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1930] Kelly: Yuki Basketry 435
that a triangular foot would be less satisfactorily produced by coiling
as the hypotenuse would necessarily be stepped. If the component coil
1
were at all thick, it would be difficult to produce the characteristic
small, right-angled triangle, and for this reason perhaps one would
not look to coiling for the development of this form of the motif.
One further point may be made regarding the quail tip design, and
this rather strengthens the case for diffusion. Disregarding for th~
moment the various forms of the motif, it is apparent that the design
almost always occurs in association with a diagonal area or base line.
This is well illustrated by Yuki specimens, where the quail plume
occurs five times-twice as projections from the sides of an isosceles
triangle and three times as projections from the sides of intersecting
9
diagonals. A Huchnom Yuki specimen figured by Mason has the
quail tip projection from triangles which are arranged diagonally,
one upon the other. The same association is found, moreover, in two
baskets in the Museum 10 which are catalogued as "Yuki type"
but of doubtful provenience. Both of these have the motif associated
with the intersecting diagonal A ba~ket identical in design with these
just mentioned is figured by Rogers.11 It was found in a rock shelter
near Santa Barbara and is attributed by hini to the Canaiifio ( Chu-
mash) culture period. Regardless of the chronology, it is interesting
to know that the motif is found archaeologically and hence must be of
respectable age in this area at least.
The association of the quail tip with the diagonal is not confined
to the Yuki, but occurs in 152, or 94 per cent, of the 161 cases
observed. A rough classification of those showing diagonal associations
may be effected as follows :
Triangle ........................... :........................................................ 70
Intersecting diagonal ....................... :.................................... 63
Diamond diagonal .................................................................... 5
Simple diagonal ...................................................................... 28
Diamond .................................................................................... .10
Other 'kinds of diagonal .......................................... .............. 2
This grouping is made on the basis of 152 specimens. Of this
number 9 have not been included because the motif was placed hori-
zontally or vertically or was otherwise arranged. Still other baskets,
showing two or more features, have been counted more than once.
9 Op. cit., 459, USNM cat. no. 21371.
10 Cat. nos. 1-722 and 1-2964.
11 Op. oit., pl. 70.