158 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 57 



superfix, (2) the paii of comblike lateral appendages, (3) the normal 

 form of the tun sign, (4) the trinal subfix, and (5) the variable central 

 element. As stated above, all these appear in the large glyph Al- • 

 B2. Moreover, a comparison of A1-B2 with the introducing gl}T)hs 

 given in figure 24 shows that these forms are variants of one and 

 the same sign. Consequently, in A1-B2 wo have recorded an Initial- 

 series introducing glyph. The use of this sign is so highly specialized 

 that, on the basis of its occurrence alone in a text, the student is 

 perfectly justified in assuming that an Initial Series will immediately 

 follow.* Exceptions to this rule are so very rare (see p. 67) that the 

 beginner will do well to disregard them altogether. 



The next glyph after the introducing glyph in an Initial Series is the 

 cycle sign, the highest period ever foimd in this kind of count^. The 

 cycle sign m the present example appears in A3 with the coefficient 

 9 (1 bar and 4 dots). Although the period glyph is partially effaced 

 in the original enough remains to trace its resemblance to the normal 

 form of the cycle sign showTi in figm-e 25, a-c. The outline of the repeated 

 Cauac sign appears in both places. We have then, in tliis glyph, the 

 record of 9 cycles^ The glyph folloAving the cycle sign m an Initial 

 Series is always the katim sign, and this should appear in B3, the glyph 

 next in order. This glyph is quite clearly the normal form of the katim 

 sign, as a comparison of it %vith figiu-e 27, a, h, the normal form for 

 the katmi, will show. It has the normal-form numeral 18 (3 bars 

 and 3 dots) prefijced to it, and this whole glyph therefore signifies 

 18 katuns. The next glj^ph should record the tims, and a comparison 

 of the glyph m A4 with the normal form of the tim sign in figiu-e 29, 

 a, h, shows this to be the case. The numeral 5 (1 bar prefixed to the 

 tun sign) shows that this period is to be used 5 times; that is, multi- 

 plied by 5. The next glyph (B4) should be the umal sign, and a 

 comparison of B4 with figure 31, a-c, the normal form of the umal sign, 

 shows the identity of these two glyplis. The coefficient of the uinal 

 sign contains as its most conspicuous element the clasped hand, 

 which suggests that we may have uinals recorded in B4. A com- 

 parison of this coefficient with the sign for zero in figure 54 proves 

 this to be the case. The next glyph (A5) should be the kin sign, the 

 lowest period involved in recordmg Initial Series. A comparison of 

 A5 with the normal form of the kin sign in figure 34, a, shows that these 

 two forms are identical. The coefficient of A5 is, moreover, exactly 

 like the coefficient of B4, which, we have seen, meant zero, hence 

 glyph A5 stands for kins. Summarizing the above, we may say 

 that glyphs A3-A5 record an Initial-series number consisting of 6 

 cycles, 18 katuns, 5 tuns, uinals, and kins, which we may write 

 thus: 9.18.5.0.0 (see p. 138, footnote 1). 



1 The introduoing glyph, so far as the writer knows, always stands at the beginning of an inscription, 

 or in the second glyph-block, that is, at the top. Hence an Initial Series can never precede it. 

 2The Initial Series on Stela 10 at Tikal is the only exception known. See pp. 123-127. 

 ' As will appear in the following examples, nearly all Initial Series have 9 as their cycle coeflicient. 



