388 



ANCIENT POTTERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 



Fig. 379 illustrates a large shallow bowl or pan of ordinary form and 

 finish. The head of a bird resembling a turkey is attached to one side, 

 with the bill turned inward. On the opposite side there is a small 

 handle-like projection that represents the bird's tail. 



A vessel of somewhat extraordinary form is shown in Fig. 3S0. The 

 bowl is smaller and deeper than the last, and serves as the body of 

 a bird, the head and tail of which are of unusual proportions. The 

 neck is very long and thick and is gracefully curved, but the head 

 is not modeled with sufficient care to make apparent the species in- 

 tended. 



The vessel shown in Fig. 381 is also finished in imitation of a bird. 

 In this case the bird is placed upon its back, the neck and head being 

 looped up to form a sort of handle on one side, while the legs answer a 

 like purpose on the opposite side. The wings are represented by a 

 number of lines rudely engraved upon the sides of the vessel. The 

 resemblance of this bowl to the wooden basins made by Northwest 

 < 'oast Indians is very striking. 



The vessel shown in Fig. 382 is one of the most unique yet brought to 

 light. It is a heavy, rather rudely finished bowl, to the rim of which 

 two grotesque heads, apparently of nondescript character, have been 

 attached. One resembles the oft-occurring plnmed serpent of aborigi- 

 nal American art in a number of its characters. The other has a double 

 comb somewhat resembling that of a domestic fowl. No description 

 can convey as clear a conception of these monstrosities as the accom- 

 panying illustration. 



bed 

 Fig. 383.— Heads of birds. 



Fig. 384 Grotesque heads. 



A good degree of skill is shown in the modeling of varieties of birds. 

 A fair idea of the accuracy of these potters in this direction will be 

 conveyed by the series of heads shown in Fig. 383. Several species of 



