THOMAS] NUMBER OF CYCLES IN GREAT CYCLE 245 



The series evidently requires that the days oi' the teriuiual dates 

 shall each bo 3 Chicchan. 



Counting forward from 9 Kan 12 Kayab, year 3 Ben, the amount of 

 the black series (equaling 12,488,821 days), we reach 3 Chicchan 13 

 Pax, year 3 Ben; and counting from the same initial date the red 

 series (('(jualing 12,388,081 days), we reach 3 Chicchan 18 Xnl, year 

 3 Lamat. Both results are correct, and counting from 3 Chicchan 18 

 Xul, year 3 Lamat, the difference between the two series as thus cor- 

 rected (equaling 99,840 days), we reach 3 Chicchan 13 Pax, year 3 

 Ben, the terminal date of the black series. 



Neither of the series in the right-hand serpent of this plate brings 

 the count to either of the dates which stand below them. As yet I 

 am unable to find in what the error consists. As the text above this 

 right-hand serpent has been obliterated, it is possible, though I do not 

 think probable, that a different initial date is given. As both series 

 counted backward reach a 9 Kan, but of different months, I am 

 inclined to believe that the error consists in one or both month sjan- 

 bols of the terminal dates. 



The other series which has not been considered is the red one in the 

 serpent on plate LXix, Dresden codex. The difficulty in this case 

 arises from the insufficient data, the number in the katun place 

 having been omitted or obliterated, and the month symbol of tlie 

 terminal date being too nearly obliterated for anything positive in 

 regard to it to be determined. If tlie month symbol could be deter- 

 mined by inspection, the data would be sufficient to give the num- 

 ber of katnns cori-ectly; but with the series in its imperfect con- 

 dition, we can onlj^ state that, by a trial substitution of the numbers 

 from 1 to 19 in the katun place, we find that this number must be 

 either 1 or li. If it be 1, the terminal date is 9 Ix 12 Zip; if it be 1-1, 

 the terminal date is 9 Ix 12 Zac. As the fragment of the month 

 sj'mbol, small as it is, apparently forbids the supposition that it is 

 Zac, it is probably Zip. 



Taking the difference between the red series, as thus corrected, and 

 the black series, and counting back from 9 Ix 12 Zi^j, we reach 1 Eb 

 5 Chen, year 9 Lamat, which agrees with the result of counting the 

 black series from the initial date. The solution, therefore, appears to 

 be satisfactory. 



As Dr Seler raises another question in regard to these liigh series 

 of the Dresden codex, we will consider it before passing on. It will 

 be noticed that in the text (double column) at the left of the ser- 

 pents on plates LXI and LXIX, there is, in each case, a numeral series 

 given in symbols in the same form as those in the inscriptions. The 

 one on plate LXI is lo-9-l-3, or 15 katuns, 9 aliaus, 1 chuen, 3 days; 

 that on plate LXIX is 15-9 1 1, or 15 katuns, 9 aliaus, i chuens, 4 daj's. 

 The date following in each ca.se is 9 Kan 12 Kayab, and the date 

 preceding is in each case is 4 Ahau 8 Cumhu. Now, Dr Seler, if I 



