Handicrafts 163 as possible. A strong thread is run through the feather bases, and drawn up so as to keep them in this position. A second thread is run through the midribs, about 3 inches from the bases, and just tight enough to hold the feathers in the circular form. Now, a 24-inch circle of rawhide is slipped under the bases as they lie on the table, and each feather is firmly anchored to the rawhide in as many places as are necessary to hold it securely in position, the whole making a disk about 24 inches across. A red flicker tail feather is sewed to the rawhide disk be- tween each two grouse feathers. Two medicine plumes, much longer than the feathers in the circle, are now attached to the disk, so one will extend upward over each shoulder of the dancer when the bustle is in place. These medicine plumes are either very long feath- ers, stripped of the veins, or reeds, or light rods, slightly curved. They are tipped with white down; a couple of other wads of down are attached to their length at intervals. The flare is outward from the disk to the shoulders. A second 2”%-inch disk of rawhide is beaded in concentric circles of white with a simple red design. This is placed over the bases of the feathers, and conceals all stitches. A small fluffy tail is fastened to the center of the disk. (This is omitted in the drawing, for the sake of clearness.) * A tail of red flannel is attached under the whole thing ona short cross stick the width of the flannel. It is about 8 inches wide, and hangs in one flat piece to a depth of about a foot, then divides into two halves which extend to the calves. This tail is decorated with hanging feathers, and completes a dance accessory which aids materially in the grace as well as the symbolism of the performance. Still other bustles have been seen with a large pompom of white feathers in the center; others with a stuffed owl or hawk head. Many have been seen that were composed of flight feathers of an owl. There are endless variants in detail; but all adhere to the main plan of a central corona, with two long medicine plumes above, and two long tails below.
- In another bustle seen at the same time, the second disk was not
beaded; instead, little bunches of porcupine hair were inserted in round holes punched around the rim of the disk, and a skunk tail fastened in the very center.
