ANIMAL FIGURES IN THE MAYA CODICES 297 



Fig. 5, shows a further modification of the spire, which here is 

 made Hke the head of a serpent. 



The Mollusca in the codices are not always associated with 

 the water although this is usually the case. God N (PL 1, fig. 

 1) sitting with the shell around his body is represented as in the 

 rain and the shells in PI. 1, figs. 4, 6, appear under water. The 

 snail (Maya, sot) is considered by the Nahuas as the symbol of 

 birth and death. The first idea is well brought out in PI. 1, fig. 

 2, where the human figure is emerging from a shell. The same 

 idea among the Mayas is seen in PI. 1, fig. 1 , where god N is com- 

 ing from a shell. As god N is usually associated with the end 

 of the year, we may have here the complementary idea of death 

 associated with the shell. The same meaning is brought. out 

 in the Bologna Codex (PL 1, fig. 3) where the shell is decorated 

 with flint points, the symbol of death. As the tortoise is often 

 identified with the summer solstice, as previously pointed out, 

 so the snail is associated with the winter solstice. 



Forstemann's identification of the head-dress of god D 

 (Dresden 5c), god A (Dresden 9c, 13a), and god E (Dresden lie) 

 as representing snails is not clear. Stempell (1908, p. 739) also 

 follows the same course thinking that the knob-Hke prominences 

 represent the stalked eyes of snails. This seems quite unhkely 

 as such representations are usually short and occur in too widely 

 dissimilar connections. Moreover, there are sometimes three 

 of these instead of but a single pair (Dresden 14a). A similar 

 attempt has been made by Brinton to identify the head-dress 

 of the death god (god A) as the snail. The head-dress in Dresden 

 13a and 13b associated with god A looks far more Hke the head 

 and upper jaw of some mammal. 



Oliva. a univalve shell frequently represented is of an 

 oval shape, pointed at each end, with a longitudinal lip and a 

 short spire at one extremity. This is doubtless a species of 

 Oliva, a marine shell. Mr. Charles W. Johnson informs us that 

 0: reticulata is the species occurring on the Yucatan shores, 

 while . splendidula is found in other parts of the Gulf of Mexico. 

 Representations of this shell are shown in PL 1, figs. 10-12. In 

 figs. 10, 11, the lip and spire are apparent but in fig. 12 the lip 



