BOLMEs] GEOMETRIC AND GKAPHIC FORMS CONTRASTEO. 2.39 



of the remai'kable features are due to constructive peculiarities. The 

 round face, for example, does not refer to the sun or the moon, but 

 results from the concentric weaving. The oblique eyes have no re- 

 ference to a Mongolian origin, as they only follow the direction of 

 the ray upon which they are woven, and the headdress does not refer 

 to the rainbow or the aurora because it is arched, but is arched be- 

 cause the construction forced it into this shape. The proportion of 

 the figure is not so very bad becaiise the Moki artist did not know 

 better, but because the surface of the tray did not afford room to pro- 

 ject the body and limbs 



Fig. 345. Figure of a bird painted upon a Zuiii shield, free hand deli 



Now, it may be further observed that had the figure been placed 

 at one side of the center, extending only from the border to the mid- 

 dle of the tray, an entirely difl'erent result would have been reacheil; 

 but this is better illustrated in a series of bird delineations presented 

 in the following figures. With many tribes the bird is an object of 

 superstitious interest and is introduced freely into all art products 

 suitable for its delineation. It is drawn ujidu walls, skins, jidtti'ry. 

 and various utensils and weapons, especially those directly r< iinifcteil 

 with ceremonies in which the inythical bird is an important factor. 

 The Ijird form was probably in familiar use long before it was em- 

 ployed in the decoration of basketry. In Fig. 345 I present an ordi- 



