14 CAI.IFOKXIA ACADEMY OF SCIEN'CES. 



ill) KniiiiiHiil tliaii as a protection. In lliis licail it consists of a small central bow, 

 from the sides of which extend two wings of feathers. Tiie whole seems attached 

 to some kind of frame, on cacii side of which hangs down two smaller ribbons and 

 one hirgi-r one. Fig. 12 shows this head-dress as seen from above. 



Fig. lo. A head of a yonng woman, of handsome features. The hair is 

 abundant and seems to hang below the ears. These, as in all the rest of the sculp- 

 tures, are unnaturally large, most likely enlarged by some process. The head-dress 

 is ill the form of a crown, or at least ornamented as such. Tlie figure shows the 

 head from (ho front. 



Figs. 14, 15 ami IG. Head of a very old woman, seen respectively from tlic 

 side, front and from above. The liair is laid in tliick tresses and covered by an 

 exceedingly small hat. The ears are enormously large, tiieir lower lobes extend- 

 ing and projecting forward. The most remarkable things to be seen in this face are 

 the eyeballs, which are hanging down outside on the cheeks. The upper lip is 

 small, while the lower one is very large and projecting. The nose is broken, but 

 enough is left to show its original large size. 



Figs. 17, 18 and in. Head of an old woman, seen respectively from the 

 side, front and from above. The hair is ornamentally laid and covered by a very 

 small hat; by the same is seen a bow. The right eyeball is hanging on the cheek. 

 The nose is large and aquiline, not broken. Below the face is seen a kind of collar 

 extending from ear to ear. 



Figs. 20 and 21. Head of an old man, seen from the side and from above. 

 The nose is partially broken. Forehead and face deeply wrinkled. Head covered 

 by a cloth and a very small hat. The ears have large ornaments. 



The size of these five sculptures is nearly the same. Length, 32 inches, 

 bight 24, and width IG inches. 



What these iieails lepiesent will at present remain only a conjecture. In 

 Yucatan criminals were punished Ijy the extraction of their eyes, but I am doubtful 

 about these heads representing criminals, as they then would most likely not have 

 been ornamented, as it seems, in so very fashionable a way. Besides, the expressions 

 of their faces are always noble and serene, which would not have been the case if a 

 criminal had been represented. Even those having their eyes extracted show no 

 signs of pain whatever. The faces represent evidently very old i)eople, at least 

 judging by the vi'iy ilctp wrinkles which cover their foreheads and cheeks. May 



