SMITHSONIAN ARCILEOLOGICAL COLLECTION. 85 



in the shape of a wolf's head, to all appearance likewise the handle of a vessel 

 (Fig. 305). In this instance the specimen is solid, consisting of clay with the 

 usual admixture of shells. 



The ancient Mexicans, on the other hand, have left numberless clay figures 

 representing the human form, which are, however, generally more conspicuous 

 for elaborate details than for correctness of the proportions, the heads being 

 often unnaturally large. The significance of many of these figures is not 

 known, though it may be assumed that a large proportion of them relates to 

 the mythology of the Aztecs. Some may represent household gods, or pe- 

 nates, while others, perhaps, were nothing else but toys. Most of these 

 manufactures are hollow and pierced Avith a few holes for emitting the heated 

 air produced by the baking. Without this precaution the objects would have 

 burst, owing to the expansive force of the air. 



One of the most elaborate Mexican figures of the collection (Fig. 306) 

 represents a man seated, with the hands resting on the knees, and bearing on 

 his back another human figure so placed that its head sui-mounts that of the 

 first, while its hands press against the forehead and its feet rest on the 

 shoulders of the lower figure. The upper figure wears a rather low head- 

 dress, and the lower one is pi-ofusely decorated Avith armlets, Avrist-bands and 

 leg-ornaments. The most conspicuous attributes of this curious pair consist 

 in two serpents which, descending from the head-dress of the npper figure, 

 encompass, as it Avere, the group on both sides, and rest their heads between 

 the feet of the lower figure. In this specimen the clay is Avell burned and 

 shows externally a light-broAvn paint. 



A Mexican image of simpler design (Fig. 307) , likewise represents a man 

 in the attitude so often exhibited in Mexican and Central American terra- 

 cottas and sculptures, namely, seated and placing the hands on the knees. 

 The figure is highly ornamented and Avcars a head-dress of a shape reminding 

 one of a terraced pyramid. The color is a pale red. 



Tavo remarkable figures of the collection, nearly identical in shape, though 

 somewhat differing in size, were presented to the ISTational Museum by the 

 family of the late George Gibbs. They are of a more uncouth appearance 

 than the tAVO specimens before described, and represent squatting Avomen 

 pressing their hands against the ears (Fig. 308). The faces indicate aged 

 individuals with prominent noses and somewhat protruding tongues. The 

 sexual parts are broadly marked. The peculiar head-dresses shoAV, in both 

 instances, on the right side a projection resembling a tuft of feathers. 

 Both figures are coated Avith a shining black color. It Avould be intei-esting 

 to know the circumstances which gave rise to the manufacture of these tAvo 

 almost identical images. Quite different in design is a small statuette of a 

 woman dressed in an ornamented goAvn reaching to the feet, and Avearing a 

 high cap (Fig. 309). The hoUoAV figure encloses a loose clay ball, giving the 

 object the character of a rattle. Rattles of clay, it is Avell knoAvn, belong to 

 the common relics of the ancient Mexicans. 



