ANIMAL FIGURES IN THE MAYA CODICES 325 



ana heron (Hydranassa tricolor ruficollis) is intended. It 

 seems not unlikely also, that one of the white egrets may be 

 shown as their crests are fairly conspicuous. 



Frigate-bird (Fregata aquila). We have included here 

 two figures (PI. 15, figs. 8, 9) that undoubtedly represent a 

 single species of bird. It is characterized by a deeply forked 

 tail and long beak, which has part way on its length, a cir- 

 cular object surrounded by a circle of dots. It seems still 

 problematical what this object may be. In one figure (fig. 9), 

 the beak is strongly hooked, in the other (fig. 8) it is straight, 

 but as the latter is plainly a much more carelessly made 

 drawing, we may infer that the hooked bill is more nearly 

 correct. This would exclude the Terns (Sterna), to which 

 Stempell has referred the figures. It seems probable that 

 the frigate-bird {Fregata aquila) is the species intended, as 

 this is not only a large conspicuous form on these coasts, 

 but it has a long and strongly hooked beak and forked tail. 

 The length of the beak would probably exclude from con- 

 sideration, the swallow-tailed kite that also occurs in the 

 region. 



Both these birds are pictured, evidently as an offering 

 or sacrifice. It is very seldom that the whole bird is repre- 

 sented in this connection, and still more infrequent to find 

 anything but the turkey, which is the usual bird of sacrifice. 

 The figure from the Dresden Codex (PI. 15, fig. 9) rests upon 

 the usual bowl or jar, that from the Tro-Cortesianus (PI. 15, 

 fig. 8) is pictured upon a grotesque animal head, three Kan 

 signs and these upon the jar. 



In the Tro-Cortesianus 20c, 21c, there occur several 

 representations of man-like forms with very peculiar heads. 

 The latter are each provided with a beak-like projection, on 

 which appears the circle surrounded by dots noted above in 

 connection with the frigate-bird. Brinton concludes that 

 this mystic symbol is a representation of the curious knob 

 on the bill of the male white pelican, and therefore identifies 

 these curious figures as pelicans. Stempell follows Brinton 

 in this, but considers that they are the brown pelican {P. 



