METAL. 



205 



figure yet discovered) and a circular piece of sheet gold, about six inches in diameter, 

 weighing one and a half ounces, with two holes, apparently for suspension." 



The large alligator and jaguar, the circular piece of sheet gold, human figurine 

 and frog were afterwards bought by Mr. Robert L. Stuart and presented to the 

 Lenox Library. The alligator is reproduced in figure 351. According to Mr. Elliott 



Fig. 351. Large massive gold image of an alligator. New York Public Library (Lenox Foundation). '/ 



of the Library, its weight is eight ounces and 24.6 dwts., or 250.42 grams. The 

 length somewhat reduced by the curving tail is fifteen centimeters. Although 

 head, body and tail (the latter two open ventrally) are hollow, the walls are every- 

 where massive. The nostrils and eyes are prominent; but contrary to the rule, 

 there are no dorsal scales and spines. 

 On the breast there is a single ring for 

 suspension. The gold has the appear- 

 ance of being about 20 carats fine. It is 

 no wonder that the country from whence 

 this specimen came was called Castillo, 

 del Oro. 



There may also be seen with the Stuart 

 collection a curious figurine given by 

 Mr. Lenox himself and purporting to be 

 from Chiriqui (fig. 352). This was evi- 

 dently one of the early discoveries, prob- 

 ably the idealistic image that Bollaert 

 calls : " A bat, with outspread wings and 

 legs, having a dragon-like head, sur- 

 mounted by four horns, curling inwards, 

 of the purest gold and weighed six 

 ounces." l The same specimen was 

 figured in Harper's Weekly, August 6, 

 1859 ; the illustration however was a 

 negative instead of a positive, in which 

 the head was so inclined as to give 



Fig- 35 2 - Bat-shaped image in fine gold. New York 

 Public Library (Lenox Foundation). '/ 



a very different appearance from the 



original. Liiders also reproduced this piece as part of the Bugavita treasure of 

 1 Op. cit., 31. 



