128 



A STUDY OF CHIRIQUIAN ANTIQUITIES. 



are filled in solid instead of being open dotted fields. This type was noted in 

 the lost color ware (see PI. XXXI, fig. /). 



The exaggeration of parts is well shown in figure 210, where the jaws, partic- 

 ularly the lower one, are exceptionally long. Both are recurved. The nuchal 



Fig. 210. — Alligator profile showing exaggeration of jaws and nuchal appendage. V 2 



crest also reaches its maximum, and the downward swing of the body-line is 

 typical. Another characteristic of the alligator profile is seen to good advantage 

 here, namely, the longitudinal rise of the fronto-nasal region. 



That figure 211 came from a panel is evident from the disposition of parts. 

 The head is turned so as to fill the hollow of the body curve. The shortness 

 of the panel made it expedient, also, to flex the tail sharply and shorten the 

 nuchal crest. The top of the head is adorned with four typical spine motives. 

 The same relative position of head, body, legs and 

 tail is seen in figure 212, except that here the lower 

 jaw is longer than the body and tail combined and 

 the nuchal crest unduly developed, apparently as a 

 counterpoise to the extreme length of jaw. In figure213, 

 it is the body, legs and tail that suffer from reduction, 

 while the head and nuchal crest remain prominent. 



Some of the vases from which several of the forego- 

 ing tracings came are illustrated in Plate XXXIII. 

 These vase forms are typical for the group, with the 

 possible exception of figure a, in which the setting of 

 the neck on the shoulder deviates from the type. The slip is a pronounced salmon 

 color. The unusually broad decorated zone is divided into four panels, two 

 long and two short. The long panels are each adorned with the figure of an alli- 

 gator. The two form a procession, i. e., each when turned toward the observer is 

 found to be facing toward the right. The framework is in red. The outlines and 

 superficial markings representing the scales, spines, toes, and even the teeth, are 

 in black. A short stroke of black also denotes the central part of the body and 

 the eye. Practically all the features common to the conventional representation of 

 the alligator are present here — the wide-open mouth, with pronounced jaws and 

 upturned snout ; the dotted protuberances (scales) on head and back ; the spines 



Fig. 211. — Alligator profile adapted 

 to fit the space at hand. 2 /> 



