312 ANIMAL FIGURES IN THE MAYA CODICES 



PL 8, figs. 4, 6; PI. 9, figs. 2, 4-6: one snake with a spiny back is 

 shown in PI. 8, fig. 5, but obviously it represents merely the 

 artist's endeavor to present as terrifying a creature as possible. 



Various types of rattlesnalies are shown in PL 9. The pres- 

 ence of the rattle is of course the characteristic, and this portion 

 alone is likewise used, in one case, at least, as a glyph (PL 9, 

 fig. 7). It cannot be denied, however, that some or most of the 

 snakes in which no rattles appear, are nevertheless intended for 

 rattlers. It may have been that the figures were so well under- 

 stood that the addition of rattles in the drawings was quite un- 

 necessary. This, however, is quite conjectural. The species 

 of rattlesnake is probably Crotalus hasiliscus or C. terrificus of 

 southern Mexico and adjacent regions, not C. horridus or ada- 

 manteus as supposed by Stempell since these two species are 

 confined to the United States. Among the figures shown on 

 PL 9, it is noteworthy that five of the rattlesnakes show no 

 fangs. Some are spotted, but in a wholly arbitrary manner. 

 Three are unmarked. One is shown coiled about the base 

 of a tree (PL 9, fig. 5), another coiled ready to strike though 

 the rattle is pictured trailing on the ground instead of being 

 held erect in the center of the coil as usually is done (PL 9,. 

 fig. 9). A rattlesnake is shown held in the hand of a man 

 in PL 9, fig. 8. 



In PL 10, fig. 1, is shown a rattle-less snake with promi- 

 nent fang, coiled about the top of an altar which may repre- 

 sent a tree or bush. From the latter fact, it might be 

 concluded that it was a tree- or bush-inhabiting species^ 



por todo el cuerpo y por los ojos, como el taxinchan, . . , procuraban guare- 

 cerse desta ponzona con juros y encantamentos, que avia grandes en 

 cantadores y tenian sus libros para conjurarlas y encantarlas, y estos en- 

 cantadores, con pocas palabras que dezian, encantaban y amansaban las 

 culebras ponzoSosas, las cojian y tomaban con las manos sin que les hiziese 

 mal ninguno — tanbien ay culebras bobas sin ponzonas, de dos varas y mas 

 de largo y tan gruesas como el brazo,y suelen ponerse sobre arboles juntos 

 alos caminos, y quando pasa alguna persona se deja caer encima y se le en- 

 ros^a y rebuelve al cuerpo y a la garganta, y apretando le procura ahogarl& 

 y matarle, a sucedido matar algunos yndios cagadores yendo descuidados — • 

 tanbien tienen estas culebras distinto natural para comer y sustentarse." 



