- Chapter 1
Distribution of string figures—native names—methods first recorded—ethnological value of string games—relations between finished patterns made by different races—relations between native methods—how string figures are made—different openings—nomenclature adopted—typical movements described—explanation of the descriptions and the drawings.
- Chapter 2
Movements known as First Position and Opening A—figures beginning with Opening A—An Apache Door—Fighting Head-Hunters—A Sunset—Osage Diamonds—Osage Two Diamonds—Dressing a Skin—A Fish-Spear—A Sea-Snake—A King Fish—Bagobo Diamonds—Bagobo Two Diamonds
- Chapter 3
Figures beginning with Opening A (continued)—Many Stars—An Owl—A Second Owl—A Third Owl—Seven Stars—Two-Horned Star—Two Coyotes—Big Star—North Star—Carrying Wood—Owl's Net—Two Elks—A Rabbit—The Sun.
- Chapter 4
Figures beginning with Opening A (continued)—A Well—A Fence Around a Well—A Crab—A Trigger Fish—Rattlesnake and a Boy—Two Skunks—Two Foxes—Two Squirrels—Leashing of Lochiel's Dogs—Two Hogans—A Cariboo—A Circle—Two Stars—Casting the Fish-Spear—An Arrow—A Porcupine.
- Chapter 5
Figures beginning with Opening A (continued)—A Caroline Islands Catch—Circles and Triangles—Ten Men—A Variation of Ten Men—Caroline Islands Triangles—Carrying Money—House of the Blos Bird—Three Stars—No Name—Coral—A Man—Two Chiefs—A Man and a Bed—A Palm Tree—A Canoe with Two Masts—A House—Figures beginning with a modification of Opening A—W—M.
- Chapter 6
Figures which do not begin with Opening A—A Bow—Lightning—A Butterfly—A Worm—Twin Stars—A Lizard—Little Fishes—Storm Clouds—One Hogan—An Apache Teepee—Tallow Dips—One Chief—Caroline Islands Diamonds—A Turtle—Ten Times.
- Chapter 7
Figures which do not begin with Opening A (continued)—Pygmy Diamonds—A Mouth—Two Little Boys Running Away—A Little Fish that Hides in the Mud—A Little Boy Carrying Wood—A Second Worm—A Brush House—A Six-Pointed Star—The Breastbone and Ribs—A Bird's Nest—Two Boys Fighting for an Arrow—Flint and Steel—The Real Cat's Cradle.
- Chapter 8
Tricks and catches—A Torres Straits Lizard—Hanging—The Mouse—A Dravidian Trick—A Finger Catch—A Fly on the Nose—Will You Have a Yam?—Threading a Closed Loop—A Saw-Mill.
- Chapter 9
A few Eskimo and Indian games from Alaska—Figures known only from the finished patterns—Nauru figures—Eskimo figures—Hawaiian figures—A Zuñi figure—Australian figures.
- Chapter 10
Geographical distribution of string figures—A few invented figures—The Scarab—The Lozenge—The Square—Variation of Coral—Two Dolphins—Variation of the Crab—Second Variation of Ten Men.