36 PRIMITIVE ART 
ing. It is called the “bridle,” because Mexican bridles have 
on either side of the bit a figure resembling one of these scrolls. 
It is also inter- 
preted as the 
linkin Wax 
crane ATTHTOUIGETLOGEUOOEUATOGLNOOVTETUVERTTTGIE aT han ds. The 
heme arco 
decorative ele- 
ment shown in the figure below is interpreted as the steel for 
striking fire. It is considered as an ornamental elaboration of 
a Oe Oe 
the form of steel used in this region. The arbitrary character of 
the interpretations given by these people may be seen in the 
elaboration of this design, which is sometimes developed into a 
continuous band, and is then explained as a vine and flowers. A 
PIAL PTA SPLAT PLS 
very frequent element of decoration is shown below, and is inter- 
preted as roots of plants. The transition from these forms to 
more realistic ones is very gradual. The simple geometrical 
forms are combined into plant designs, and, in their most symmet- 
rical arrangement, to flower de- 
signs. To these are added some- 
times realistic representations of 
double-headed birds, of mountain- 
lions and of other animals. Long 
narrow ribbons covered with de- 
signs of this character are generally described as serpents, the 
design indicating the marks on the serpent’s back. 
