148 



DAVENPORT ACADEMY OK NATURAL SCIENCES. 



A good degree of skill is shown in the modeling of varieties of 

 birds. A fair idea of the accuracy of these potters in this direction 

 will be conveyed by the series of heads shown in Fig. 28. Several 

 species of ducks are apparently differentiated, one of which, resem- 

 bling the summer duck closely, is given in a, while the head given 



l> d 



Fig. 28. — Heads of birds. 



in c, although possibly also intended for a duck, is much like a 

 grouse or partridge. The pigeon or dove is seen in /', the vulture or 

 eagle vn d, and the owl in e. 



It would be difficult to imagine more grotesque and outlandish 

 heads than those attached to the bowls illustrated in Figs. 30 and 31. 

 The vessels themselves are of the usual type, rudely modeled and fin- 

 ished and very heavy. The first is dark in color, the other red. The 

 strange animal here represented is c(5rtainly not a close copy of 

 anything in nature. It is characterized by upright ears, a high 

 bulbous snout and a grinning mouth. The teeth in some cases re- 

 semble the fangs of a serpent. The eyes consist of rounded nodes; 

 and often curved lines, incised or in relief, extend from them or the 

 mouth down the sides of the neck. I'he tail at the opposite end 

 of the vessel is turned upward and c'oiled. The type specimens of 

 this form are from Pecan Point, Arkansas. 



I-'k;. 29. —Grotesque heads. 



