NO. 8 DESIGNS ON MIMRRES POTTERY FEWKES I3 



Figure 44 is the dorsal view of a lizard. The design on the margin 

 of this bowl appears nevei^ to have been completed but consists of 

 triangles, five of which are simply outlines ; the remainder filled in 

 with solid black. 



The surface of the food bowl shown in figure 45 is decorated with 

 a picture of a turtle crowded into the whole interior surface of the 

 bowl. The body of this turtle is crossed by a number of parallel 

 longitudinal lines and on each side of it are two curved bands with 

 dentations on one side. The hind legs have no indications of feet. 

 On each side of a pointed tail and in a corresponding position to the 

 head there are depicted angular extensions of the rim, black in color, 

 the shapes of which can be seen in the figure (45). 



The head of figure 46 also resembles that of a turtle but the frag- 

 ments of the bowl on which the body was drawn are missing. The 

 fore and hind legs and tail are represented by triangles painted 

 solid black. 



Figure 47 represents a turtle with outstretched legs, triangular 

 head and a single eye. It is surrounded by four white scrolls. 



Figure 48 has fragmentary parts of two lizards arranged side 

 by side. 



Figure 49 represents a turtle with four claws ; the tail and head 

 shown on the periphery of the carapace. The back is covered with a 

 rectangular figure with concentric quadrangles. 



It is interesting to notice how often ' the fish was used by the pre- 

 historic aborigines of the Mimbres Valley in decorating the inside 

 surface of their food bowls. The main ditTerences in the dififerent 

 fishes are specific or indicated by the geometric figures on their bodies 

 or in the shape and number of their fins. The body of the fish 

 shown in figure 50 is decorated with a plaid, rarely used but not 

 unknown as a geometric ornament. 



Animals with their mouths approximated are sometimes found 

 on Mimbres ware and it is suggested that the intention was to repre- 

 sent these two animals as talking to each other. In figure 51 we have 

 a common example of this usage in Mimbres pictography, namely, 

 a bird and fish with mouths approximated. 



Figure 52 represents a fish, the body of which is covered by a 

 checkerboard design of alternating black and white squares. In other 

 respects this figure is not exceptional, similar fishes having been often 



^ Very few fishes are depicted on prehistoric pueblo pottery of other areas 

 so far as is known to the author. 



