168 



ANCIENT AKT OK 



'KOVINCK (JK CHlKlgLl. 



ventional representations of the skin 

 black and red. Its notes are tliree, as 



the animal 



The prevalence of bird forms is due no doiibt to the resemblance of 

 the notes of primiti ve whistles to the notes of birds. The shape of 

 the bird is also exceptionally convenient, as the body accommodates 

 the air chamber, the tail serves as a mouthpiece, and the head is con- 

 venient for the attachment of a cord of suspension. A great variety 

 of forms were modeled and range from the minute proportions of the 

 smallest humming bird to those of a robin. The larger pieces repre- 

 sent birds of prey, such as hawks, eagles, and vultures, and the smaller 

 are intended for parrots and song birds. The treatment is always 

 highly conventional, yet in many cases the characteristic features of 

 the sj^ecies are forcibly presented. The painted devices have reference 

 in most cases to the markings of the plumage, yet they partake of the 

 geometric character of the designs iisrd in Didiuary vase painting. 

 The ground is the usual yellowish gray «>! tlic -^li]i. and nearly all the 

 pieces belong to the lost color and allig.-itor gnnqis. 



A characteristic example is illustrated in Fig, "^oS. The head is large 

 and flat and the painted devices are in the red and black of the lost 

 color group. The three notes are as follows : 



