SERIES ON PLATES 46 TO 50. 



303 



3G0 days each and the months 20 days each ; moreover, the members 

 of the series are based throughout upon the year of 360 days. His 

 theory that the intervals of the series relate to the movements of 

 the planet Venus is, as yet, a mere hypothesis, which needs further 

 proof before it can demand acceptance; but his discovery of the 

 metliods of identifying the month symbols on the five ])l;itfs now 

 under consideration is important. Although I had noticed tluit most 

 of the characters which he mentions are month symbols, I did not 

 succeed m identifying all of them. 



According to his conclusion, which appears to be justified not only 

 by the evidence he gives but by an additional fact that I shall pres- 

 ently mention, there are four of these symbols in the upper row of 

 the middle group of written characters on each plate and four in 

 the upper and lower lines of the lower group on each plate (see, for 

 example. Fig. 362). Each of these symbols (except three or four) 

 has a black number attached to it which denotes the day of the month 

 represented by the symbol. 



These months and days as given by Dr. Forstemann are as follows, 

 the positions of the lines as here given corresponding with those of 

 the plates: 



An examination of the plates will show that Dr. Forstemann has 

 filled out the following obliterated or wanting day numbers, to wit, 

 the first of the upper line of Plate 46, the fourth of the upper line of 

 Plate 47, and the second of the middle line and first of the lower line 

 of Plate 50. He has also ventured to change the first day number of 

 the lower line of Plate 46 from 16 to 14. Where the number 30 is 

 found in his list there is no corresponding number in the codex, the 

 month symbol only being given. It is evident he has proceeded in 

 these cases upon the theory that the absence of a number indicated 



