300 ANIMAL FIGURES IN THE MAYA CODICES 



posterior pair, coupled with the method of drawing the insect 

 as seen from above and in fro^t, may have led to its final ex- 

 pression by an X-shaped mark shown in connection with the 

 hives (PL 2, figs. 7, 10). The X is also seen in the day sign Cauac, 



Apiculture was common among the various peoples of Cen- 

 tral America and Mexico. Las Casas speaks of hives of bees 

 and Gomara states that the bees were small and the honey 

 rather bitter. Clavigero (Vol. T, p. 68)* mentions six varieties 

 of bees which were found in Mexico;— the first is the same as 

 the common bee of Europe, the second differs from the first only 

 in having no sting and is the bee of Yucatan and Chiapas which 

 makes the fine clear honey of aromatic flavor. The third species 

 resembles in its form the winged ants but is smaller than the 

 common bee and without a sting. The fourth is a yellow bee^ 

 smaller than the common one but, like it, furnished with a sting. 

 The fifth is a small bee without a sting which constructs hives 

 of an orbicular form in subterranean cavities and the honey is 

 sour and somewhat bitter. The Tlalpipiolli, which is the sixth 

 species, is black and yellow, of the size of the common bee, but 

 has no sting. 



The natives of the country at the present time often culti- 

 vate hives of bees in logs which they hollow out for this purpose 

 and keep in a specially constructed shelter. It is, however, 

 rather the ceremonial side of apiculture that is the interesting 

 feature and this is clearly emphasized in the Tro-Cortesianus. 

 The section in this manuscript (80b, 103-112), as has been noted, 

 is taken up almost exclusively with the culture of the bee 

 and in all probability represents a definite reUgious ceremony 

 or series of rites which are connected intimately with bees and 

 honey. Landa (1864, p. 292) f states that in the month Tzoz 

 the natives prepare for a ceremony in behalf of the bees which 

 takes place in the following month, Tzec. In the month Mot 

 another fiesta is undertaken in behalf of these insects so that 



* Quoted in Thomas, 1882, pp. 115, 116. 



t " En el mes de Tzoz se aparejavan los senores de las colmenares para 

 celebrar su fiesta en Tzec." 



