40 COPAN. 



a " heading," similar in general character to the heading of the inscription on 

 Plate XXX. 



This heading is very frequently followed by what I propose to call the " Initial 

 Series" of glyphs *. There are two principal forms in which this initial series occurs. 

 One is a series of six glyphs, each glyph composed of two characters — usually two 

 heads, without any numerals attached to them ; the other is a series of six characters 

 occupying six or a less number of glyphs, each character having a numeral attached 

 to it. Each character in the single series is usually identical with one of the characters 

 from the glyph in the corresponding position in the double or two-character series. 



In some cases there is a mixture of the two series. 



The initial series is to be found in inscriptions throughout Central America. At 

 Copan, however, the single series only is well represented. It is thought that it will 

 add interest to this part of the publication to give a table of the series (Plate XXXI.) 

 as it occurs in nine of the inscriptions at Copan. 



"Where in any of these inscriptions the initial series has been compressed into less 

 than six glyphs, the characters have been separated on Plate XXXI., and are placed 

 one below the other ; the correct sequence, of course, being retained. 



The characters most easily distinguished are those occupying the positions of 

 Numbers 4 and 6 of the series. Number 4 is a grotesque animal's head in profile, 

 with a very clearly marked scroll at the corner of the mouth, and Number 6 a car- 

 touche containing usually, but not always, a human head in profile. 



In some cases where an unexpected character occurs in the single series, as in 

 Numbers 2 & 5, Stela M, Plate XXXI. , these characters are also found to occur as the 

 second characters of the glyph in the same position in the double series : the 

 examples quoted above being found in the inscription on the well-known Tablet of the 

 Cross at Palenque. 



Until the whole body of inscriptions is carefully collated, it is impossible to say how 

 far the slighter variations which are to be found in the series are due to artistic latitude 

 allowed to the sculptor or to intentional difference in the matter recorded. 



The number attached to the first glyph of the initial series will be found to be 

 almost invariably the number nine. 



The highest number expressed by the system of notation already described is nineteen, 

 represented by three bars and four dots (Stela A 3, Plate XXXI. ), and nothing is known 

 for certain of the notation for the expression of any higher number. I am, however, 

 strongly inclined to believe that the sign given in fig. a (p. 41), which occurs in com- 

 bination in Glyphs Numbers 3, 15, & 33 of Plate XXX., and again in an exceptional 

 form in Number 50, stands for the numeral 20. 



* The -word " glyph. " is employed to denote each separate square or group of characters, aud may contain 

 one or more characteis, as each character may be made up of one or more signs. 



