ANIMAL FIGURES IN THE MAYA CODICES 307 



In the Nuttall Codex there is a remarkably beautiful con- 

 ventionalization of a scorpion (PI. 4, fig. 3) in which the tri- 

 partite nature of the head is still preserved though it is so re- 

 duced as to resemble the calyx of a flower. The ''tail", as else- 

 where, and the legs are present. 



PISCES 



Figures of fish (Maya kai) occur commonly in the Maya 

 codices in various connections as well as in the stone carvings, 

 but none of these seems certainly identifiable. Among the 

 representations, however, there are clearly several species. One 

 (PI. 5, figs. 2, 6, 7-9; PI. 6, fig. 9) has a single dorsal fin, power- 

 ful teeth, and a generally ferocious aspect and may represent 

 some large predacious variety, perhaps a tunny. The distinct 

 operculum in most of the figures would preclude their represent- 

 ing a shark. Other figures picture similar fish without the* 

 prominent teeth (PI. 5, fig. 4, 5; PL 6, figs. 2, 6, 10, 13). In two. 

 cases the scales are diagramatically shown by straight or cres^ 

 centric fines (PI. 5, fig. 4, 8). A third species of fish is showi* 

 provided with two dorsal fins (PI. 6, figs. 3, 11; PI. 7, fig. 6, the 

 last an excellent stone carving). Others (PI. 6, figs. 7, 14-17) 

 represent fishes without dorsal fins, one of which (fig. 7) froico. 

 its length may be an eel, possibly Muraena. 



In the Nuttall Codex occurs a remarkable fish with an un^ 

 mistakable wing arising just behind the head nearly at the 

 dorsal fine. While this may represent a flying fish {Exocetus)^ 

 the head is so bird-fike that the whole may be merely a conL- 

 bination figure. 



Of frequent occurrence in the Dresden is a glyph, two modi- 

 fications of which are here shown (PI. 6, figs. 4, 5). Stempell 

 suggests that the vertical fines on the posterior portion of such 

 figures may be gill sfits and that hence they may represent 

 sharks in which these orifices are without an operculum. 



As with the molluscs, so with the fish, we naturally find 

 them usually associated with the water. This may be seen 

 especially well in the Nuttall Codex. In Dresden 33a (PL 6» 



