THE ALLIGATOR GROUP. 



143 



head, which is supplied with pellets. The head therefore functions as a rattle. 

 The neck is perforated transversely as if for suspension. 



The peculiar throat and chest decoration in red, and reaching down to the 

 level of the mammae, has already been noted (see fig. 242). It may mean an 

 element of ceremonial apparel. This is probably the jaguar-god (see also PI. XLI, 

 fig. c). The now familiar scale-group motive of dotted triangles, and also me- 

 anders accompanied by dots, is distributed over the various parts. The decorator 



Fig. 244 a, b. Jaguar-god ornamented with alligator motives and serving both as rattle and receptacle. 

 Alligator ware. V" 



may or may not have had the alligator in mind when finishing this particular 

 piece. The origin of the motive however is beyond question, whether the artist 

 was conscious of it or not. 



The happy fusion of vase and animal form is shown in Plate XLIII (figs, a 

 and b). The legs differ in no way from the simple tripod support, except that 

 they are four in number. This is more a concession to the maintenance of the 

 zoomorphic idea than to any thought of achieving a satisfactory state of equi- 

 librium. To the primitive workman, the three-point support has much in its favor, 

 no delicate adjustment of leg length being necessary. All three feet touch the 

 supporting surface immediately and firmly, whether it be plane or undulating. 

 On the other hand, when four legs are employed, one is almost always worse 

 than useless because too short to take its portion of the weight, which but for 



