THnMAs.] SERIES ON PLATES 51 TO 58. 319 



intervals where tlie difference of 7 months and 8 days occurs.' Pre- 

 cisely the same variation occurs on Plate 556 in passing from the first 

 to the second column and on Plate 5Gb between columns 1 and 2. 



Why these singular exceptions? It is difficult, if not impos.sible, 

 for us, with our still imperfect knowledge of the calendar system 

 formerly in vogue among the Mayas, to give a satisfactory answer to 

 this question. But we reserve further notice of it until other parts of 

 tlie series have been explained. 



Reference will now be made to the three lines of black numerals 

 immediately above the day columns. Still confining our examina- 

 tions to the lower divisions, the reader's attention is directed to these 

 lines, as given in Tables VI, VII, IX, XI. XIII, XV, XVII, and 

 XIX. As there are three ni;mbers in each short column we take for 

 granted, judging by what has been shown in rt'i;ai-(l to tlic scries on 



Plates -lO-On. that the lowest of the thive denotes (hiys. tlie iiii.hlh. 



months, and tlie upper years, and that the iiiter\-als are the saiin' be- 

 tween these columns as between the day columns under them. Tlie 

 correctness of this supposition is sTiown by the following additions: 

 Starting with the first or left hand column on Plate .516. we add sur- 

 cessix^ely tlie ditfereiu-es indica.ted by the corn^spoiidint;- red and bhtck 

 numliers under the day columns. If this gives in eacli case (save 

 the two or three exceptions heretofore referred to) the numbers in 

 the next column to the right throughout the series, the demonstra- 

 tion will be complete. 



Yeai-s. Montbs, Day . 



14 16 14 First column on Plate 'Ab. 



8 17 



15 7 1,1 Second column on Plate -"il/;. 

 8 17 



15 16 8 Third column on Plate.-)!?-. 



8 17 



16 7 5 Fourth column on Plate 516. 



'This is one of the excjptional cases. 



