230 CENTRAL AMERICAN PICTURE-WRITING. 
however), and on this and on the back of each bird are five spines or 
claws. The corresponding claws are curved and shaped alike in the two 
sets. The birds are fastened to the neck of the person represented by 
two ornaments, which are alike, and which seem to be the usual hiero- 
glyph of the crotalus jaw. These jaws are placed similarly with respect 
to each bird. In KINGSBoROUGH’s Mexican Antiquities, vol. I, Plate X, 
we find the parrot as the sign of TONATIHU, the sun, and in Plate XXV 
with NAOLIN, the sun. On a level with the nose of the principal figure 
are two symbols, one in front and one behind, each inclosing a St. An- 
drew’s cross, and surmounted by what seems to be a flaming fire. It is 
probably the chiffre of the wind, as the cross is of the rain. Below the 
rear one of these is a head with protruding tongue (the sign of QuET- 
ZALCOATL); below the other a hieroglyph (perhaps a bearded face). 
Hach of these is upborne by ahand. It is to be noticed, also, that these 
last arms have bracelets different from the pair on the breast. 
In passing, it may be noted that the head in rear is under a cross, 
and has on its cheek the symbol U. These are the symbols of the left- 
hand figure in the Palenque cross tablet. 
The head hanging from the rear of the belt has an open eye (like that 
of the principal figure), and above it is a crotalus mask, with open eye, 
and teeth, and forked fangs. The principal figure wears over his head 
a mask, with open mouth, and with tusks, and above this mask is the 
eagle’s head. This eagle is a sign of TLALOC, at least in Yucatan. In 
Mexico the eagle was part of the insignia of TErzZcATLIPOCcA, “the 
devil,” who overthrew the good QUETZALCOATL and reintroduced human 
sacrifice. 
The characteristics of the principal figure, 63, are then briefly as fol- 
lows: 
I. His chiffre is an air-cross with the sun-circle. 
II. He has four hands. 
Ill. He bears two birds as asymbol. 
IV. The claws or spikes on the backs of these are significant. 
V. The mask with tusks over the head. 
VI. The head worn at the belt. 
VII. The captive trodden under foot. 
VILL. The chain from the belt attached to a kind of ornament or sym- 
bol. 
IX. The twisted flames (?) or winds (?) on each side of the figure. 
X. His association with QUETZALCOATL or CUCULKAN, as shown by 
the mouth with protruding tongue, and with TLALOC or TETZCATLIPOCA, 
as shown by the eagle’s head. 
We may note here for reference the signification of one of the hiero- 
glyphs in the right-hand half of Fig. 52, 7. e.,in that half which contains 
only writing. The topmost chiffre is undoubtedly the name, or part 
of the name, of the principal figure represented in the other half. It is 
in pure picture- writing ; that is, it expresses the sum of his attributes. 
