IKK KOK.M^ 



variants are i)ractically iuliuitc. Tlie work is uiore purelj- (lecoi'rttive 

 and is perhaps less suljject to the i-estraiiits of associated ideas and of 

 use with partieuhir vessels or in definite relations to other features of 

 the vessel. At the same time it is manifest that these painted figures 

 are not all merely meaningless decorations, but that many, through- 

 nut all degrees of modilicalii m, I'efer with greater or less clearness 

 to natural originals, t.. i.li%-is assMci.itr.l witli these ..ri-mals. or to 

 the relationship of these originals tn the vessel and its uses. 



It is clear, however, that a considerable body of nature-derived 

 elements, plastic and painted, are employed as simple embellishments, 

 having no otlier function. This suggests the separation of all decoi-a- 

 tions into two grand divisions, based upon the kind of thoughts asso- 

 ciated with them. These divisions may be designated as significant 

 and non-significant, the term significant referring not to the mere 

 identification of a device with an original form or to its office as an 

 ornament, but to its symbolism, to its mystic relation with the vessel 

 and its uses. But I have to do here with the forms taken by motives, 

 with their niorjjhology rather than with their signification, as the 

 latter must, with reference to arclueologic material, i-eniain greatly 

 speculative. 



In the application of life forms in vase painting several classes of 

 modifying and constraining agencies of a technical nature are pres- 

 ent, and the following examples are grouped with the idea of defining 

 these classes of forces and keeping them in a measure distinct. 



Of all the animal forms utilized by the Chiriquians the alligator 

 is the best suited to the purpose of this study, as it is presented most 

 frequently and in the most varied forms. In Figs. 'JoT and 2.iS I re- 



froin a vase of the lost color trroup. 



produce drawings from tht 

 color group. Simple and 



luter surface of a tripod bowl of the lost 

 irmal as these figures are, the character- 



