AXCIFA'T rOTTKRV OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 



I«3 



lishment or the elaboration of bottles. Birds, beasts, fishes, and rei)- 

 tiles are treated in a similar manner. 



The owl was a favorite subject with the potter, on account 

 probably of the upright, compact figure of the body, or possibly be- 

 cause of some especial regard in which this bird was held. 



A rather handsome specimen is shown in Fig. 86. The model- 

 ing is more than usually successful, and the surface is carefully fin- 

 ished. The wings are treated in a pleasing, but highly conven- 

 tional manner. The feathers are indicated by alternate bands of 

 pale-red and yellow-gray, the latter being the ground color. These 

 bands are outlined by fine incised lines. The remainder of the 

 body is painted red. The vessel rests upon the feet and tail — a nat- 

 ural tripod. In many cases the head of the bird forms the top of 

 the neck of the bottle — the body of the vessel itself being ])lain and 

 srlobular. 



Fig. 87.— Ilalc's Point, Tenn.— ^. 



Fig. 88.-4. 



The heads of animals are treated in the same manner as may be 

 seen by reference to Figs. 87 and 88. 



The head shown in Fig. 87, is clearly that of a bear. The whole 

 vessel is painted red. Fig. 88 illustrates a small dark bottle, sur- 

 mounted by a head of nondescript character. The aperture in these 

 vessels is generally at the back of the head. 



Fish and reptiles appear somewhat more rarely in connection 

 with high-necked bottles. The Museum has recently acquired a 

 fine example, painted in red and white which has the head and 

 other features of a fish, modeled in relief upon the sides and bottom 

 of the body. A small, dark vessel of like character is illustrated in 

 in the Third Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology. 



In the example given in Fig. 89 the upper part of the neck has 

 been modified in such a way as to accommodate a curious, medallion- 



