8 QUIEIGUA. 



raised to grasp the breastplate ; on each shoulder, over the cape, is a disk fringed with 

 tassels and ornamented with a grotesque full face ; this is an ornament found on 

 almost all the figures of the Quirigna stela?, and it can be seen most clearly on the 

 south face of Stela F. A grotesque mask surmounts the head of the figure, and on 

 either side of the scroll-work above this mask is a human face in profile, turned 

 outwards. The heads at the ends of the breastplate appear to be snakes' heads with 

 scroll-like tongues and no lower jaws. A long scroll-ornament, which seems to issue 

 from the snake's mouth, hangs down to the feet of the figure (compare Plate XLV., a). 

 There are apparently no ornamental bands or garters round the knee, and below the 

 anklets the feet are bare. 



The back of the stela (Plate VIII.) is considerably larger than the front, but 

 unfortunately the carving is very much weather-worn. The principal figure appears 

 to be half man, half jaguar ; the feet are certainly jaguar's feet, and the hands are 

 provided with claws. The face is shown in profile, turning towards the right shoulder, 

 and there is some slight indication of a hafted axe in place of the pupil of the eye 

 (compare Plate XLVI. Glyph No. 3, and Vol. IV. Plate XXXVII.), which usually 

 indicates the numeral 6. On the other hand, the general appearance of the figure, 

 face, and ornaments bears considerable resemblance to the figure-numeral 7 in the 

 picture-glyph (no. 6) on the east side of Stela D (see Plate XXV. and page 10). 



The left knee is bent, and the heel of the foot is raised from the ground. There 

 are no garters below the knee. Each anklet is decorated with a grotesque face. 



The sculpture on the upper part of the stone appears to me to represent a side view of 

 the serpent-bird (compare Vol. IV. Plate LXXXL), but the surface is much worn and 

 the design is not easily followed. 



Monolithic Animal B. (Plates III. and IX. to XV.) 

 Greatest length 13 feet 4 inches ; width 11 feet; height 6 feet 3 inches. 



This monument is lying on three large slabs of stone, which are well shown in 

 Plates IX. and X. It is carved into the shape of a great dragon, with a human head, 

 bust, and hands issuing from the dragon's mouth. In Plate XII., a, the two great eyes 

 of the dragon, with hanging eyelashes and crossed bands over the eyeballs, can be 

 clearly seen. The upper jaw is raised so that the row of incisor teeth shows above the 

 grotesque mask which surmounts the human head. 



On the left side of the monument (Plate IX.) both the arm and leg of the dragon 

 can be seen. On both the upper arm and the forearm are two squares of picture- 

 writing (Plate XIII. , a) ; at the bend of the elbow is a scroll similar to that on the 

 elbows and knees of the dragons at Copan and Palenque (see Vol. I. Plate LXXV. and 



