VASES OF THE ALLIGATOR GROUP. 



139 



wliich are truncated and fnrnislied with long slit-like openings 

 that connect through the head with the main chamber of the vessel. 

 The o])ciiiugs arc about two and a half inches long and (Hie-cighth 

 of an iiicli wiilc and are surrounded by a shallow cliaiinrl in the 

 flat, well pcilislifd upper surface. The extraordinary <Miutnrniation 

 of this part of the vessel recalls the well known whistling vases of 

 South America: but this piece is too badly broken to admit of ex- 

 periment to test its iMiwtTs. Tt is generally likened to a money box. 

 In order to ci.n\i'>- a clrai- (■(.nci^iilicn of the shape of the upper .sur- 

 face, I present a t..p view of tln' vessel (Fig. 205). 



A front view of one of the supporting tigures is shown in Fig. 2()(J. 

 Although certainly not intended to represent a human figure with 

 accuracy, it is furnished with a crown, as are the figures in gold and 

 stone, and is covered with devices that seem to refer to costume. The 

 features are extremely grotesque, the nose resembling the beak of a 



Fig. SOS. Top view of vase in Fig. 204, Fio. 206. End view of vase in Fig. 204. show- 



showing the main orifice and the ob- ing front view of grotesque figure. The red 



long openings. portions of the painted figures are outUned 



with dots. 



bird and the mouth being a mere ridge, without indications of the 

 lips. The face and the chest are painted with curious devices in red. 

 The funnel and body of the vase are decorated with subjects that seem 

 to have no connection with the plastic features and no relation to one 

 another in subject matter. The upper panel, surrounded by a frame- 

 work of black and red lines, contains the figure of an alligator much 

 simplified and taking a peculiar position on account of the shape of 

 the space into which it is crowded. The figure occupying the body 

 panel is that of a very strangely conventionalized two tailed monkey 

 and is enframed by a wide red line. On the shoulder of the vessel 

 is an ornament consisting of a number of angular hooks attached 

 to a straight line. The effect is like that of fretwork, but the figure 

 is probably derived from a modified animal form. The paste of this 



