344 ANIMAL FIGURES IN THE MAYA CODICES 



been considered to be a tortoise (Schellhas, 1904, p. 44, and 

 Forstemann, 1904). This animal, together with the dog, is 

 found beneath the constellation signs carrying firebrands; 

 both are regarded as lightning beasts. By comparing the 

 head of the figure shown in PI. 25, fig. 1 , with figs. 2, 4, 5, of 

 the same plate, the reasonableness of the identification of 

 this head as that of a macaw and not that of a tortoise ap- 

 pears clear. The same figure occurs in Tro-Cortesianus 

 12a (PI. 25, fig. 3) carrying a torch. 



In order to make this point clearer, we will take up the 

 consideration of the glyphs at this place, rather than at the 

 end of the section as usual. As the macaw in PL 25, fig. 1, 

 has been hitherto identified as a turtle, so the glyph found in 

 connection with it (PI. 25, fig. 6) has been considered to stand 

 for the turtle. PI. 25, fig. 7, is another drawing of the same 

 glyph. By comparing the markings on the face of fig. 1, it 

 is seen that a similar ring surrounds the eye shown on the 

 glyph. The second glyph (PI. 25, fig. 7) is better drawn 

 and shows, in addition to the eye ring, the slightly erectile 

 feathers at the back of the head. Comparison with the glyphs 

 representing turtles (PL 14, figs. 7-10) hitherto confused with 

 these macaw glyphs shows differences, the most important 

 of which are of course the eye ring and the feathers at the 

 back of the head. 



Various other glyphs occur which undoubtedly represent 

 the heads either of macaws or smaller parrots. They are, 

 for the most part, glyphs from the stone inscriptions. A 

 crest, resembling that depicted on the head of the quetzal, 

 is found on a glyph on Altar Q from Copan (PL 25, fig. 10). 

 The eye ring, however, seems to indicate the macaw which 

 also has slightly erectile feathers on the head. Much doubt 

 is attached to the identification of the glyph of the month 

 Kayae from Stela A, Quirigua (PL 25, fig. 9). It resembles 

 closely the glyphs of the turtle (PL 14, figs. 7-9) and especially 

 that on PL 14, fig. 10. The Quirigua glyph has a prominent 

 fleshy tongue, however, like the parrot. From the fact that 

 the glyph is certainly that for the month Kayah and the 



