326 ANIMAL FIGURES IN THE MAYA CODICES 



fuscus), since the white pelican is rare or casual, as far south 

 as Yucatan. Unfortunately, however, for this supposition, 

 the brown pelican lacks the curious knob that Brinton be- 

 lieved to be represented by the circle of dots. Moreover, 

 this same^ign occurs on the drawings of the bills of the frigate- 

 bird and the ocellated turkey, and is evidently not of specific 

 significance. To our minds it is doubtful if the figures under 

 discussion are birds at all, and we are unable to assign them 

 a name with any degree of confidence. A pecuHar glyph 

 occurs in connection with them which may be an aid to their 

 ultimate identification. Brinton calls the glyph the "fish 

 and oyster sign." 



Ocellated Turkey (Agriocharis ocellata). This turkey 

 (Maya kup) is an important species in the Maya economy, 

 and is seen frequently in the manuscripts. This is a smaller 

 bird than the more northern true turkey {Meleagris) and is 

 characterized by the presence of curious erect knobs on the 

 top of the naked head. These are shown in conventionalized 

 form in the various figures (PI. 16), and afford a ready means 

 of identification. On the bill of the bird shown in Tro- 

 Cortesianus 10b (PL 16. fig. 2) occurs again the curious symbol, 

 a circle surrounded by dots, previously noted under the 

 frigate-bird and pelican. It probably has some special sig- 

 nificance. Other figures of ocellated turkeys show but little 

 in addition to the points just discussed. One shown in PI. 16, 

 fig. 7, from Codex Vaticanus 3773, however, has a circular 

 ring about the eye and the wattles are indicated as projec- 

 tions merely. In fig. 13, they are apparently shown as 

 stalked knobs found elsewhere in connection with serpent 

 ■head ornaments. It is only the head in this latter figure 

 which is considered in this interpretation. 



In the Nuttall Codex, there frequently occur representa- 

 tions of a bird that was evidently used for sacrificial purposes. 

 It is shown with erectile head feathers and a ring of circular 

 marks about the eye (PI. 26, figs: 12, 14; PI. 27, figs. 2-3) 

 or with concentric circles (PI. 27, fig. 1). These figures are 



