208 



A STUDY OF CHIRIQUIAN ANTIQUITIES. 



suspension is formed half by the long hooked beak and half by a short gold wire 

 attached to the breast. 



A highly conventionalized double bird form is reproduced in color (PI. XLVIII, 

 fig. c). The two birds are united at the end of their tails, by one wing in 

 common and by a bar connecting the heads in the region of the eyes. Contrary 



Fig. 356. — Gold image of a bird, with large wing- 

 shaped tufts, holding a small reptile in its beak. 

 Heye collection. '/■ 



Fig. 357. — Gold figure of a bird, with a fish held in its 

 beak and with conventionalized alligator heads serving 

 as tufts. Heye collection. '/' 



to the rule, wings and tails are burnished on both dorsal and ventral surfaces. 



The gold is particularly pure. This type of double bird is frequently met with 



in Costa Rica, Mr. Keith alone possessing sixteen examples of it from Mercedes. 



We find representations of the jaguar not only in stone 



and pottery but also in gold. They all agree in having 



a wide-open mouth revealing teeth. The animal illustrated 



in figure 360 is a departure from the conventional method of 



rendering life forms in repose. Here, there is action in every 



member, a very strong contrast to the formal pose of the 



jaguar image reproduced in color (PI. XLVIII, fig. d). The 



head, neck and tail of the latter are cast in the round, 



although hollow. 



Gold objects representing the human form as a whole or 

 in combination with other animal forms comprise some of 

 the most interesting pieces of the series. For convenience, 

 the apelike forms are also placed in this group, as it is often 

 difficult to determine whether ape or man was intended. Figure 361 is frankly 

 apelike. It is a two-headed monster. The two long monkey tails ending in snake 

 heads are curved upward on either side and are held in the single pair of hands. 

 The body is so constructed as to form an elongated bell or rattle, inside of which is a 



Fig- 3 5 8.— Small bird fig- 

 urine in gold, its head 

 adorned with two con- 

 ventionalized alligator 

 heads. Heye collection. V' 



