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Brown bear string figures

Two chickens

This figure is a simple variant of two brown bears, but with a twist and a fun extension which turns the figure upside-down. Two brown bears is made by omitting steps 4 and 11.

1. Opening A.
2. Proximally transfer 2 loop to 1.
3. Distally transfer 5 loop to 2.
4. 2 <<.
5. Pass 5 through proximal 1 loop and behind distal 1 loop, to hook down 2n.
6. Index twist with navaho.
7. R katilluik, then proximally transfer 1 loop to 2.
8. With 1, pick up the short string on either side that runs from the central tangle, out from under the lower TV string, and up around either end of the figure.
9. Proximally transfer 2 loops to 1. Navaho 1, and proximally transfer 1 loops back to 2.
10. Gently separate the entwined loops around the lower TV string, drawing them to each side.
11. Turn the figure upside-down by rotating the hands towards you and pointing fingers away, palms facing outwards.

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The tall men

A short loop of thick string is essential for this figure, otherwise the "men" won't hold their heads up.

1. Opening A.
2. Proximally transfer 2 loop to 1.
3. Distally transfer 5 loop to 2.
4. 2 >>.

5. Pass 5 through proximal 1 loop and behind distal 1 loop, to hook down 2n.
6. Index twist with navaho.
7. R katilluik, then proximally transfer 1 loop to 2. You have the house of the tall men.
8. The roof of the house is made from doubled strings. With 1, pick up the lower string on each side of the sloping roof. Check that the strings picked up run all the way around the roof and across the centre of the figure as well.
9. Proximally transfer 2 loops to 1. Navaho 1, and proximally transfer 1 loops back to 2. The poor men are so tall that they have stoop inside their house!

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Koekoea

Koekoea are the long-tailed cuckoo from New Zealand. Here are two, flying away from each other. Use a short thick string.

1. Opening A. Release 5.
2. Pass R5 distally into L2 loop and pick up 2f by rotating R5 away from you back to position. Put L5 into R5 proximally, and extend.
3. Distally transfer 2 loop to 1.
4. Distally transfer 5 loop to 2.
5. Pass 5 up through 1 loops from below (in front of both 1f strings and behind both 1n strings), then into 2 loop from below, to hook down 2n back through both 1 loops.
6. Index twist with navaho.
7. R katilluik, then proximally transfer 1 loop to 2.

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Last flight of the laughing owl

The laughing owl was endemic to New Zealand, but went extinct around 1914, probably due to predation by the stoats that were introduced to control the plagues of introduced rabbits. Use a short loop (e.g. 3/4 span).

1. Opening A.
2. Proximally transfer 2 loop to 1.
3. Distally transfer 5 loop to 2.
4. Pass 5 into 1 loops from below (in front of both 1f strings and behind both 1n strings), then into 2 loop from below, to hook down 2n.
5. Index twist with navaho.
6. Proximally transfer 2 loops to 1. Navaho 1, and proximally transfer 1 loops back to 2. Extend.

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