THE TRIPOD OR FISH GROUP. 



89 



The hip ornament however is, as a rule, uniform for each tripOd. In figure c, 

 it is a long-tailed beast in the attitude of repose, while in figure d it is a bird 

 (the hawk or owl) with coils for eyes. Other coiled fillets adorn the neck of the 

 vase, the scroll pattern being the same as that in figure a (PI. XXIII), only 

 inverted. A very effective representation of the owl, with prominent eyes made 

 of coiled fillets and set in a large head, is shown in figure e. The wings and 

 feet are also well rendered. The frog, which was so prominent in the armadillo 

 ware, reappears in figure /. Only the eyes, mouth and forelegs are visible. 



A vase uniting a number of interesting characters is reproduced in figure 145. 

 The hip ornament is a long-tailed animal with prominent muzzle and teeth, pre- 

 sumably the jaguar. A series of four animal heads adorns the recurved lip of the 

 vase, reminding one of the head ornaments about the margin of the seats in the 



Fig. 146. — Tripod in which the supports are modi- 

 fied to represent the human form. Fish ware, 'h 



Fig. 147. — Tripod with supports representing 

 form. Fish ware. '/» 



stone and terra cotta stools, so called (see Pis. IV and XLVI). The decoration 

 on the neck consists of two incised bands on either side (from handle to handle), 

 with a row of eye symbols between. The twisted handle is also supplied with 

 eyes, apparently to emphasize the fact that a twisted handle is a life form (see 

 PL XIII, figs, a, b, e ; and figs. 125, 133). The Chiriquian artist was seldom guilty 

 of making too free use of decorative features. He rather overstepped the limits 

 of good taste, however, in this one instance. 



The human form does not seem to have been a particularly favorite subject 

 with the ancient potters of Chiriqui. Judging from the few examples at hand, 

 the results were often humorous but seldom realistic or artistic, and in their work 

 it is frequently impossible to distinguish man from the monkey. There is no 

 doubt, however, as to the meaning of the tripod supports in figure 146. All three 

 are alike — short legs, long body, arms flexed at the elbows bringing the hands 

 to the chest, large face and nose and small cranial capacity. The vessel is flecked 

 Memoirs Conn. Acad., Vol. III. 12 



