THE ALLIGATOR GROUP. 



147 



dition of avian characters, such as two feet, wings and horizontal spreading tail, 

 does not alter the globular form of the vessel. The legs are quite short and so 

 placed as to combine with the relatively large flat-bottomed feet in giving to the 

 figure a certain degree of equilibrium. The feet are spread equally at the heel and 

 toe, the number of the toes not being indicated. This is the typical bipedal form of 

 foot and is found also in human figurines. The spread of the tail is about equal 

 to that of the wings. Both are more highly differentiated than in the preceding 

 vase, and are directed upward as if in flight. The wings are only partially ex- 

 tended as if the bird were in the act of alighting, and the backward pointing tips 

 are truncate. The head, for- 

 tunately preserved in this case, 

 is a mere lump of clay situated 

 on the periphery and propor- 

 tionately smaller than the head 

 in the foregoing example. 



The neck of the vessel is 

 much more constricted than in 

 the former example. Its walls 

 are vertical and cut square at the 

 top. The rim is painted red 

 and there are two black hor- 

 izontal bands about the neck. 

 Had it been left undecorated 

 and had there been no other 

 provision for a head, one might 

 be led to suppose that the 

 latter was a separate piece made 

 to fit over the neck. But such 

 was not the case. The whole 

 is complete as it stands. On 

 the shoulder is a narrow zone 

 decorated with scale-group (al- 

 ligator) motives. A black paint 

 was smeared on the upper sur- 

 face of wings and tail. The 

 head protuberance is painted 



red and surrounded by a black band, outside of which is an irregular circle of 

 scale- and spine-symbols. The short legs are marked on the outside by two hor- 

 izontal black bands. The rest of the outer surface is finished in a cream-colored 

 slip. This form is of special significance as being a connecting link between the 

 foregoing bird form (with annular base, indifferent wings and tail, and rather wide 

 aperture with flaring lip) and those that are to follow. 



The next step leads to the disappearance of the painted lump on the breast 

 that served as a head and the appearance of a more or less realistic, removable 

 head that fits over the aperture and undecorated neck at the summit of the ve- 

 sicular body (fig. 248). The latter is spheroidal as in the last figure, but the wings 



Fig. 248. Bird form with realistic removable head, 

 ware. '/ 



Alligator 



