In New Jersey the winged stones are more frequently of shale, quartzite, and granite than of banded slate. This is true of Delaware and lower New York. The stones are thin in the centre (see Figs. 329 and 330) and the wings usually curve downwards instead of being at right angles, or expanding from the perforations. These New Jersey types to me suggest a bird in motion, and may stand for the “thunder bird,” so common in American mythology.
Mr. Tooker possesses a broken butterfly form of mica schist. This has been perforated through the centre at right angles to the original long perforation, and was worn as an ornament until the rough, broken edges became polished through use. The New Jersey specimens look old and do not appear to show white man’s influence in any way.
In the collection was a bit of broken winged object (like that shown in Fig. 338) of the blooded quartz stone from Arkansas. This specimen was probably secured by the New Jersey natives through exchange.
Dr. Beauchamp’s remarks on certain specimens in Fig. 337 should be quoted, and I insert them, save the change from his numbers, which do not correspond with mine:—
Fig. 333. (S. 1–4.) Northern Illinois and northern Indiana types, from W. A. Holmes’s collection, Chicago. The winged type and also several that defy classification are present; notably, those on the upper row, the heart-shaped objects at either end, and the central unknown form with three perforations. The heart-form is occasionally found in the United States, but is rare. Just what significance it carries, I am unable to state.
Fig. 334. (S. about 1–3.) A group of problematical forms, from the collection of Leslie W. Hills, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Most of these are in banded slate, although two are in granite. They will fall under three or four subdivisions of the classification.
Fig. 335. (S. 1–1.) Problematical forms found in Cumberland County, New Jersey. The smaller one appears to be finished and is highly polished. The larger one is unfinished. The hole is drilled about halfway through, leaving a projection which indicates that the boring was done with a hollow instrument, probably a reed. These specimens are in the collection of George Hampton, Bridgeton, New Jersey.