METAL. 



209 



subangular pellet, apparently of copper. The piece, which seems to have been 

 cast as a whole, has lost much of its head ornamentation of coiled wire, presum- 

 ably during its use in recent times as a belt ornament. When thus employed it 

 was held in place by a flat tongue attached to the back, the free end of which 

 could be inserted under the belt ; but this work of the modern jeweler has been 

 removed. Two similar specimens have been found in Costa Rica (Mercedes and 

 Rio General) and are now in the Keith collection. 



Fig. 359- 



Fig. 360. 



Fig. 361. 



Fig. 359. Small gold figurine of a bird; a, dorsal view; b, profile view. V 



Fig. 360. Gold figure of the jaguar. '/' 



Fig. 361. Gold image of an apelike monster with two heads. Vi 



In the Heye collection is a small ape figurine (fig. 362) that is similar in attitude 

 to the representations of the monkey on the stone and clay stools, except that 

 the tail is longer, being arched over the head and held in the hands as a rope 

 jumper holds his rope. The pose is exactly like that in the repousse figure of a 

 monkey on a circular gold plaque from Cartago, Costa Rica, which is now in the 

 National Museum at San Jose. It should also be compared with the 

 type reproduced in figure 361 as well as with a specimen illustrated 

 by Holmes. 1 



In point of casting, one of the most interesting and delicate 

 pieces is seen in Plate XLIX (fig. a). Although of intricate design, 

 there is no external evidence of the joining of parts. The new sur- 

 face bloom everywhere gives to the group the appearance of being 

 fresh from the molds. There is no burnishing and no hammering 

 except two blows on the left foot of the left figure. The braid 

 of gold wire that forms the hollow square, within which the two 

 figures are set, is so deftly cast that in one place the light shows 

 between the strands. The same effect is produced by plaiting with three wires. 

 The two human figures with elbows touching are holding to their mouths some- 

 thing that resembles a conch-shell or a fish. A large group from Chiriqui similar 

 to this was recently purchased by the British Museum. The specimen is 9.5 centi- 



Fig. 362. Small 

 gold image of an 

 ape. Heye col- 

 lection. '/' 



1 Ancient art of the province of Chiriqui, fig. 29. 

 MEMOIRS CONN. ACAD., Vol. III. 



27 



