8 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 76 



In figure 20 we have representations of two animals, possibly 

 mother and offspring, one large, one small, both of which have similar 

 projecting jaws. The posterior end of the body of the smaller merges 

 into a fish ; the body and hind legs of a quadruped are replaced by 

 the body and fins of a fish, two on the back (where there is never 

 in other fishes more than one dorsal), and one anal fin.' 



Figure 21 shows two hornless quadrupeds standing feet to feet on 

 an ornamented base decorated with checkerboard design. The body 

 of each bears an intricate cross design with stepped edges. The neck 

 has white lines on three sides of a rectangle. Body black ; eyes lozenge 

 shaped ; ears prominent ; tail short, stumpy, marked with white lines. 



Figure 22 represents some mythic animal with four legs, and a 

 raised wing. The body is continued in a very unusual posterior ap- 

 pendage recalling a human leg. This specimen belongs to the Hulbert 

 collection. The body is surrounded by a belt with two series of 

 squares, alternating black and white. The mythologic conception in 

 the mind of the painter of this design is a strange one. unlike any 

 yet described in pueblo folk tales. 



Figure 23 represents two figures with round heads, large white eyes 

 and prominent lips. The figures of hands apparently are shown on 

 the corners of the bodies. Legs well drawn and toes human in char- 

 acter. No suggestion is made regarding the identification of these 

 figures. 



Figure 24 is a negative picture of a flying creature like a bat ° with 

 large outspread wings, round head like that last mentioned, and promi- 

 nent ears. This animal has a tail like that of a mouse outlined in 

 white on a black ground. 



Figure 25 shows twO' quadrupeds with short, stumpy legs, rela- 

 tively large heads and small necks, with white bodies. No identifica- 

 tion of these animals has been made and the details of the small 

 drawings are very incomplete. 



The peripheral parallel lines surrounding these figures are crossed 

 by a zigzag line which follows the course of the inner cluster of 

 encircling parallel lines making a singularly ornate and exceptional 

 decoration. 



^The frequent occurrence of fish designs on Mimbres picture pottery has 

 led to a suggestion that we have evidence of a former life near more water 

 than now flows in the Mimbres. But facts do not warrant the conclusion. 

 The author has previously described a figure of a combined antelope and fish. 



^The belief that this figure represents a flying mammal or bat, is based on 

 the shape of the head and the absence of feathers. 



