasses. The salient feature is that the blunt-ended "B" spoons have a bimodal distribution: from 198 mm. up, from 156 down. I should not be surprised if B forms turned up in the intervening range; but I should expect the bimodality to remain even if many additional specimens became available.