614 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



[BULL. 28 



mentioned tassel or locketlike middle piece with an additional orna- 

 ment terminating in three ends, and a pecnliar clasp behind (see <Z, 

 figure 124, from the Dresden codex, page 10, middle, and e^ page 15, 

 below ) . 



A^Hiile this neck ornament is common in the Dresden codex, it occurs 

 but seldom in the other manuscripts (see a^ figure 125, from the 

 Troano codex, page 18 *, middle, 6, figure 125, from Codex Cortesianus, 



k I n 



Fig. 125. Necklaces, ear ornaments, and so-called elephant trunk. 



page 12, below," also examples in Codex Peresianus, pages -17, 21, 

 and elsewhere). 



" The head of this figure is particularly Interesting, because it explains the remarkable 

 ornament occiirriag so often on Yucatec buildings, the mucli discussed so-called "elephanfs 

 tiunk ". Close examination of this ornament shows tliat almost invariably the features 

 of a face, rudely executed in flourishes, are to l:)e recognized on tlie surface of the wall 

 behind it. If we compare this ornament with the above copy from the Codex Cor- 

 tesianus, there can hardly be a doubt that it represents tlie face of the god B (see my 

 Gottergestalten der Mayahandschriften. p. 12) with the well-known big nose. The nose 

 has exactly the same shape and decoration on the buildings as on the figure in the manu- 

 scripts (see \, fig. 12.5, the form of this ornament). There is not the least occasion for 

 fanciful zoological speculations. 



