FEWKES] ARCHKDLOGICAL OBJECTS 191 



Figures 2, 3, ana -j. Heads of animals in burnt clay, more or less grotesquely 

 shaped. The eyes and mouth are often exaggerated, a few broad, bold lines serving 

 to bring out the most striking features. In figure 4 the head of the monkey is fan- 

 tastically crowned. All these are probably deities « or ornamental attachments to 

 earthen vessels. 



Figure 5. A well-shaped squirrel. Perhaps a toy whistle. 



Figure 6. An earthen bowl in fine preservation, about the size of an ordinary 

 vegetable dish. With the lid, which is unfortunately missing, there would doubtless 

 be a good representation of a tni-tle; as it is, the head and tail are clearly, and the 

 limbs somewhat clumsily, shown. 



Of the specimens above described, that shown in h, V , h" is the 

 only one figured in this report, but different views of it are here given 

 on account of its importance in comparative studies of Porto Rican 

 material. Owing to the unusual nature of the decorations on its inte- 

 rior surface, there is added the illustration of a fragment (plate lxxxv, 

 a), that is not described in the pa.ssage quoted above. This object is a 

 platter of rough ware which, although broken, reveals enough of the 

 decoration to show the general intent. It has the exceptional charac- 

 teristic of being decorated on the inside surface, not on the exterior, 

 the decoration consisting of figures in low relief alternating with 

 scrolls and circles in intaglio. The rim of the platter bears rounded 

 elevations that are decorated with incised circles. 



In h is represented the turtle-shaped vessel referi'ed to as figure 6 of 

 the above tpiotation. The three views of the object, from the side 

 (5), from the top (^'), and from the front (//'), bring out clearly the 

 turtle form, especially well-marked in the head. 



In addition to ceramics, of various shapes and degrees of excellence, 

 the Antilleans made many other objects of burnt clay, some of which 

 are represented in plate Lxxxvi. Specimen a is a clay cylinder,* the 

 surface of which is covered with geometrically arranged grooves and 

 ridges. This object was probably used as a roller to imprint on other 

 objects the figures it bears, as, for example, on clay vessels before 

 they were fired. 



The circular clay stamp, both faces of which are shown, h and 5', 

 has circular grooves broken at certain points, similar to the charac- 

 teristic geometric decorations already noted. The appearance of the 

 reverse side (//) suggests that it formerly had a handle (now l)roken) 

 attached to the middle. 



Illustration c represents a stone object in the Latimer collection 

 that was figured by Professor Mason in his catalogue, to which refer- 

 ence has been repeatedly made. On the side opposite that here 

 figured there is a depression of rectangular shape extending toward 

 the peripherj^ from the central hole and so situated as to serve as a 

 slot for attachment to a stick, suggesting that the object was part of 

 an ancient spindle. 



« There is great doubt of the validity of this suggestion. & Similar obj ects occur in Mexico. 



